Drawing comparisons from the 2003 referendum and election for Malta to join the EU, at a time when he worked with the Nationalist Party for Malta's membership aspirations while Joseph Muscat worked against – Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil said that he will win the upcoming election based on facts like he did that time.

“Like that time, I will win again, using the same tactics of honesty and facts,” he said.

Kicking off the Nationalist Party (PN) Independence Day celebrations at Fosos, Floriana, Dr Busuttil was interviewed by Peppi Azzopardi.

Dr Busuttil said that he would be in favour of providing free childcare for everyone, which would include unemployed individuals not seeking work.

Mr Azzopardi immediately dove into the nomination of former environment Minister Leo Brincat as Malta's candidate for the European Court of Auditors, and the rejection of that nomination by the European Parliament (EP) last Tuesday.

“If we voted for Brincat we would have voted in favour of the opening up of secret companies in Panama by government Ministers and top officials. It would have meant a vote for corruption," Dr Busuttil said.

“The problem of Leo Brincat is not about him personally, but about his integrity. If you are going to vote for Konrad Mizzi and then go before the European Parliament, such a result is expected. Our country’s reputation is at stake, and the situation necessitates a Maltese official standing up against the corruption.

“It was not just the European People’s Parliament who voted against, but the 300+ who rejected him came from Socialist and Democrats and liberals alike. What was not acceptable for us is not acceptable for the European Parliament (EP),” Dr Busuttil said.

Mr Azzopardi asked him whether he had inside information on when the next general election is set to take place, in view of the public call for all PN candidates to refrain from hosting personal shows/spots on the media.

“By the coming September, we will be ready for the upcoming general election. We will be ready to win it – whenever it may be.”

Dr Busuttil revealed that he has heard many rumours that the general election will be taking place this coming November, which is why he wants all candidates to be fully ready by September.

Asked whether he will be contesting in the Gozo district, Dr Busuttil said that he will be doing what is in the best interest for the party. “If the party says that this is the best route, I will do so,” he said.

On the issue of the new power station promised by the Labour Party (PL) within two years prior to the last general election, Dr Busuttil slammed the government for taking far longer. He questioned the need for a new station in view of the fact that currently supply is meeting demand through the joint contribution of the interconnector and the current power station.

He criticised the government for not reducing energy and fuel prices in view of plummeting global prices.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if right before the next election Dr Muscat will reduce prices, in order to gain more votes. This would mean however that the government has been stealing from the people this whole time.”

Turning to PL uproar that Dr Busuttil is “putting words in the Archbishop’s mouth,” following Archbishop Charles Scicluna’s criticism of the way high-rise buildings have been tackled by the authorities, Dr Busuttil said:

“I do not need to coach the Archbishop, because he certainly has a mind of his own and is not afraid to speak out.”

Recently the Opposition Leader was quoted proposing an underground linking Malta and Gozo. Asked about this, he said that “we (the Opposition) are giving our proposals from now. We are an Opposition that criticises what is wrong, and gives proposals on what we think could be done better.”

The Opposition leader then corrected him by saying that he never suggested an underground, but merely that it was time for Malta to think about alternative means of transport, such as a tram network – “light rail transport.”

“This could link Malta and Gozo via the proposed tunnel, so that people in Gozo needing to go to the airport and vice-versa don’t have excessive hours-long journeys. We are carrying out a study on this, and we will soon be in a position to launch our position.”

“It had to be the PN to propose such a move, because after three and a half years of this government they have done nothing to solve the problem of transport.”

With schools opening their doors in a few weeks, and the dreaded traffic that comes with it, Dr Busuttil slammed the government for not taking enough action in this regard.

On the upcoming budget, it was revealed that Mario De Marco, Deputy leader of the PN is preparing a pre-budget document for the second year in a row.

Confronted with whether his position has changed on the sale of passports and citizenship, Dr Busuttil confirmed his position against the scheme is still the case – and said once in government a review would need to take place to see how to change the scheme.

Dr Busuttil said it is shameful that the government has not published the names of those who bought citizenship under the controversial IIP/ cash-for-passport schemes and that these people are being given a vote without even applying for one.

Turning to the controversial PN cedoli-loan sceheme, he said:

“The cedoli scheme was an extraordinary success. On the issue of publishing the names of those lending the PN money against a four per cent rate of interest, the PN is following the law which was created by Dr Muscat. The loans create no political obligations because people are not giving the party money, and are profiting through the four per cent interest rate.”

“This party needs money, as it does not have stolen government property that it can use as a party club, and this party does not have a secret company in Panama named Egrant,” he said.

Dr Busuttil said that he wants to see a booming economy where the benefits are felt by all.

“Currently people tell me that they have been kept on minimum wage, that they still have precarious working conditions. I want to see new economic sectors for Malta  - Joseph Muscat has not created a single new economic sector in his whole time in Government.”

Asked about whether he would vote for Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump, he said he would vote for Clinton because the kind of politics Trump subscribes to is not in line with his.

Asked about a loss of faith in politics by the public, Dr Busuttil declared:

“Place renewed trust in the PN because the PN is the only real alternative to Joseph Muscat. Whoever does not agree with Joseph Muscat, who feels betrayed by Dr Muscat, vote for the PN. The only road forward is the PN.”

Dr Busuttil pointed out former Madawrna PBS presenter Salvu Mallia, who The Malta Independent reported last week that he is ready to contest the elections on the PN ticket, and invited him to say a few words.

Mr Mallia said he was one of the many who believed in Joseph Muscat, and part of the many who feel let down.

“After some time of Joseph Muscat’s government, I realised many pre-electoral promises were not going to be delivered. When I heard about Dr Muscat renting his own car to himself, and the Panama scandal, the American Institute of America at Zonqor on Outside Development Zone and the many other scandals, I saw that it is my duty to speak out.

“We are close to a situation which would be worse than the 80s, so I am doing my duty to speak out. I believe that Simon Busuttil has a many good qualities, but has one main defect: he is a gentleman. Many people he is not strong enough to be Prime Minister, because he is not a loud-mouth like I am, but I would like the person leading the country to be a gentleman,” Mr Mallia said.

Confronting the statement made by Mr Mallia where he said that those who vote PL will always vote PL, Dr Busuttil said that PL voters are already switching.