Labour spells disaster while Nationalist governments deliver even in the most difficult situations, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

Leader’s models have failed

High levels of unemployment and economic stagnation characterised Malta whenever Labour was given a fraction of power in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, when other countries were being successful, Dr Gonzi said.

On the other hand, the Nationalist government created 20,000 jobs in four years despite the economic crises.

Interviewed on Radio 101, Dr Gonzi said “Labour doesn’t even know how to count,”referring to the Opposition’s claim that only 10,000 jobs had been created.

“As if that were not a lot already,” he added.

Dr Gonzi said the PN was not only focusing on immediate job creation but investing in the sectors of the future including life sciences and digital gaming.

He told people to expect huge opportunities for specialisation in the gaming sector within a short period of time.

Dr Gonzi said Labour leader Joseph Muscat had advised the government to follow the footsteps of Cyprus and Spain’s Socialist ex-Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

Now, Cyprus was learning from Malta and Spain had reached 23 per cent unemployment. “Muscat’s models have failed,” he said.

Dr Gonzi also referred to the recent controversy over medical consultants who were appointed by selection boards despite not meeting eligibility criteria.

After days of insinuating corruption, Dr Muscat changed his tune as soon as he found out one of the boardmembers was Labour candidate Franco Mercieca.