‘We’ll be knocking at Europe’s door for a bailout with Labour’ – MEP

Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil said the party he once described as being divided, is a coalition of conservatives and social liberals that will go into the next general elections with a united vision for the country.

Busuttil's foray into national politics, after two successful terms in the European Parliament, has boosted his profile no end after having been once touted for the post of PN secretary-general (which he turned down) and now is the Prime Minister's special delegate for civil society.

"The PN is a coalition of conservatives and social liberals who share the same economic policy but who view social change somewhat differently," he says when asked whether the 'GonziPN' brand that won the 2008 elections by banking on Lawrence Gonzi as a safe bet, had been damaged by his steadfast opposition to divorce and two conservative bills on cohabitation and IVF.

"This may have happened during the divorce campaign but thankfully, that is now behind us... this coalition knows very well that it is only by sticking together that the country can continue to pursue a change for the better. This coalition has served our country well for the past quarter of a century and there is no reason to break it up. The country still needs it because the alternative is a Labour government."

At 43, Busuttil commands the highest percentage score in the EU with a record 28% of the national vote in the 2009 European elections - 70,000 - and his presence in the 11 district of Mosta, Attard and Balzan is going to give fellow MPs there a good run for their money.

His nice-guy appeal is bound to be instrumental in driving home a central message of the Nationalists' electoral campaign, that Labour will not work.

"Labour won't work because we do not know its plans and the little we know makes for very bad planning. The few promises that Labour has already made present a serious danger for our economy. And the pronouncements of Labour's top economic gurus, such as their eulogy of Mintoff's economic policy or their predictions of a continued recession just 24 hours before we got out of it, are nothing short of scary.

"If these people are in charge of our economy they will commit serious mistakes. And it takes just one or two bad economic decisions to put a small country like ours off track.

"This is why I envisage that with a Labour government we are likely to be knocking Europe's door for a bailout in one or two years' time. This would spell disaster and the price will have to be paid by those who can least afford it. We should avoid this and this is why I want stand up to be counted."

In 2008, the GonziPN slogan that won that election seems to have come back to haunt the Prime Minister with problems of an unhappy backbench and divisions that cost him his majority.

"In 2008, the GonziPN slogan won us the election. Without it we would have lost. Unfortunately, Labour have since demonised the PM and given the false impression that he acts alone. But anyone who knows him, and I do, knows that he is a team player. I am sure that he will use the full strength of his team in the upcoming campaign."

Despite his success, having become a force to be reckoned with inside the Brussels parliament, Busuttil had also been in charge of the 2009 MEP election campaign which he stewarded, the second time the Nationalists failed to win a majority in the European elections.

"That election took place one year after the 2008 general election and a few months after the hike in electricity bills. If you recall, we started off that campaign fighting for a second seat out of five and in the event we almost snatched a third seat out of six.

"I would much prefer European Parliament elections to be fought on European issues and we can win those arguments hands down. But we all know that European and local elections suffer heavily from protest voting against the national Government.

"This happens in Malta and it happens in other countries. There is a limit to what you can do about it."

There is no doubt that Busuttil will be reinforcing the message that voting for the Nationalists, even at a time when polls indicate Labour's ascendancy and a thirst for change, is still a safe and better bet.

"Despite its shortcomings you know where you stand and you know that change is always for the better," he says of voting for the PN.

"With a Labour Government you are risking a change for the worse and it is just not worth it."

Busuttil claims Labour's vision of Malta's place in Europe is still ambivalent, citing as examples its frequent threats of veto and "cagey" statements on changing the Accession Treaty.

"We must explain that our jobs, our education and our health services - and therefore our bread and butter issues - depend on the success that Malta makes of its rightful place in Europe. It is as stark as that. And make no mistake about it, there is only one party that can be trusted with our European policy and that is the PN."