I congratulate the Nationalist Party for what I consider its greatest victory ever. They beat the competition from the Labour Party and two small parties (AD and AN) and the indifference of those who failed to vote. Gonzipn won against all odds and against the expressed desire for change and the serious allegations of corruption and arrogance.

However, I feel that the PN's greatest asset was not their leader or their propaganda machine or even what they have achieved in government. It was Alfred Sant, with MLP deputy leader Charles Mangion their second greatest asset in this campaign with his ingenious ideas about overtime rates, the Nationalists' DNA, and his uninspiring speeches at mass meetings.

Although I have voted Labour, I still consider myself a floating voter. As a 26-year-old University graduate I hoped to see a change in government since I feel that being in power for so long inevitably leads to arrogance and corruption. We saw this in the Eighties and also in the last legislature. In fact more than half the electorate did not vote PN and like me most of them desperately did not want to see the likes of Giovanna Debono, Ċensu Galea, Ninu Zammit and Louis Galea in the Cabinet.

While giving credit to Dr Gonzi for the positive things he has achieved, may I remind him that he should not allow political discrimination in civil service promotions. It is no excuse to say that a Labour administration would follow suit. I just hope that Dr Gonzi deals with Mepa as he has done with the government's finances and its deficit.

The MLP seriously needs to address two factors: choosing a new leader and tackling their biggest problem. I believe that Dr Sant's successor should be Joseph Muscat, the 34-year-old economist and Labour Member of the European Parliament. By the next election he'll be 39 and certainly cannot be called very young or inexperienced. He is an intellectual, moderate, clean, charismatic and has gained invaluable experience in the European Parliament and its institutions.

Dr Muscat certainly has the best credentials to address the Labour Party's biggest problem, which they are failing to recognise - namely to win the trust of floating voters. About 44 per cent of the electorate vote Labour no matter what. So the main focus should be on convincing floating voters that the MLP is modern and competent and that it has a strong, positive and consistent vision for Malta's future.

Saying behind closed doors that Labour will be a government for Labourites, as party general secretary Jason Micallef did, was foolish. This cannot be allowed to happen. The party has to get rid of militants like Joe Debono Grech who scare floating voters with their attitude and of people who were part of Labour since the days of Dom Mintoff and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.

I do not agree at all that Labour is incompetent since it has as many academically qualified MPs as the PN does. However, even if this may sound trivial, the MLP should make an effort not to give the impression that it only attracts low class supporters, judging from the party delegates wearing golden earrings, sporting pony tales and wearing anything but suits at the party's general conference. Net TV's crew find these moments irresistible and it is on these things that they focus while reporting the proceedings.

The party also has to change its mentality. You cannot win the sympathy of floating voters by arguing that the Nationalist government is totally incompetent. Highlighting EU reports that show government incompetence in certain areas but ignoring or casting doubts over other EU reports which are positive does not make the MLP credible. The MLP is not credible when it criticises all that the government does. It was certainly not credible when it did not participate in the discussions on pension reform.

The MLP must put the country's interests first. If pension reform is needed, then it should be done. The same applies to the dockyards. The party should officially distance itself from the GWU and its militants. This is what Labour must do under a new leader like Dr Muscat to start convincing floating voters. Otherwise it is doomed to remain in opposition.