PN presented the 2013 Electoral Programme at PN’s National Headquarters to the General Council this evening, for approval.

Starting off the meeting was PN Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil. He explained how there exist a number of advantages and social justice within the country. Dr Busuttil spoke about the rights that people are entitled to not only in Malta but in all Europe, thanks to what the PN has achieved in the last five years.

In the next five years PN is aiming for a higher standard of quality, explained PN Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil. The PN Electoral Programme is divided in six sections, among which are proposals offering a higher level of quality in jobs, health and education for a total of 125 proposals. Dr Busuttil asserted that the 2013 Electoral Programme was not produced in a day but that was generated after months of consultations.

Following Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil 12 PN candidates addressed the General Council.

Gozo candidate, Samuel Azzopardi, talked about the EU funds invested in Gozo and the incentives given to Gozitan students.

Claudette Buttigieg, next spoke to the General Council and mentioned the proposal relating to the continued free health services offered to Maltese citizens thanks to the PN.

PN candidate Victor Scerri, spoke how PN was always after the human capital and looked after salvaging 5,000 jobs while PL is only after the political capital and uses the problems faced by the people to win votes.

PN has an Electoral Programme that is looking to increase the number of jobs in the country and make the country more attractive to investors, said PN candidate, Antoine Borg.

Politics is for the people with proposals that aim to improve the quality of life, said PN Executive Council Marthese Portelli.

Next, PN candidate Shirley Farrugia addressed parents in the country and assured that the PN is ensuring that health services will be offered for free and will continue to safeguard their health and the health of their children in the next five years.

Former UHM Secretary General, Gejtu Vella spoke how he believes that PN will safeguard jobs in Malta.

First time contesting PN candidate Mark Anthony Sammut spoke about the importance PN gives to education, backed up by fellow PN Candidate David Agius, who mentioned the tablet introduction and the advantages that will result in education from the PN proposals.

PN candidate and Mellieha Mayor Robert Cutajar talked about the difference that exists between Malta and Cyprus and how it is now Cyprus who is looking to follow in the steps taken by the Maltese Government.

By 2014 the interconnector will be fully functional; this is how PN will look after the environment, said PN Candidate David Casa.

PN Candidate Theresa Comodini Cachia, spoke to the Council how she decided to contest for this election because she trusts PN to give equal social justice to each and every one and that PN is for all.

PN Candidate Censu Galea addressed the General Council about the trust PN has always put in the people, whilst always enforcing the party’s policy to attain a higher level of quality for Malta and its citizens.

Following the PN speakers, PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier pressed up the aims of the PN, always seeking to better the quality of jobs available, the health services offered and a better education for all. He mentioned the claims regarding the cancer incidence being made by PL Leader Joseph Muscat and called them shameful.

PN is with the people and for the people, assured PN General Secretary Borg Olivier. PN looks out for students and aspires for a ‘knowledge society’ encouraged PN General Secretary. The proposals presented by the PN have been wisely evaluated.

The crises faced by the country including the economic crises and the Libyan crises were very challenging but PN never abandoned the country, asserted PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier.

Following the PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier, General Council President Paula Mifsud Bonnici proposed the Electoral Programme to the Council where it was unanimously approved.

PN Leader Lawrence Gonzi then took the stand to address the people present. He enforced how he feels that the General Council Meeting is of the utmost importance in the Electoral Campaign. Dr Gonzi explained how people have to vote to the PN while keeping in mind that their vote will be based on the Electoral Programme being proposed.

The Electoral Programme proposed clearly shows all the facts and actions that the PN will carry out if the PN wins the election. He addressed all citizens no matter their political beliefs and explained how the Programme has been built up during the last 13 months.

PN Leader Lawrence Gonzi spoke about the improvements and steps taken by PN during the last legislature, naming the PN website mychoice.pn and the citizen involvement that created the document presented today.

The last five years have been challenging for the world, but PN Leader Gonzi claimed that he feels the last five years have been a blessing in disguise that has taught people to wisely spend their money.

A number of initiatives are being proposed in the Electoral Programme regarding enforcing the economy and what this will allow PN to obtain for Malta. In the next five years, more jobs will have to be created to be able to cater for the newly graduated students. He enforced that the one of the lowest rates in unemployment is always a top priority for the PN.

Enforcing manufacturing industries and reaching a point where Malta is the best financial centre in Europe is of the utmost importance, said PN Leader. Human Sciences, Tourism and, Creativity and Innovation allow for the creation of new jobs, assured Dr Gonzi.

“If possible we will make Malta more appealing, if possible” said PN Leader.

A united country whose citizens have always been able to show solidarity with those less fortunate is what we aspire for in the next five years, said PN Leader Lawrence Gonzi. He also assured that Gozo is always at the top of PN’s priorities.

The creation of new jobs is what it all boils down to, said PN Leader. PN aims to remove more taxes, since this increases Government revenue, claimed Dr Gonzi. This comes to happen by assigning more assets available to the people thus encouraging more spending and a stimulus in the economy.

Dr Gonzi explained how thanks to the PN’s energy proposal of the interconnector, new incentives will be introduced were through the correct use of the smart metres, people will be able to reduce their utility bills.

The electoral programme includes incentives for youths under the age of 25 who wish to open their own business. The incentive assures that no tax will be deducted for the first two years since the creation of the business. This is also true for women that want to open their business but the no tax policy will be in effect for three years.

Vouchers will be presented to all employees that will allow a reduction in the cost of child care services, with a number of funds that are assigned for this area which will improve the quality of life in the country, said PN Leader.

Another proposal that was presented by PN Leader Gonzi, centres around parents and the sick leave. He explained how even though the same number of sick leave days will be granted; parents will be able to take sick leave if their children are sick.

Diabetes is at the centre of our concerns in the next five years, said PN Leader. “We feel this is important because of the high rate of diabetes found in Malta” said Dr Gonzi.

Talking about the medicines that are provided for free, Dr Gonzi spoke about the refund that people will be entitled to if medicines will be out of stock.

Dr Gonzi named the schools that will be inaugurated during the next five years, enforcing the PN’s policy to open a new school every year.

Lastly, PN Leader Gonzi spoke about the ‘tablet’ proposal enforcing that it is not the tablet that is at the centre of this proposal but the content within this tablet. Publishing houses such as Merlin, Klabb Kotba Maltin and authors like Trevor Zahra are already on board for this project, said Dr Gonzi. He invited the people present to imagine how easier it will be for students to access all the data that will be made available on the tablet. Dr Gonzi talked how the tablet is a tool that will be of the utmost importance to create a better future for the next generations.

Dr Gonzi explained the incentives that will be introduced to address pensioners that will allow pensioners to be entitled for the whole social security pension, even if they are also entitled for other types of pensions.

Dr Lawrence Gonzi concluded by encouraging the people to trust PN and guaranteed that PN will ensure the best possible future.