Election campaign ‘should wait until after Christmas’
‘Be careful choosing leaders of the island’
Whatever the outcome of the parliamentary vote on Budget 2013, political parties should agree to let the festive season pass and kick off the electoral campaign in the new year, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.
He said the Government’s five-year legislature was drawing to a close and that an election “early next year” was “inevitable”.
However, he said, the festive season was an important time for all Maltese, so he appealed for the electoral campaign to start in January.
“Both parties can easily agree that if the Budget does not go through, they should let Christmas pass peacefully and start an electoral campaign in the beginning of the year, as was the case in 2008 when the election was held on March 8,” he said.
Speaking in a recorded interview on the party’s Radio 101, Dr Gonzi said that if the Budget did not go through, because of a possible vote against it by dissenting Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono,he would have to ask the President to dissolve Parliament.
“I honestly believe it is a good budget and I hope it will go through. But if it doesn’t, we’ll dissolve Parliament and go for an election,” he said.
The first and most important vote on the Budget will be held on December 10 after Dr Gonzi responds to Labour leader Joseph Muscat’s reply the previous week.
With the support of independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Nationalist backbencher Jesmond Mugliett secured, the Nationalist Party’s fate will depend solely on Dr Debono, who has already declared that he would vote against if Transport Minister Austin Gatt was still in the Cabinet.
The election can be held between five weeks and three months after Parliament is dissolved.
During the hour-long interview, Dr Gonzi spoke about his government’s achievements and insisted it was his party that was the agent of change in the country’s most import-ant historical successes.
“The choice people have is between a party that achieves results and a party that does not disclose any of its policies or plans and that is not explaining to us how it will achieve whatever it is promising,” he said.
“I am convinced that people will see that the PN brought about change, is bringing about change and will continue bringing about more change.
“We put our cards on the table. We showed where people will be taxed, how we are going to create more jobs and where our priorities are.”
On surveys showing the Labour Party is far ahead of the PN in popularity, Dr Gonzi said they showed a picture taken at a given time.
He criticised the PL for “taking over” the General Workers’ Union again, throwing the country back to the time when the two collaborated very closely.
He warned people, especially parents, to be careful of who they chose to lead the country for the next five years.
“Be very careful because five years is a long time. Can we afford to leave our children’s education in Labour’s hands? What guarantees do I have that a Labour government would invest in schools, in equipment?
“Our families, youths and workers can only have their minds at rest if the PN is in government. Joseph Muscat has a history of bad advice,” he said.
He acknowledged there were many people who were hurt because of difficult decisions this government had made, including the reform at Air Malta and at Malta Drydocks, but added that these were in the national interest.
Referring to MEP Simon Busuttil’s election as his deputy, Dr Gonzi said the party was reinvigorated following this election.
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 4 - Eddie Fenech Adami stable...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
16 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Maria Agius
Dec 3rd 2012, 15:08
Hopefully Franco Debono will be the Best Santa that Malta has ever had
Mr J Xerri
Dec 3rd 2012, 12:49
Probably it is better for the Prime Minister to call the election as early as possible before the Busuttil election feel good factor wears off.
Peter Murray
Dec 3rd 2012, 12:47
Why should an election wait until after Chrsitmas?As I seem to recall one took place in December 1981?Can anyone help me out to confirm this claim -or am I wrong?
Frank Zammit
Dec 3rd 2012, 12:19
Ohh yes...is that right? In the mean time, the Nationalists will have the luxury OF continuing to PURCHASE the GENERAL ELECTION by dishing out favours and giving promotions left right and centre where promotions are not needed, creating phantom jobs and promising heaven on earth. And these are the people who claim to be the champions of democracy? STOP THIS ABUSE.....PLEASE.
Michael Seychell
Dec 3rd 2012, 13:32
Mr Zammit can you substantiate your claims with proven facts as otherwise you will not be believed.
Furthermore may I remind you that it was a Labour government under KMB which employed 8000 persons a few weeks before the election, and it had to be a PN government to regularise their employment.
In Maltese we say 'Biex tiskongra trid tkun pur!'
Michael Seychell Tal-Pieta
Joseph Brincat
Dec 3rd 2012, 11:51
If the Budget does not go through,
WE will have the happiest Christmas
we ever have knowing that Gonzi pn is no
longer there >> HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
Saviour Cachia
Dec 3rd 2012, 11:51
If the budget is approved, be ready for Gonzi PN to cling to power to June, 2013. If not, and Franco Debono keeps his word, then the election will be held in March, 2013. Gonzi is only calculating his party's interest, not the country's. The frame work of the Budget for 2013 is set, who ever wins So let us enjoy Christmas and hopefully vote in March for a change.
Joseph Brincat
Dec 3rd 2012, 11:38
if the Budget does not go through you have NO say
Joseph Brincat
Dec 3rd 2012, 11:29
Gonzi pn ,If the Budget does not go through, we should let Christmas pass peacefully
O , O , O, peacefully , GOD KNOWS FROM UNDERNEATH GONZI PN WHAT HE WILL BE DOING ???
MT Caruana
Dec 3rd 2012, 11:23
At this point I have 2 options re this PM Gonzi, its or who ever is giving him information is taking him for a ride, or else he has no idea what he is talking about!!!!
I have a thought running in my mind....when will we know if the EU accepted our badgit?
anthony sultana
Dec 3rd 2012, 11:21
There is lots of mistakes in the Budget, the future will tell.No matter what GonziPN do ,the people want a change, even within the party it helps.The cost of living keeps rising by the day, which is very worrying.Most of the people personal Budget keep stretching and geting thinner by the day, so obviously you need a long rest myfriend.
Joseph Camilleri
Dec 3rd 2012, 11:20
If the leader of the opposition has any credibility and any respect towards the country, he should know better that politics are not done the way he thinks. If I was the leader of the opposition I would vote in favour of the budget once I blabbered that I will impliment it. The way he is behaving only shows that politics for him is about winning and nothing else.He has no idea at all how to move.
Austin Grech
Dec 3rd 2012, 11:13
prime minister Gonzi was warned of this. Yet he persisted to prolong the unavoidable. He alone made this a black Christmas. no wounder his party is so behind in the poles.
Ramon Casha
Dec 3rd 2012, 10:52
The electoral campaign started months ago, by all three parties.
G. Bugeja
Dec 3rd 2012, 10:44
Hekk sewwa; mela l-ewwel jibqa stionat u ji;pubblika budget li l-bambin biss jaf jekk jinhadimx imbaghad jigi jghid li biex ma ssirx kampanja elettorali fil-granet tal-festi. Il-PM kien imwissi dwardan minn bosta izda ghal darb'ohra ghazel li jaghmel ta rasu. Ir-responswabbilta issa hija kollha tieghek usr P.M.
carlos ellul
Dec 3rd 2012, 09:51
How many months of virtually no governance can malta take?
Please choose the reason of your report below: