Wrong decision on 9 March would lead to economic ‘collapse’ – Gonzi

Accusing Labour leader Joseph Muscat of not having understood anything on how a country's economy is run, PN leader Lawrence Gonzi warned against "changing for the sake of change."

He said Muscat's comments in an interview he gave to The Times in which the Opposition leader said that Malta's economic stability happened despite the Government, "not because of it" showed that Muscat did not understand anaything.

Insisting that only the PN could guarantee safe and secure economic management, Gonzi said "a PN government will continue investing in education, health and create jobs. We know where we have come from and we know where we want to go."

Gonzi said that if the country's economy is not safe and secure, the country would not be in a position to afford to provide free education and health services of the highest quality. "We cannot get it wrong, if we make the wrong decision it will affect the future of our children and our young people."

Speaking in Siggiewi, Gonzi asked what is the direction the Opposition leader Joseph Muscat and his clique want to take Malta. "We cannot trust somebody who is not saying where he wants to take the country."

He reminded that during the past legislature Muscat branded him incompetent and urged him to emulate Cyprus, which is now asking for a bailout, Gonzi said: "I have a right to know what he wants to copy from the Cypriot model. I want to know now before the election, I want to know what changes Muscat will carry out if he is in government."

"What will you change in tourism, what will you change in the financial services, what will you change in the IT sector, what will you change in education? If you are not going to change anything then might as well have the PN remain at the helm," a forceful Prime Minister said.

Gonzi said voting for Labour could lead to a "total collapse" of the country's economy, adding that countries who asked for a bailout like Ireland lost control of their destiny. "We will do all we can to prevent this from happening," he told the PN supporters in Siggiewi.

Taking a dig at Labour's aspirations to unite the country and make Malta the best country in the European Union, PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil said: "Labour's aspirations cannot be taken seriously because the Opposition was opposed to EU membership. That is the greatest difference between the two parties...Labour is always 10 years too late."

He went on to remind the party faithful of Labour leader Joseph Muscat's stern opposition to EU membership, joining the eurozone and the Marsaskala recycling plant among others.

"The difference is that we admit our own shortcomings...yes we have committed mistakes, some people might be hurt and we will do our utmost to make amends. On 9 March the country needs you, so go and vote in favour of the country. To the Nationalists following us today, I have one simple message, do not give up...we will face this election with courage and we will contest these election to win them," Busuttil said in an impassioned plea.

Speaking earlier on, PN secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier said the party's electoral programme would be issued this week. "The week ahead is very important, this week we will put forward our proposals...have a good look at them because we do not expect people to vote for us blindly, we have always been the party with a clear vision for the country."