PN means ‘change for the better’ – Busuttil

Nationalist Party deputy leader Simon Busuttil waxed lyrical about how the Nationalist Party means a "change for the better" and warned that a mistaken decision on election day can plunge the country into the sort of chaos that Cyprus and Italy and currently struggling with.

Busuttil was speaking during a political activity held in Fgura on Tuesday evening, which Busuttil said could not be attended by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi because he was busy preparing for the Times debate which would be held shortly after.

Busuttil noted that just a few days ago, Cyprus held an election during which "the people kicked out their socialist and communist government that [Labour leader] Joseph Muscat wanted us to emulate."

"Muscat wanted us to emulate Cyprus' model, which today have driven their economy into a wall and are forced to ask for a bailout. If we had followed their model we would have followed them into the wall," Busuttil said.

He said that while Cyprus's new government, "which forms part out of our political European family, the EPP" is attempting to establish the country's credibility "we don't need to say that because we retained our credibility because we led the country well along the proper road."

He also noted that the country would be soon faced with negotiating its EU bailout conditions, which will involve tax hikes and austerity measures, noting that "fortunately, the Cypriot people voted well and made the right choice."

Speaking about the Italian election, which is still unfolding, Busuttil said that "there is total political chaos that is having an effect on the Italian economy as well as the European economy."

"This shows how an election can leave the country in a question mark because it has created huge uncertainty," the Nationalist deputy leader said, adding that an electoral decision can either lead the country down the right road, or towards instability.

"That is how important an election decision is," he said, warning the public that "it would be a mistake that on 9 March we can go to vote and act as if nothing could ever happen. We will have a change, but it can be for the better or for the worse."

"With the Nationalist Party, it can be a change for the better, but with the Labour Party, it will be a change for the worse," Busuttil said.

"We are promising a strong future because we delivered a strong past and a strong present," Busuttil added. "We make our promise with credibility."

Busuttil also spoke at length about Malta's use of EU funding, mentioning several areas which benefited from EU funding, among them education, health, and job creation.

He however warned that the presence of EU funding does not mean that all will be well in the future however, describing the funding as simply a "tool" that must be used well to yield results.

"European Union membership is a tool, but there are those who would leave it on the floor, or might not know how to use it, or even use it well. If it is forgotten on the floor, it cannot be good to good use," Busuttil said, employing a simplified metaphor.

"The EU is a good tool, but you also need a good craftsman," Busuttil added, insisting that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, the Nationalist Party and the PN's list of candidates represent this "able craftsman that would be able to use this tool for the good of the country."

Busuttil also set his sights on the short-lived Labour 1996-1998 administration which he accused of managing to "demolish everything that had been achieved thus far" in only 22 months.

"They demolished the economy and caused massive unemployment. They destroyed our finances demolished and incurred a deficit record. And they also froze Malta's application for EU membership."

Busuttil also ran through a list of Labour candidates who were former ministers or involved in former administrations, among them George Vella, Evarist Bartolo, Karmenu Vella, Joe Debono Grech (who was particularly jeered by the assembled party faithful), and Leo Brincat.

"In a week and a half, he could be your minister once again," Busuttil warned as each name was mentioned.

He insisted that "despite the fancy frills and its shiny wrapper, the Labour Party wants to make you swallow its past as your future. This is the biggest risk we can face on 9 March."

He insisted that if the country wants to look towards the future, "we cannot build the future with the people of the past who have already had the opportunity to make our lives difficult. We must build our future with the people and the party who are truly capable of doing so."

On education, Busuttil reiterated many of the Nationalist Party's proposals dealing with education, such as that promising free tablets for all primary and secondary school children and teachers.

Insisted that the PN proposal is a "costed and studied proposal" Busuttil slammed the Labour Party's free tablets proposal for school children in Year 4 for being "unbelievable" and "unrealistic".