Nationalist Party Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil said this evening that a PN government would be committed to achieving a balanced budget within the next legislature.

Speaking in Mellieha, he repeatedly made comparisons with the situation in Malta, Greece and Cyprus, comparing economic statistics including taxation and high unemployment.

He warned that Malta would be in the same situation of those two countries if government finances were not well managed.

Economist Lino Briguglio, who took part in the discussion, said he was not there to endorse any political party. However, by and large, the Maltese government was being well managed, and this was not an area to criticise the government.

Dr Busuttil underscored the PN electoral logo of A secure Future - jobs, health and education, and said that all three depended on sound finances.

Dr Mariosa Vella Cardona noted that the female participation rate in the workforce was growing, but it was important that the people had a proper work-life balance.

Dr Busuttil said education was the PN government's most important legacy. It was under the PN that the university's doors had been opened to all, he said.

He reiterated his view that the PL's energy plan is a huge gimmick and said the PN would show it up.

He would be the first to agree that tariffs should be as low as possible, and a PN government would reduce them, when that was possible, but one had to act responsibly, he said.

What the PL was promising was too good to be true, he said.

He said the PN had given the people a secure past and a secure present and could guarantee them a secure possible.