The Muscats’ Penchant For Holidays Called Into Question After Prime Minister Declares Same Bank Figure For Fifth Consecutive Year
The holiday arrangements of Prime Minister and his family have once again been called into questioned after Joseph Muscat declared the same €75,000 bank figure for the fifth consecutive year.
Muscat has declared the figure in his parliamentary financial disclosure every year since 2014.
The Times of Malta on Sunday details how last year Muscat and his family took trips to Rome, Australia, Greece, Chicago, and Italy once again. The trip to Australia, notably, was an extended family holiday after Muscat’s official visit to the country.
How much does the Prime Minister earn?
The report in question also goes into significant detail over Muscat’s earnings. The Prime Minister, as according to official documents, earns €55,978 plus €6,769 in allowances or roughly €44,000 after tax and NI.
Using the household budgetary survey and NSO figure on average family spend, the report details how a two-children household spends €29,000 annually.
With an estimated €8,000 spend on private education (less already factored in costs), the final expenditure for the Muscats is €35,584 (factoring in other elements).
So, how are the Prime Minister’s family able to go on so many holidays?
Once again referring to the household budgetary survey, it is estimated that an average Maltese family would spend €2,324 on hotels and restaurants. This leads to the assumption that the Prime Minister must have a €10,740 holiday fund.
Taking into account that the average Maltese family spends €646 on holiday (typically in Europe to locations like Greece and Italy), the Muscats are estimated to have spent €3,876 on their holidays around Europe.
However, assuming that the trips to Chicago and Australia would be more costly due to flights (€4,500 in total for both), the report concludes that their estimated titan holiday spend is €9,376…that’s 21.3% of his net income.
This leaves the Prime Minister with just €1,364 left of annual income.
The figure seems all the more puzzling when taking into the account the costs related to water, electricity, housing, food, drink, transport, and as the report points out, Michelle Muscat’s well-publicised interests in fashion.
This is not the first time that the Muscats penchant for travelling has come into question after the receipt of an €11,000 stay in Dubai was leaked to the press. At the time, Muscat said that the trip was to celebrate his 20th wedding anniversary.
A freedom of information request for the travel details of the Prime Minister was not answered when The Times of Malta On Sunday published the article.
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