Abela hails Malta as ‘best in class’ after EU growth forecast
PL leader says European Commission report proves Malta leads Europe economically, as he attacks PN manifesto costings
Robert Abela hailed the European Commission’s Spring forecast saying it proved Malta was “best in class”.
Address the Labour stronghold of Paola on Thursday evening, just hours after the report was released, Abela said Malta is expected to continue performing strongly economically, while larger countries like France and German are stagnant and being forced into austerity.
The EC’s report said Malta’s economy is set to grow by 3.7 per cent this year, the highest rate in Europe.
“We are the best among the EU’s 27 member states. We are the best at creating new jobs, have the lowest unemployment, strong finances, and have reduced the deficit faster than expected,” Abela told a crowd of red clad supporters.
“But this can only continue with a credible and competent government” he continued, as he pointed at holes in the Nationalist Party’s electoral programme.
Abela dedicated a large portion of his speech to cricitising the PN, questioning their competence and pointing to “huge mistakes” in their manifesto and inconsistent costings.
“Every day we see enormous mistakes from the Opposition, if they made these mistakes in government, Malta would be last in the economic forecast not first,” Abela said.
He highlighted the changed estimates for the profit the PN’s proposed Mediterranean fuel hub was expected to generate and the amendment in the PN’s space industry plan which was initially touted to generate €20 million a year before inflating that number to half a billion in the manifesto.
“And in a debate (shadow transport minister) Toni Bezzina said their mass transport plan would cost €3 billion while their manifesto says it will cost €3.9 billion,” Abela said.
The PL leader added that under the PN’s plan for pensions foreigners who only work in Malta for one year will be entitled to a pension.
He was referring to a proposal in the PN electoral programme that says: “Justice will be done for those who paid less than 10 years of social security contributions or had an interrupted career, so that their contribution, however small, is still recognized, even if it did not reach the level expected under the current framework”.
Abela said that under the current system, only foreigners who work in Malta for 10 years are entitled to any pension.
Later on Thursday evening, Abela headed to Rabat to meet the youth wing of the Labour Party where he highlighted the PL's pledges specifically aimed at them including higher stipends, more access to the Erasmus programme, tax exemptions on the first three years of employment and financial aid for first-time buyers.