Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this evening that the next election could be the most important yet, as the country chose between peace of mind and failed policies.
Speaking during Independence celebrations at the Floriana granaries, he told supporters that the Nationalists were always the authors of change throughout history, ensuring independence in 1964, democracy in 1987 and EU membership in 2004.
Dr Gonzi said Malta now had to continue doing well for itself despite the international challenges, where countries which used to be admired now floundering.
"Our diligence has helped us overcome the challenges but we are still at a very delicate juncture," he said.
The PN Government managed to create 20,000 jobs in four years - despite everything going wrong - but the next four years needed the creation of another 20,000, if not more, in order to keep up with the rate of graduates, he said.
He said children must continue to be given the best education opportunities. "We cannot take things for granted or take risks," he said.
Dr Gonzi said jobs had to be created for everyone, including pensioners, who could now work without losing their pensions and the increasing number of women who opted to seek a job.
Dr Gonzi spoke about the PN's billboard "Labour won't work", saying that although many people did not like to talk about the past, one could not ignore the fact that Labour failed every time it was given a chance to prove itself.
"If a doctor gives you medicine that makes you even more sick, you do not call the doctor again," he said, adding that the greatest figures of unemployment were always under Labour administrations. He said leader Joseph Muscat was against EU membership and had given wrong advice on the economy, time and time again. Meanwhile, Labour MEP Edward Scicluna has continued to advocate Mintoffian economics.
Dr Gonzi said the PN had changed the country from its core without experimenting with people's futures. He said a prime example of this was in the financial services sector. He concluded by saying that a main priority for the next Government would be to ensure energy supply since the economic growth since 1985 meant an increase in demand from 190 megawatts to 670 megawatts, projected for 2015.