Gonzi demands ‘integrity’ from PN candidates

The Nationalist Party presented its electoral manifesto and candidates for the 10 March local council elections. The party's manifesto is centred around the family and PN leader Lawrence Gonzi urged the all candidates to work hard on a local level in the interest of families.

Gonzi appealed for integrity and seriousness which "distinguishes the Nationalist Party" from his candidates and urged them to implement the "ambitious plan the PN has for localities." Gonzi told the candidates to "meet as many families as possible and ask for their confidence."

He addressed the party candidates at the end of a seminar held at the PN headquarters in Pieta. The PN will present 198 candidates and launched a 30-point manifesto named "Localities for our families".

"Our candidates will make sure families get what they really aspire for and need in order to move forward," he said.  

Gonzi stressed the importance of the family and said that the PN councillors elected, even in minority councils will "work hard and implement projects for the benefit of families, children, youth and the elderly."

He boasted of his government's record and said "although the country faced difficult times during this legislature, government invested €160 million in local councils in the last four years."

Gonzi criticised the Labour Party for putting "partisan pique ahead of our families' best interests." He also lambasted the Opposition for its record in Mosta. "Altghough millions were available in funds for local councils, the Mosta local council had n o interest in applying for such funds."

The Labour-led local council in Mosta was involved in a controversy last year, when Mayor Paul Chetcuti Caruana was involved in an outburst and ordered council employees to destroy an article written by fellow Labour councillor Josette Agius Decelis which appeared on the council's magazine. Chetcuti Caruana has since been dropped by Labour from its list of candidates.

"The Opposition's two page manifesto includes the proposal to provide wi-fi and internet in localities. Go tell them that government and local councils have been providing in many localities for ages," Gonzi said. He also said that government is embarking on a project to be the "first country in Europe to provide fibre optic internet to all homes."

The PN leader thanked the candidates for their efforts and sacrifices and asked them to "leave the party's fingerprint on their localities". He also thanked all outgoing councillors including those that "chose not to re-contest elections for valid reasons."

In the past weeks a number of prominent PN councillors and mayors have said that they will not contest elections due to pending court cases involving their public roles.