Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat this afternoon addressed a PL mass meeting at Rabat and demanded that the PN answers for the allegations of corruption in Enemalta.

He explained that he didn’t understand why the government didn’t accept the pipeline offered to Malta by Italy many years ago, until now. “The PN want to build it with EU funds, when we don’t even know how much money the EU would be willing to give”. He described Malta as having a strong ‘heavy fuel oil’ lobby. “Today we understand why the government chose to go with heavy fuel oil. Documents published in today’s media show that there was corruption in Enemalta, where a certain official was receiving a commission. Imagine a commission on a million euros every day”. He argued that these commissions are taken from our money and from our children’s money. “We need a change, so that Malta will no longer belong to a few people, but will belong to everyone”.

Dr Muscat claimed that the Prime Minister has a lot to answer for regarding these abuses. "Now we understand why they are so reluctant to change to gas," he said, holding that the PN are now saying that they want to change to gas, but are stating that this will take time. “Now we understand, during the long time period they are proposing people will continue taking commissions. We have a plan which will not require buying millions of euros worth of oil every day”. He spoke on certain experts who have argued that in fact, unlike what the PN have been saying, gas prices will indeed drop over the next ten years.

The future

“Visiting Malta’s homes, factories and places of work, I know that there is a need for change. I see a unity between all these people through their ideas and their dreams. We shouldn’t focus on the past, but rather on the future and how we can make this country better.” Dr Muscat said. He described events which happened in the past, where people used to fight one another. “These people are now one united Maltese people. We used to hurt each other and for what? Just because one is red and one is blue?” He explained that he is part of a generation who knows that there is no need for this anymore.

He spoke of Maltese families and how no-one wants their children to live in a country where injustice thrives. “We want our children to be able to tell future generations that they were a part of this movement that is removing prejudice from our hearts. We want to let all those who are against us know, that with arms wide open they are welcome to join us and work with us".

Dr Muscat stressed that the PL proposals can be done. “We know we need more women in the workplace. Others want to raise the pension age, we don’t. We want to be able to pay for our pensioners by encouraging more women to enter the workforce”. He explained that he will do this through offering free childcare to Maltese families.

The private sector will be brought in through a public-private partnership and will create 500 jobs he held, adding that parents who don’t want to use this service will still be eligible for tax reduction benefits. “We need an economy based on a working private sector. The PN asks what change of direction we want. We want a new government that works for the people, a government who is accountable, a workforce which sees more women working, a government who uses a more efficient and cheap source of energy”.

Joseph Muscat concluded that "March 9 is an important date as it will decide whether Malta will belong to us all and it will belong to us all!!".

Malta taghna lkoll

Robert Abela, son of President George Abela took the podium at 15:48h and explained that Malta has a decision ahead of it, between the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party.

“The PN wants a pay rise for their MP’s. They drove Enemalta into the ground and they want a ‘Futur fis-sod’ without any change. How is this possible?”. He explained the change which the PL has undertaken over the past few years, adding that they are committed to being ‘a just party’ that wants to unite the country, regardless of their political affiliation. “We will not use personal attacks on our opponent; we will stick to the issues”.

“The decision people must make is one of credibility. This week, the PN said we have a solid economy but they were proven wrong by Standard and Poor’s who downgraded our credibility rating. Their credibility has been downgraded,” he told the crowd.

Dr Abela accused of the PN of saying nothing about changing Enemalta and the importance of women in the workplace. “GonziPN is blaming the budget for the credit downgrade, then why did they go for the budget if they knew it would not pass”.

The Broadcasting Authority has just released its guidelines for political debates, he argued. “The BA basically said that the kind of questions a presenter asks and the way a presenter acts must not be biased”. He expressed his support of the BA’s decision.

He concluded that the PL is capable of bringing Malta to the forefront of the European Union, "This is our dream, our ambition. I call out to youths to become part of our movement and together uphold the slogan 'Malta taghna lkoll'".