The Partit Nazzjonalista has just published its ‘Vision of Excellence’ for Malta, a document intended to change Malta’s economic model.

When you read through the glossy catchphrases it is extremely clear that it contains no new stimuli. The sectors the Nationalists claim to want to create are already vibrant. Worst of all, the most tangible proposals they have come up with are ones that are based on policies of restraint and controls.

Essentially, if implemented, this document would grind the labour market to a halt, sending immediate shockwaves across the economy, starting from the leisure and hospitality industry and moving quickly to areas of great social importance such as healthcare.

Economies are built with years of consistent work but can be dismantled in days. Interventionism and approaches of restraint are extremely dangerous, especially when done in what at best can be called an amateurish approach.

Moreover, what would a PN government do with the current stability in energy prices? Would the current policy of support in the energy sector be sustained with this so-called “vision of excellence”? Would transmission tariffs be introduced, as suggested by Bernard Grech?  

They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating, but thankfully we don’t need to get close to tasting this one. Bernard Grech has already claimed to have reformed the PN’s own economic model and the results are clear: the party is debt ridden, employs fewer people, apart from a handful of highly-paid consultants.