Gonzi accuses Labour of illogical procrastination

Were it for the Malta Labour Party, history would pass us by on May 1 as Malta would not be among the new countries joining the new enlarged Europe, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

Speaking at the PN party club in Mosta, Dr Gonzi said that if Malta stayed out of the EU, as the MLP wanted, there would be no elections for the European parliament in Malta on June 12 and that is one of the reasons why people should not consider voting for MLP candidates at these elections.

"Fortunately, people saw through Labour and took up the challenge to vote for EU membership. People now should also see who has been consistent about EU membership and the eight PN candidates are a guarantee of consistency where the EU is concerned," Dr Gonzi said.

"All of them have a vision and believed in EU membership out of conviction, not out of convenience.

"On June 12, people should make a choice of the best ambassadors for the EU so that Malta keeps moving ahead and its voice is heard in the EU," Dr Gonzi said.

He said the MLP was still the same and procrastinated illogically digging its heels in, only making U-turns when it was inevitable. It did so with VAT, with local councils and was now doing it with the EU issue and the elections for the European parliament.

"Local councils changed the face of Malta and need to be encouraged further. VAT is no longer an issue only after the MLP agreed to accept it was the best system before last year's general election. Now the MLP is trying to win seats in the European parliament after having been against the EU," he said.

PN candidates in the European parliament will form part of the European People's Party, which is the biggest block in the European parliament. Hence, their voice would be amplified, Dr Gonzi said.

He denied reports in the Labour press that party general secretary Joe Saliba would be taking up Josef Bonnici's seat in parliament. "Mr Saliba is doing an excellent job and we will keep him as general secretary," Dr Gonzi said.