Two rights sometimes do make a wrong

Karmenu Vella: to reduce or not to reduce

On Saturday I heard Karmenu Vella say something rather odd on TVM's Dissett.

He said that the PN is in a Catch-22 situation with its electoral promise to lower the 35% tax band to 25%. 

If the PN does not keep its promise, said the author of the PL's upcoming electoral manifesto, it would effectively be defaulting on it. He's absolutely right.

At the same time, he added candidly, this is "not the right time to implement it" either. And he's right again. 

So what is so odd about this? Well, if I may put it this way, two rights sometimes do make a wrong. Allow me explain.

Karmenu Vella's spot on this-is-not-the-right-time position is diametrically opposed to what Joseph Muscat has been saying for the last two years. 

Joseph Muscat wanted Lawrence Gonzi to keep his promise to reduce income tax by 35% just as Europe was going pear-shaped in the middle of the financial crisis. 

Here's what the Labour leader had said:  

“Kull sena li tgħaddi u ma jżommx kelmtu, il-Prim Mi­nistru qed jieħu lill-familji u jixxotta mill-ekonomija €47 miljun li kien wiegħed li se jħallilhom. Joseph Muscat qal li b’dan il-Baġit, sal-aħħar tal-2011, Lawrence Gonzi se jkun ħa lill-familji €141 miljun (140 ghad-dritt).” 

                                                             (l-orizzont, 26/10/10)