Labour still euro sceptic - Gonzi

The Malta Labour Party is still a euro sceptic party and as such is a danger to Malta's achievements as a European Union member, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

This apart from Labour's negativity, its adoption of a "losers' policy" and a leader who has a national inferiority complex, Dr Gonzi said at a press conference at the Valletta Waterfront.

He said Malta had been lucky that Labour leader Alfred Sant had been in opposition all these years. During that time he continued to express ideas which, if implemented, would have destabilised the country and the citizens' standard of living. Those ideas included the devaluation of the Maltese lira, the notion of renegotiating parts of Malta's EU accession agreement, the opposition to the introduction of the euro and to the arrival of low-cost carriers.

When Dr Sant was Prime Minister for just 22 months between 1996 and 1998, the deficit increased by 10 per cent, unemployment soared by 1,565, VAT was abolished and CET introduced with a tax of up to 29 per cent on certain products, the stipend system was changed into loans, a tax was introduced on every door and the price of water and electricity soared.

The MLP, he said, was now only planning to create 2,000 jobs a year when the country needed at least 5,000. The Nationalist Party in government created 20,000 jobs in four years, took measures which led to an employment figure of 169,000, reduced unemployment to its lowest levels in 12 years and attracted the largest ever amount of foreign direct investment.

Moreover, it took measures to strengthen the foundations of the economy which made it possible for the country to adopt the euro.

The party's track record was a fact, not a political opinion. "The PN is a guarantee of more employment opportunities and this is different to what Malta will face if Alfred Sant governs, since he is still sceptical about Europe."

Taking questions from journalists, Dr Gonzi said it was still a mystery what the MLP in government would do with the €855 million (Lm367,050,000) Malta attained from the EU. On the other hand, the PN was planning to invest them on the upgrading of five industrial zones and five beaches, on the Ta' Qali crafts village and on projects to upgrade the Grand Harbour and Valletta area.

"We believe in the future of this country and its citizens but this is only guaranteed if the PN is elected in Saturday's general election," he concluded.