Addressing an activity marking the first year since the 12 April 2003 electoral victory, Dr Gonzi said it is the Nationalist Party which has the best and most consistent candidates to represent the Maltese people at the European Parliament.
“The eight candidates fielded by the PN have always been consistent because they have always been in favour of the EU. The Malta Labour Party has candidates who, one year ago, were trying to convince the Maltese electorate to vote against the EU,” he said.
Dr Gonzi added: “On 12 June the Maltese people have the privilege to choose five people to represent them at the European Parliament. The PN gave you this privilege for us to see our country growing within EU,” he said the best choice lay within the eight candidates – including two women – who were chosen by the PN.
Dr Gonzi said the country was beginning to face a new era and in just over two weeks will be a member of the EU. He said that tourism is improving and also mentioned statistics which revealed that during March, the number of people registering under part one of the Employment and Training Corporation register decreased by 400.
PN deputy leader Tonio Borg said the party was celebrating the first anniversary of a national victory, rather than just a nationalist victory. He referred to criticism that the PN did not change anything when it elected a new leader and a new deputy leader and also appointed a new cabinet of ministers. He said the opposing party had nothing with which to blow its trumpets: its leader was defeated in the 1998 and 2003 elections and also lost the 8 march 2003 EU referendum.
On the 12 June European Parliament election, Dr Borg said that it was only fair that the PN has a majority of MEPs. “We have to look ahead. We have to vote for the party which believes in the EU with conviction and not because it is convenient.”
He said the 12 June vote was similar to the 12 March 2003 election – a vote for the PN candidates is a vote in favour of Europe while a vote for the MLP candidates is translated into a vote against Europe.
During yesterday’s event, footage of the run-up to the 8 March 2003 EU referendum and the 12 April 2003 general election were broadcast while the eight candidates fielded by the PN were also introduced.
PN secretary general Joe Saliba said that one year ago the PN’s vision was accomplished and will now become a reality when Malta officials becomes an EU member state on 1 May. He said a vote for the PN’s candidates for the European Parliament will only be strengthening the pro-EU vote handed down in the referendum and confirmed during the general election one year ago.