Nationalists will work harder to balance the books, says Busuttil
PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil last night. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
A Nationalist government would work to achieve a balanced Budget “within the next legislature,” party deputy leader Simon Busuttil said yesterday.
The party’s 2008 commitment to balance the books had been derailed by the global financial crisis, Dr Busuttil said, but, despite economic problems, the Government had brought the deficit below the EU’s three per cent threshold.
Speaking at a party activity in Mellieħa, Dr Busuttil repeatedly drew parallels between Malta’s economy and that of recession-battered Greece and Cyprus.
He mentioned Greece’s high rate of unemployment – 26 per cent – and taxation, warning that an “irresponsible government” would wreak havoc on people’s pockets.
“We had to make some hard decisions but they paid off because they allowed us to invest in work, health and education,” Dr Busuttil said as Finance Minister Tonio Fenech looked on.
Angela Merkel’s praise of the island’s economic management was another feather in the country’s cap, he noted.
Dr Busuttil repeated charges that the Labour Party’s energy proposals were little more than “a gimmick” and said that while the PN was all in favour of lower tariffs, it would only do this “responsibly and when it was possible to do so”.
Economics professor Lino Briguglio lent Dr Busuttil’s economic arguments some credence, saying that the economy had been “by and large well managed” and that criticism of this legislature was unlikely to be focused on the economy.
Prof. Briguglio, whose son, Michael, heads Alternattiva Demokratika, prefaced his comments by saying he was not there to endorse any political party.
He said that the management of public finances, coupled with conservative banks focused on the local market, had led to Malta avoiding the worst ravages of the financial crisis.
He argued, however, that a greater effort had to be made to bring more women into the workforce while noting that a relatively low percentage of adults worked in Malta.
Lawyer Mariosa Vella Cardona agreed and suggested extending school opening hours.
Tax incentives were not enough, she said. “What’s crucial is helping women achieve a work-life balance.”
Dr Busuttil agreed with the two speakers but noted that female workforce participation was up to 44 per cent and rising and that Malta had never in its history had as many workers as it did today.
Describing the PN’s educational achievements as “the greatest legacy any PN government could ever leave” he again warned that successes in the sector depended on having sound finances.
“We’ve given you a secure past and a secure present. Now we’re guaranteeing you a secure future. People showing up with gimmicks aren’t credible,” Dr Busuttil told the applauding crowd.
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Joseph Buhagiar
Jan 14th, 05:08
I disagree our future is secure. Europe lost sight of the real problem -- it stems from high administrative burdens, endless rules, regulations which have made Europe uncompetitive. Malta 5000 Million depth. Income tax, VAT on top, And now we learn of a power station deadly mistake that definitely need to change to Gas.And we are are safe. How can you say we are safe.
Lawrence Fenech
Jan 14th, 03:25
Certainly Simon by adding 500 euros per week in the ministers pockets, balancing 800 million euros debt in the Enemalta power station, 600,000,000 euro piled up debt and 500,000 euros per day interest, a useless plarliament a half baked theatre and a now outdated double paid Mater Dei, it will take more than a wizard to balance all the damage the GonziPN has made to the Malta finances.
Joseph Borg
Jan 13th, 17:41
Maybe after gonzipn is history and you are the new leader, ok?
Alfred J. McEwen
Jan 13th, 12:57
Oh. so Busuttil is admitting that the books are`nt balanced and must work harder to do so ..is that it? No small wonder when millions are spent uselessly on projects such as the new Parliament house and a roofless theatre, and how about a 500,000000 euro plus tunnel to Gozo or a 700,000 euro loan write off to some muslim school and a 300,000 euro annual grant to top it all?
Joseph Bugeja
Jan 10th, 19:19
Simon stop trying to make us believe a lie to be a truth. Your party brought us to this mess (though you try to give the impression that are finances are 'strong').
Just condemn them if you want us to have a shred of trust in you.
Victor Vella
Jan 10th, 19:16
Nationalists will work harder to balance the books, says Busuttil- Of Course Busuttil. Robbing the people by paying taxes and you and the PN earn 600€ a week. The people will work harder and earn peanuts and you become rich. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Charles Massa
Jan 10th, 19:09
Jista jejdilna kif u meta u minn fejn gejjin il flus? Ta min ifakkar li din kienet wedgha ta GONZIPN fi 2008 li sa 2010 ikolna surplus budget. Kulhadd jaf li din il wedgha bhal hafna ohrajn ma twettiqx u l gvern kompla jiddejjen bil konsegwenza li lum inhalsu interessi fuq id dejn aktar milli nonfqu fl edukazzjoni u sahha
Lino Busuttil
Jan 10th, 18:39
Is Simon talking about balancing the books regarding voters? there is a deficit there as well. As a tax payer I expect Simon to mention the end of corruption and the end of siphoning of public money by the big fat fish who have been eating all the cake from the country's coffers. Ruining the entrance of Valletta by throwing away our tax money on an extravagant ugly parliament and a roofless theater
E. Azzopardi
Jan 10th, 15:10
We have been hearing this since three or four years. I do not believe it.
Adrian Borg
Jan 10th, 12:41
Why does Dr Busuttil persist in striking comparisons with Greece and Cyprus?
To try and convince us that Malta has a less irresponsible government, may be.
I would like to see comparisons with Austria, Luxemburg, the Netherlands etc…
George Calleja
Jan 10th, 16:51
It was your dear Joseph who wanted Gonzi to follow in Cyprus's footsteps, my friend!!!!
Joseph Bugeja
Jan 10th, 19:15
O.K. George how about Ireland. It was your (P.N.'s) role model and it was the first to go belly up.
Bisides it was the P.N. who brought the imbalance and enormous debt not the P.L. so what feat would it be to rein in what your same party squandered.
Carmel J. Caruana
Jan 13th, 16:01
@ George Calleja
This Joseph Muscat and Cyprus thing is just PN spin. I have been to Cyprus twice: better hotels, financial services, hospitals, roads, educational system than ours. The economic crisis in Cyprus arose simply because Greek Cypriots for historical reasons invested heavily in Greece, when the latter went down it pulled Cyprus down with it. Nothing to do with wrong economic models.
A Spiteri
Jan 10th, 11:18
how can you balance the books when you are committed for free medicines, stipends, welfare state and all those benefits?!
you can only balance the books by cut spending, and no one is even talking about it!
Norman E Grech
Jan 10th, 12:24
@ A Spiteri
You do have a point:
Medicines is the least that worries me. Health should come first, and if we have money for a new parliamant which we definitely did not need, or a roofless theatre, we should find money for health. Although there is a racket in the cost of medicines etc
Stipends: I hope these same students will contribute generously in years to come in the form of taxes!
francis x caruana
Jan 10th, 09:47
Now you want to balance books. Too late.
Norman E Grech
Jan 10th, 09:18
Is this guy for real?
Does he think the public can yet again be deceived into thinking that the PN know any other than always putting our finances in the big red? Doesn't he realise that we can see the panic which has taken over the PN front liners? PN's track record is what it is! It will always only take a labour government to bring our house in order. Period!
fred fellon
Jan 10th, 11:25
Public Works workers in Gozo only work jUST 1 HOUR a day and get payed for 8, that is how we got low unemployment.
Please choose the reason of your report below: