Muscat has no experience in running economy or country – Fenech

The 9 March election is about whether Malta remains on track and continues making inroads despite the difficult circumstances, finance minister Tonio Fenech said.

Although Fenech admitted that the PN administration had its own shortcomings however insisted that the party was the only guarantee to build on the progress achieved in the last five years.

Speaking on the PN's radio station this morning, Fenech warned the electorate not to take any risk with their jobs or children's education by trusting the country in Labour leader Joseph Muscat's inexperienced hands.

Despite being interviewed for almost 90 minutes, Fenech failed to make any direct reference to the Enemalta oil scandal and accusations levelled against him by Labour in regards to a gift he received from state witness George Farrugia.

Instead the finance minister spoke about the economy and job creation. Insisting that the country's economy was moving in the right direction, Fenech emphasised the importance of the European Commission's winter forecast, which placed Malta second in the eurozone and fifth in the EU27 in terms of GDP growth.

"The European Commission confirmed the positive outlook on the Maltese economy," Fenech said, while pointing out that the EC report showed that Malta's economy was set to grow by five times as much as the EU average.

On the other hand the finance minister stressed that other countries, including Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Portugal and Slovenia were set for negative growth.

"The report also shows that Cyprus' economy will shrink by 3.5% which dispels Labour leader Joseph Muscat's advice to model our economy on Cyprus."

Fenech said the positive outlook came as a result job creation policy, economic management, incentives and measures to create new jobs.

"Lets not throw everything away. A wrong decision on 9 March could mean a turn for the worse in terms of jobs, education and economic stability. The crisis is still hovering above us, and this is not the time to make a change and experiment. Joseph Muscat has no experience in managing an economy. What experience does he have in running a country?"

In contrast, the PN leader and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi not only had the necessary experience but also enjoyed great respect from fellow European leaders, as shown in the recent EU budget negotiations, Fenech said.

He added: "Don't take anything for granted. Nice words could translate in loss of jobs and it will not be easy to regain what is lost. Labour is clearly telling us that they will not do anything to bolster the economy and create new jobs."

Fenech explained that he was shocked by Labour MP Chris Cardona's claim that a Labour government would not help industry, but just refrain from hampering industry.

"If the current government followed Cardona's advice, Malta would have lost 5,000 jobs if the government had not acted swiftly to aid industry and save jobs which were on the brink. Does this mean that Labour will refrain from acting if a factory is about to close down?" Fenech asked.

"Does this mean that Joseph Muscat will do nothing to aid industry while   exalting himself on how the economy grows on its own steam? Why is Labour's electoral manifesto, littered with copied proposals or proposals

which have already been implemented, make no reference to how Labour will create new jobs?"

Insisting that jobs and the economy are at the centre of PN policy, Fenech said: "one wrong decision would crush the confidence in our internal economy."

"The fear is not Alternattiva Demokratika being elected, but the real fear is if Labour is elected to government. The business community was never hit as hard as it was in 1996," Fenech said, adding that Labour's track record was blemished with the highest rates of unemployment and reduced economic activity.

He insisted that if the country fails to create 25,000 new jobs, the objectives set by the EU would not be achieved. "If these jobs are not created we will face unemployment trouble. That is why Labour's lack of clear plans in job creation is worrying."

While stressing that the PN's credentials in sound economic management were confirmed by the government's success in creating 20,000 jobs in the last five years, Fenech said: "That is why we will introduce measures to encourage women to join the workforce, attract further investment, aid small businesses and introduce family friendly measures."

He explained that job creation would be achieved by attracting more investment in manufacturing, tourism, services and information technology.

"However, creating jobs must go hand in hand with education. We must ensure that our workforce is adequately prepared for the new opportunities which will be created," Fenech said.

The finance minister added that the PN's proposals on education, including providing all students with a tablet and constructing new schools, are not short-term policies aimed at winning votes, "but our policies are looking at the country's needs and interests over the next 20 years."