The Nationalist Party says that it will spend €1.1 billion to carry out its proposals over the next five years, if it is re-elected.

That revenue is to come, according to Finance Minister Tonio Fenech (January 29), from economic growth, expenditure cuts and more income tax revenue.

There is only one thing wrong in the first two: Fenech has never delivered on his forecasts. It is a trait he shares with his party leader.

Even if it does not dish out consultancies wildly, as it has done so far, I cannot see the PN in government cutting expenditure.

Not even if all the ministers start taking free rides with industrialists on their jet planes when they go abroad on business and if blue-eyed boys are all denied their perks.

Extravagance is built into the Nationalist Party’s psyche.

Can Fenech show us how it will be possible to cut expenditure now, after amassing a €5 billion public debt? Could not the Government have done that, I mean economise, before running up such a millstone? If they could not do so before now, how will it be possible to do it in the coming legislature?

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