Leader of the Nationalist Party Simon Busuttil has said that the government should have registered a surplus by reducing the money wasted on the multiple positions of trust, and not by reducing the number of infrastructural projects.

Addressing the party loyal at the PN club in Dingli, Dr Busuttil said that that the Nationalist Party has made the country proud once again this week through the European People's Party Congress.  "This was an experience which has made us proud to be Maltese. A dream come true. A party in Opposition which managed to organise the biggest political event during the Maltese Presidency."

He said that this congress showed that the PN enjoys a lot of respect at a European level. "Their presence here showed their support for the PN here in Malta. This congress came at a cross roads, on the same day UK triggered Article 50."

The PN leader said that the EU represents jobs, our roads and our infrastructure. He said that the public should not view the union as something so distant because it affects issues so close to the local families.

He referred to the populists which managed to convince a country to leave the union. "These are politicians who only preach what the public wants to hear."

Dr Busuttil said that the government did anything in its power to deviate the attention on this very important event. He said that is why the government decided to announce the first government surplus in years. "But when you read between the lines, you always realise there's a catch. There's a reason for this surplus," he added. "The investment in projects was cut by half."

"There is a reason why we still have to face traffic problems. Because the government did not invest in such projects. The government was elected and found a huge traffic problem. He did not create it. But this government only made it worse."

The leader of the Opposition said that the government should not reduce the costs to achieve better statistics, but should spend money to help those in need. He mentioned, among others, people who are still waiting for housing. "The government should have managed to make a surplus by reducing the money wasted in positions of trust, like the job given to Konrad Mizzi's wife."

On minimum wage, Dr Busuttil said that the PN is willing to support any agreement reached between government and stakeholders to increase the minimum wage.

He said he supports Air Malta's employees who are currently facing uncertainty.

Lashing out at the government, Dr Busuttil said that the government today is "an orgy of nepotism."

He mentioned in particular the news report which featured on The Malta Independent on Sunday, which revealed how a number of people have more than one identity card and therefore more than one vote.  

In his concluding remarks, the PN leader said that the Labour Party has tried to copy the Nationalist Party. "But they are only a fake copy. The original will remain the best option."

He said the PN has always looked at the aspirations of the Maltese people. "This is what makes us Maltese and European."