Newly elected Labour leader Joseph Muscat has called for an amnesty to be issued to all members of the party who have been disciplined by the party's Board of Discipline and Vigilance, so that the MLP could "start afresh".
Speaking at a packed MLP club in Rabat, Dr Muscat, flanked by his wife Michelle, said that during his first week at the helm, he had made great strides to restore unity within the party. He made it clear that the decision to call for such a pardon was his and he was prepared to take "full responsibility" for his actions.
He had written, he said, to the chairman of the board asking him to issue an amnesty in regard to all disciplinary cases that have been decided.
"In order to reach our objective of a new political season for the party and for Malta, we need to turn over a new leaf and restore unity within the party. The time of those saying I am his or the other's is over. We are all Labour," he said.
Dr Muscat said that earlier yesterday he held his first meeting with deputy leader for parliamentary affairs Anġlu Farrugia and deputy leader for party affairs Toni Abela.
He had already held separate meetings with the four contenders for the leadership post - George Abela, Michael Falzon, Evarist Bartolo and Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. He reiterated that Dr Abela was important for the MLP.
Referring to the work to be carried out by Labour as a parliamentary opposition, Dr Muscat said the party was prepared to extend its hand of friendship to the government in the national interest but intended to be firm on political issues.
Dr Muscat brought up the Mistra disco issue although he did not mention Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando by name. He said the MLP took note of the legal points made by the Attorney General and the police but insisted that the Prime Minister should make a public statement on the political implications of this case.
Dr Pullicino Orlando was the main target of the MLP in the final days of its electoral campaign, and then made subject of a police investigation, over his alleged involvement in the development of a disco at the ecologically sensitive Mistra valley. The police last Friday said there is no criminal case to be made against him although they have arraigned three other people over the same case.
Dr Muscat told supporters: "Have faith and tell everyone that the Labour Party will listen to and work with everyone so that together we will become an alternative government.
"The next election cannot be won by default or because the Nationalists were bad but because we are the better choice," he said to a loud applause and chants of "Joseph, Joseph".