'We are the genuine article, not just a copy' - Gonzi

Employment and healthcare topics of choice for PM.

21 January 2013, 12:00am
by Jacob Borg

2 min read

Lawrence Gonzi tonight repeated his war cry declaring, “we are here and ready to race and win.”

Gonzi was speaking at an event in Balzan presenting the PN candidates for the 11^th district.

The PN opted for a smaller, more intimate set up this time round, with many late comers failing to secure a place under the tent.

“Yesterdays mass meeting and your presence here tonight fills us with hope. The only way to win in Malta is to dress yourself up in PN garments. They are ashamed to dress up in red and wave their Labour flags. We are the genuine article, not just a copy," Gonzi said.

Turning to the youths around him, Gonzi questioned, “what future am I going to offer to these youngsters around me? What is to become of these youngsters after the 9March? What is this change that Muscat keeps talking about?"

“Employment is not generated at the click of a finger. Muscat simply cannot get his head around the figures. He does not even know how we managed to generate over 20,000 jobs over 5 years. His childcare proposals will bring around 2,000 women into the workforce. Is he capable of generating that many jobs for them? Employment is what offers people dignity, and it cannot be generated at the click of a finger," Gonzi said.

Turning to healthcare, Gonzi reiterated the governments track record in keeping healthcare free for all.

“The government spends €1 million on healthcare every day. We used to have to send a hundred patients overseas every year for heart surgery. Now they can do it here for free.”

The 11^th district features many PN heavyweights such as deputy leader Simon Busuttil, Charlo Bonnici, David Aguis and Joe Cassar, together with some new faces.

Many of the candidates waxed lyrically over Gonzi’s leadership skills, in what seems to be a gradual revival of the GonziPN brand.

With ten candidates all jostling for airtime,many of them opted for a sound bite. Here is a selection of the best:

Charlo Bonnici treated us to the delicious, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” in reference to the government's proven record of accomplishment.

Michael Gonzi went nautical with, “a smooth sea never made a good mariner,” when speaking about the PM’s weathering of the economic crisis.

Ian Spiteri possessed sentience before he was even born, “I chose the Nationalist Party when I was still in my mother’s womb.”

Edwin Vassallo showed his grasp of modern technology with, “they used to mock us about our GonziPN slogan, now its josephmuscat.com this, and josephmuscat.com that.”

Simon Busuttil gave us the pithy, “both parties bring change. The PN brings change for the better, the PL brings change for the worse."

More from Jacob Borg

Micheal Bonanno •

I have to agree with Gonzi here. He's the genuine article for he managed to literally tear the PN apart and the country too. The real PN (Where are you?) was very different when run under EFA. It had it's downside, but at least with EFA's PN you knew where you stand. Under Gonzi, not even the parliamentarians knew where they stood, or even the prospective candidates. Just ask Schiavone, JPO, Mugliett, JP Farrugia and Franco Debono. Yes, Gonzi you're quite right. You're the genuine article, a party which has literally destroyed the better EFA PN to give birth to one run by cliques.

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Agreed Gonz! I have always maintained that worst Socialist policies could not have been introduced by the Nationalist party in Government. However, the underlying motive was far from socialist principles. The PN chose socialists' policies as they were populist, and helped them maintain their snouts in the free flowing gravy train, all on the back of the long suffering taxpayers and their children!!

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And there I was thinking that the PN were an erzats PL, what with the heavily plagiarized Warda Kanta campaign song, talk of change, a Simon as a quasi Joseph etc. etc. Silly me!

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Listening to Gonzi speak you would think that the PN brought free health care to Malta! If they stay in power, debt servicing will eclipse spending on health care, especially after the recent downgrade. If anything, keeping the PN in power will almost assure a loss of free health care and other present day government entitlements. Pensions will also take a hit under the PN.

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"'We are the genuine article, not just a copy". I must agree..........The genuine article when it comes to corruption, sleaze, nepotism, incompetence, intolerance, arrogance, financial failure, poverty, etc., etc., etc. By the way, Don't worry Dr. Busuttil, there will be change on the 9th of March because even genuine Nationalists are now sick and tired of the same old re-cycled faces. You're one of those faces because you bring nothing new to the party. Don't think we have forgotten your empty promises, not to say half-truths, before the EU referendum. Whenever you talk you do not bring any new vision or hope, but repeat the same old cliches. You are already expired before the third week.