Gonzi casts doubts on Labour's financing

Nationalist Party leader Lawrence Gonzi cast doubts on the Labour Party's financing, citing the large number of billboards the Opposition has erected in recent months, saying that "Labour's financing arouses a lot of curiosity."

Speaking at PN headquarters, Gonzi was accompanied by deputy leader Simon Busuttil, secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier, general council president Paula Mifsud Bonnici and the party's executive council president Marthese Portelli.

The PN leader said that the party was "ready to embark on an electoral campaign" and announced that a rally for supporters will be held on Wednesday and a fund-raising marathon will be held on Sunday. The campaign will then resume on 7 January.

Transport minister, Austin Gatt, one of the main reasons why Nationalist MP Franco Debono voted against the Budget on Monday was lurking in the background as Gonzi and the PN officials addressed the media.

Speaking on the PN's fund-raising activity on Sunday, Gonzi said that he was intrigued by the Labour Party's expensive campaign, noting that the Opposition's billboards far exceeded the PN's, adding that these cost thousands.. 

"It appears that Labour has a substantial amount of funds, which the we do not have," he said.

Quizzed why the Nationalist administration procrastinated on the implementation of a party financing law, authored b y Franco Debono, Gonzi said that the bill was supported by the PN and not by one person alone, adding that he hoped that a future PN government would be able to move legislation on party funding.

"The PN must be proud of its achievements in job creation, health and education in very difficult circumstances. This is not only the government's victory but it is the people's victory. We will do our best to convince the people to confirm their confidence in us because we have proved to be the agents of change and un like Labour, the people know where they stand with us," Gonzi said.

The Prime Minister said the people cannot trust Labour because the last time it was in government, led by Alfred Sant and current Opposition leader Joseph Muscat by his side, Labour embarrassed the whole country by freezing Malta EU membership, introduced 33 new taxes in 18 months, increased the deficit, suffocated the private sector and turned student stipends into loans.

Insisting on calling the Franco Debono debacle as "irrelevant" Gonzi said the party "will not look back but is only interested in looking forward."

However, despite refusing to react to Debono's accusations of allowing an oligarchy to hijack the PN and the government, the PN leader cited a number of issues which the Ghaxaq MP had made his own such as justice reform, transparency and accountability. Gonzi said these issues where important and warranted attention by the next government.

Gonzi was addressing the press in the wake of a brief executive council meeting held on Tuesday afternoon. In the press conference Gonzi highlighted the government's achievements in education, health and job creation and insisted that the PN has "confidence in the people's abilities."

"I humbly feel privileged and honoured to have led the country and the party during recent years and I believe that we have done our best to fulfil our duties," Gonzi said.

While admitting that things could have been done differently and better, Gonzi said that under his stewardship, the country achieved well in health, education and job creation. On the other hand, Gonzi said that the Labour Party "was, is and remains socialist," adding that the Opposition has still not returned the land and buildings it requisitioned in the past, to the people.

"In the past five years the Nationalist Party returned public spaces to the people and invested heavily in the environment," Gonzi said.  

Asked whether the PN will adopt a new style in its electoral campaign when compared to the 2008 GonziPN concept, the Prime Minister said that "no individual is greater than the party" and said the PN's 2013 campiagn will be based on the promise to fulfil the ambitions and aspirations of the whole country.

Turning his attention to the 2013 Budget, Gonzi warned against the Opposition's "populism" and accused the Labour Party of "taking the nest of both worlds by endorsing the PN's budget but voting against it."

He said: "Populism must be swept away," adding that the PN is the only party that can reassure the implementation sustainable policies.