Gonzi insists budget is ‘moment of truth’

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi insisted that the government will go ahead and present the budget despite the Opposition's attempts to bring government down.

"We are at an important point. We have navigated all the way to the end of the legislature and all that is left is the Budget. This budget is important. The captain must take the ship to port and be ready for another voyage," Gonzi said.

The budget is expected to be presented by mid-November. The government is however facing two stumbling blocks in Parliament, in the form of a motion tabled by the Opposition asking for the repeal of the privitisation process for public car parks and a no-confidence motion in Transport minister Austin Gatt tabled by Nationalist MP Franco Debono. On Monday, the Speaker Michael Frendo is expected to decide on the Opposition's request to have the two motions fast-tracked. 

"We are working on the budget and we will present it in Parliament. Labour is playing a game to stop us from presenting the budget. The Opposition wants to bring government down but will do what is right for the country."

The PN leader said the government is determined to do "what is in the best interest of the country, workers, investors, families and young people."

"That is why we want to present the budget. It will be the movement of truth. Everybody will then have to carry responsibility," Gonzi said, in clear reference to rebel MPs Franco Debono and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando who could bring government down if any of the the two MPs vote against the Budget..

He insisted that "history will judge who was with the country and not with someone else. History will judge who was with the PN and not with somebody else. At the end of it all, good will always prevail, [Is-sewwa jirbah zgur]," Gonzi said as he concluded an impassioned plea.

The Prime Minister was answering questions posed to him by a number of post-secondary students, in Santa Venera.

Talking about the current political impasse, the bellicose PN leader said: "We will not stand still in front of this situation. Everybody has to carry his and her responsibility."

"Let's talk on serious things again. While we have weathered the storm and other countries were brought to their knees, some want to discuss car parks," Gonzi said in reference to this weeks manoeuvring in Parliament to have an Opposition motion calling for the repeal of the privatisation process of public car parks discussed urgently.

"We are weeks away from a general election, where the people will be asked to make a decision. I urge the people to judge us on what we have done over the last for years. We have brought jobs, education, we have enhanced our reputation, We have survived the Libya war, achieved economic growth and record tourist numbers."

"But our leader of the Opposition has told us that we have had a troubled four years. [EU Commission president] Barroso does not agree with Muscat," Gonzi said to great applause of the party faithful.

Urging everyone to keep things in perspective, Gonzi said the government will discuss such things but warned against ruining the country's good reputation abroad.  "The leader of the Opposition cannot distinguish what is important and what is not for the country."

On the 5 plus 5 dialogue meeting which ended on Saturday, Gonzi said he felt proud for the successful organisation and stressed that the meeting confirmed the respect the country enjoys in the international scene.

A number of ministers and MPs were present in the audience, however under fire transport minister Austin Gatt chose to stay behind the scenes, running the event together with other party officials.

The Prime Minister said Malta's economic success, despite the country's geographic isolation, is down "to the talented students and workers that give Malta an edge over the rest of the world."

Urging parents to encourage their daughters and sons to take up sciences, Gonzi said: "we must not rest on our laurels, the life sciences campus next to Mater Dei hospital will need hundreds of graduates in traditional and less traditional fields."

Recalling his initial experiences at the beginning of his legal career, Gonzi pointed out that "the educational system should not only provide theoretical training but also practical training."

During the debate in Santa Venera, a number of video clips highlighting the successes in the educational field achieved by the "government led by Lawrence Gonzi," were screened.

Commenting on these successes, Gonzi said the PN "was, is and remains the party of education," stressing that unlike the Labour Party, the PN always invested in education and put it at the centre of its politics.

Answering a question on the IT sector, Gonzi insisted that "even the IT sector is the brainchild of the Nationalist Party," and went on to attack the Opposition for its historic reluctance to introduce technology.

"That is why we believe that the Labour Party will freeze the minimum wage. They [Labour] have now said they will only increase wages when the economy is on a sound footing. On the other hand we will achieve economic growth and increase jobs and wages."

The Prime Minister pointed out that the Maltese government is currently spending 6,000 euros per year for every child in education in Malta. Gonzi said the country has achieved so much in education despite not having any natural resources and also having "people within creating obstacles," in a clear jibe at the Opposition.