Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this morning that it was only with sound finances that the country could continue to afford social services.
He said when speaking at a PN activity in Villa Arrigo that in the 2013 Budget, the government had allocated €787 million for social services, an increase of €37 million over last year.
“It is only with a PN government that the country can continue to sustain this level of social benefits.”
On the other hand, he argued, Dr Muscat and the Labour Party were already showing gross incompetence in the management of the country’s finances, so much so that that they were proposing the building of a power station which the country did not need and which would cost €600 million.
He said that a PN government had always shown that it could choose the right priorities for the country, whereas Labour continued to plan projects whose funds could be used elsewhere.
Dr Gonzi said that in the coming five years, the government would continue to act against abuse and would continue to help those most in need. These included single parents, persons with disabilities and families with low income.