Commenting on the government’s ‘National Strategy for Social Protection and Inclusion,’ which sets a plan for the next two years, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party Chairperson Arnold Cassola stated, “The year 2012 will be the EU year against poverty and we should take the opportunity as a catalyst to combat poverty and enhance social inclusion, ensuring a decent quality of life for all including workers, employees, young people and pensioners.”

“With the high energy prices and a weakening of spending power many peoples’ standard of living will fall below the poverty line. It is imperative that today’s budget includes measures to combat poverty,” concluded Prof. Cassola.

AD Spokesperson for Health and Social Protection Mary Anne Zammit added: “The social protection and inclusion strategy should be revised as it fails to include all vulnerable groups in our society. The strategy should map out measures to tackle the needs of genuine single mothers, widows and widowers, aftercare services for former prisoners, which are crucial for combating crime and relapse, the homeless and other minorities like LGBT people who often suffer from discrimination.”

All these social groups should benefit from equal rights and effective protection like any other citizen.

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