[attach id=237452 size="medium"]Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday attended a PN event in Iklin. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi[/attach]

A new Nationalist Government will never allow the country to experience the crisis of youth unemployment, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi pledged yesterday.

“I almost fell off the chair (during the Mcast debate) when Muscat spoke about the youth guarantee,” he said.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat had referred to EU funds only available to countries that faced youth unemployment, which was not the case for Malta, Dr Gonzi said.

Speaking during a Nationalist Party political activity under a tent in Iklin, he said he had enjoyed the leaders’ debate at the Malta College for Arts Science and Technology.

“Although there were many in the hall who did not like what I said... they know that they can clap or boo till tomorrow but, what really matters is whether they find jobs when they graduate.”

Voting for a Nationalist government on March 9 would be choosing the path to guaranteed employment, he said, adding that the PL was not addressing the importance of job creation.

Dr Gonzi said that throughout the campaign, Dr Muscat was trying to please everyone but this was not possible.

“With this attitude that Muscat is adopting it is clear that he has no idea how he will ensure we will have an economy that will keep generating employment... be careful... it is you who will pay the price and not Joseph Muscat,” the Prime Minister said.

He added that Dr Muscat seemed to believe that Smart City was the only way to create jobs in ICT. This was not the case – and it showed that Dr Muscat had no idea how to run the economy.

“The choice is yours. It all depends on having sound finances. We could have spent all our money and promised everything to everyone... but that would have meant bringing Malta to its knees,” he said.