Opposition leader Joseph Muscat in his maiden speech in Parliament this evening said he would work for the people to have fresh confidence in the country and its institutions.

The opposition, he said in an adjournment speech, would be a force for change in the country and the House, and it would work intensively to lead the country forward along progressive values.

Dr Muscat was co-opted to the House of Representatives on October 1 but so far had only been able to give a few comments to thank the House for his co-option and to pay tribute to the late Karl Chircop.

In this evening's speech - coincidentally on the 88th anniversary of the founding of the MLP - Dr Muscat spoke about his background and the circumstances which led him to politics and to embrace the Labour Party.

Dr Muscat said he came from a generation which both in Malta and abroad had its doubts about the impartiality and the efficiency of the state; a generation which felt the state was strong with the weak, and weak with the strong. It was a generation which saw the state as being inefficient; which squandered taxpayers’ money; which represented powerful minorities and not the majority of hard working taxpayers. This perception created a gulf between the institutions and the people and between politicians and voters.

His mission in politics was to bring about change which involved all sectors of society, of whatever age, and one of his aims was to ensure that the distance between the people and their representatives was narrowed.

Dr Muscat said there was no doubt that the MLP made mistakes in the past – although its intentions were honourable - and he had already declared the party’s apology.

The Nationalist Party, however, had played a significant role in the social wound caused by the politico-religious dispute, and like the Church had done, he felt the PN should also admit its responsibility and apologize to the thousands of people it hurt by its active and passive role.

Dr Muscat said he would work to restore confidence, so that the people could be confident that their representatives truly represented all of society, that the state was fair and that justice existed.

The Opposition would be a positive force in Parliament and the country, helping to push the country forward while making harsh criticism where justified. This would be the effective opposition which democracy demanded.

The MLP knew it had lost the election and the people’s message, to it as well, was to change.

But the government too should see the writing on the wall. The number of people who had not voted for it was bigger than those who had voted in its favour.

Dr Muscat said the main areas of the opposition’s activity in the coming years would be the environment, economic competitiveness which should go hand in hand with social development, education, high standards, the welfare state, the infrastructure, civil rights, a culture of private initiative, defence of the national interest, active participation at all levels of the European institutions, national and international solidarity.

The Opposition would work for all to feel part of the decision-making process in a movement of progressives and moderates.

He was confident that this was the vision of a winning generation for a better Malta in Europe, Dr Muscat said.

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