PN Mass meeting - Gonzi warns Labour would mean uncertainty

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this afternoon urged the people to compare his government’s record with that of the Sant government and warned that while the PN government meant stability, a Labour one would mean uncertainty.

Speaking at his party’s first mass meeting of the electoral campaign, on the granaries in Floriana, Dr Gonzi said the March 8 election was vital for the country’s future and especially for the future of young people.

He recalled that on March 8 five years ago the people chose to take Malta into the European Union, against the advice of the Labour Party whose officials had not changed since.

The decision taken by the people five years ago had been proved to be the correct one, and the country was benefiting from the outcome, as could be seen by the strong economic growth which was being experienced.

It was this growth which needed to be maintained after the general election, Dr Gonzi said.

He urged his listeners to remember how Malta was under the MLP and how it is now. Malta had also changed significantly since Malta joined the EU, he said.

Yet Dr Sant was now saying he wanted to reopen the EU accession package. While still in opposition, Dr Sant had already drawn a negative reaction from the EU and created uncertainty in Malta.

Dr Gonzi recalled how the present government had reduced the deficit to just 1.6 percent of GDP, reduced the public debt and attracted record investment for Malta which had translated into a record number of gainfully occupied. Malta had attracted a string of pharmaceutical factories and SmartCity, which would have been scared away if the MLP had been in power.

Dr Gonzi spoke against the MLP proposal to introduce a reception class before primary school and said that in contrast, the present government had broadened educational opportunities. And while the MLP had reduced stipends, this government extended them for certain studies.

Dr Gonzi also pointed out capital projects undertaken by the government including new roads funded by EU and Italian funds, the new hospital and the rehabilitation of Maghtab.

The Prime Minister also spoke on the PN’s promise to further reduce income tax and said that in contrast, what Dr Sant had wanted was to devalue the then lira by 10 percent.