German MEP Manfred Weber yesterday urged the Maltese not to “change the winning team”.
All over Europe, the Socialists are against reforms
Mr Weber, vice president of the EPP, said his party had been governing in Bavaria for more than 50 years, winning a “big majority” in every election since World War II.
“Change is not a value in itself, but stability is,” he said, adding that stability has helped turn the region into a strong and modernised economic zone.
Stressing that Malta was one of the positive examples in the EU, Mr Weber said the Socialists left “disasters” in Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Greece.
“All over Europe, the Socialists are against reforms... This election in Malta is not only an internal affair but a signal in the eurozone,” he said.
He was speaking at a press conference where Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said voters had no choice but to re-elect the PN because it was the only party promising to create 25,000 jobs. Labour did not even list this amount of job creation as an “ambition” despite the fact that fewer jobs would spark mass unemployment, said Mr Fenech.
Asked about De La Rue, Mr Fenech said the security printing company wanted to stay in Malta but had to restructure to remain competitive. He said the Government was willing to help the company invest.
Meanwhile, PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil said the PN would continue to “open doors” and create jobs, using the €1.1 billion in EU funds negotiated by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
Dr Busuttil said Malta would be contributing about €500 million to the EU, so the net balance received would be €627 million, but Malta would still benefit from €1.1 billion invested in the country.
Asked about the PN’s latest billboard, which shows Labour leader Joseph Muscat and Dr Gonzi in red and blue face paint respectively, Dr Busuttil defended it as “tongue in cheek”.
He also compared it to Labour’s pre-electoral billboards which showed Dr Gonzi as a Brazilian footballer and later as Father Christmas.
“The message is clear: they are both Maltese but you have to choose one of them,” he said.
Asked about the appointment of chairmen to government boards, Mr Fenech said it had always been PN policy to appoint people of integrity.
Mr Fenech noted that former Ene-malta chairman Tancred Tabone, who has been charged with bribery and fraud, was also respected in the business world and had been elected as president of the Chamber of Commerce.
“Unfortunately, these things happen,” he said.
Mr Fenech said if gifts were given out to Enemalta officials or politicians regarding the oil scandal, he expected the police would bring this up as part of their “corruption” case.