The Nationalist Party is being rebuilt to offer itself as an alternative to the Labour government in the next general election in 2018, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil said this morning.
Speaking on Newsbook on RTK Radio, Dr Busuttil said that following the 2013 defeat, the party had lost its winning mentality and as a result lost its motivation.
“The PN had to renew itself in terms of ideas, human resources, organisation, media and policies. It needed to be prepared to offer an alternative in the next general election. It is ready to focus on good governance, on inducing cultural awareness and protecting the environment,” he said.
The PN Leader admitted that it was not easy asking some of the members who had long been involved in the party to take a step backward to make place for new faces. "I am highly satisfied with the reshuffle - I could not go to the next general election with the same team. But I had valid reasons to ask some to step backwards, and I do not exclude them returning to the forefront of the party in the future. While holding on to its core beliefs, the PN needs to adapt according to society today. The PN needs to be the party that defends the environment, equal opportunity and fair distribution of wealth," he said.
People can see through government’s tactics
Dr Busuttil argued that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, is not behaving as an adult when he shifts the blame on others to justify his own mistakes. "The PL was elected on the basis of its pledges, but people have now seen through the government's tactics - choosing to uncover a scandal to deflect attention from its own blunders. The government justifies its mistakes by mentioning episodes during the previous administration - that is no excuse. Of course, the PN has made its mistakes, but we need to use them as a learning experience," he said.
On the development of a new university in Zonqor, Dr Busuttil stressed that the PN has always supported investment in education. However, he said, when Dr Muscat pompously announced the investment, he had failed to mention that a massive part of an ODZ would be developed. What's more, what the government called an 'American University' was actually an investment by a Jordanian investor. In addition, without any consultation, the criteria for universities have been decreased; three days after the Heads of Agreement was signed. "When Joseph Muscat announces something, one needs to question where the trick is. What is he not mentioning?" he argued.
‘I will not allow whistle-blower to make defamatory accusations’
On accusations against the husband of Gozo's former minister Giovanna Debono, the PN leader stressed that he acted imminently once Mr Debono was arraigned in court. "That is the way it should be done. But I will not allow the whistle-blower to make accusations about me which are misleading, simply because the government has offered him protection. Meanwhile, despite accusations against Minister Anton Refalo, he is still holding his position, and no one has shouldered responsibility. The government has literally lost its argument and it is evident by Minister Konrad Mizzi's behaviour in parliament this week. Thankfully, the new parliament allows for visual streaming, and everyone could see it."
‘Is common good being distributed equally?’
The Opposition Leader said that the biggest challenge for Malta today is the common good, arguing that the government is too focused on here and now, and failing to plan for the long term. ‘Take for example the environment, this will not only affects us now, but it will also affect future generations.’
While admitting that Malta's economy is doing well, Dr Busuttil said that common good is not being distributed equally. "The PL is supposed to be the worker's party. But so many families are struggling financially, while the government decides to pay €4.2 million to Café Premier. It has failed to open up new economic sectors, like the PN did with aviation and Information Technology. All it has come up with is the citizenship scheme,” he said.
PM should have insisted on assistance on migration
This week, after dragging its feet for so long, the European Commission has proposed a temporary mechanism to assist countries receiving large flows of immigration, however has applied it only to Italy and Greece. He argued that Dr Muscat should have insisted that the mechanism is applied to Malta as well.