Labour's vision for Malta
The best in Europe
Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat
In his first major policy speech since becoming a member of Parliament - and on the 88th anniversary of the founding of the Malta Labour Party - Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat yesterday described the Labour Party's vision for the future as Malta the Best in Europe.
This could happen if the people of Malta and Gozo not only achieved but surpassed their environmental, economic, social and European aspirations.
"The movement of Progressives and Moderates is the hope for Malta's future," he said.
He expressed his belief in Malta as a great country of talents, skills and hard work; a creative country that knew how to face challenges and come out on top; a country that did not fear the future but faced it with faith and confidence; a country that wanted to achieve success that could be enjoyed by all; a country that in difficult moments would let nothing and no-one discourage it, but instead came out united.
"I believe Malta is capable of this. I believe," said Dr Muscat.
Labour's aims in this context would be an environment to be proud of, defending natural open spaces and following sustainable development; a competitive economy hand-in-hand with social development - above all, education - that would give a European quality of life to Maltese citizens.
Other aims include the best leadership standards at all state levels; a physical and technological infrastructure geared to sustain a modern economy; a social state, particularly in welfare and health, on a firm basis that would be there when one needed it.
Other targets would feature civil rights befiting the people of a European country; a culture of private initiative going beyond the economic sector to the civic and cultural sectors; an unstinting defence of national interests; active participation, rather than passive, on European levels; and solidarity at national and international levels.
Dr Muscat said the Labour Party would be starting out on this agenda immediately, from the opposition benches. Opposition was a word having negative connotations which could lead one to expect a group of moaners who said no to everything, but this would not be the parliamentary force he would be leading.
The Labour Party would be a positive force both in and out of Parliament. From the opposition the government should expect help for the country to advance and prosper, but it could also expect harsh criticism when the opposition saw that it was not the right decisions being taken.
Labour did not want the people to give them their trust because things were going awry or because they had had enough of the government. Labour wanted to earn the people's trust because they could see in it a positive force that would make the situation better, that would embrace progressive values that would rally all moderates to its side.
Above all it would be an effective opposition, promised Dr Muscat, because that was what democracy demanded, especially in front of a party that had had an almost absolute monopoly of power for more than two decades, almost a quarter of a century.
Even a party of persons with immaculate reputations could not hope to occupy the seat of power for such a long time without developing characteristics that would lead to scepticism regarding national institutions. That scepticism would cover not only the government but also the opposition and its relevance.
Under his leadership the Labour Party would work to bridge the democratic distance between citizens and their representatives. Each Maltese citizen, each Gozitan, man or woman, must feel that local councils, the European Parliament and the House of Representatives were theirs.
This was a major challenge that was being faced not only by Malta. It was the crisis of Europe, of globalisation. It was a crisis wherein the extravagance of a few had led an enormous system to the brink of collapse, and where the taxes paid by the many would have to step in to pull it back from that brink.
The solution was called "trust", said Dr Muscat.
He started his speech by making it clear that he was part of a generation that did not overly trust institutions and politicians, whoever they were and wherever they came from. It was easy to blame the lack of trust on the people, but he could not do this because he had come up through those ranks.
He knew the feelings of a young man who worked from morning till night, who could see that the decision-makers not only hardly cared about him and his colleagues but did not even know he existed. They were not aware of what small - but at the same time important - contribution such a person was making to the country.
It had been one such moment of frustration that led him to enter politics, with change topmost in his sights. He had thought that the first conference he had taken part in would be his last, because his message had been forcefully in favour of change in an environment that was hardly conducive to change. But surprisingly, his appeal had been taken on board and the Labour Party had accepted him in its ranks.
Today he was the Leader of the Opposition in the highest institution of the land, an institution he had perceived to be removed from the realities of everyday life. He was convinced his listeners included people who believed politicians did not understand them, that they presented two faces to the people - before and after elections.
If this were true, politicians needed to examine their conscience. Such an examination should include all aspects of what was known as "the State" - from government to opposition, from the judiciary to the civil service; from parastatal companies to security services; from regulators to planners.
Dr Muscat said he comes from a generation that was doubtful about the state's impartiality and efficiency; a generation that felt the state was strong with the weak and weak with whoever wielded power. An inefficient state that threw funds to the wind and then turned to the people for greater revenues to make good for the waste; that represented a minority of strong people and not the majority who worked hard for their families and paid taxes; that used the majority's moneys to safeguard the interests of a small but strong minority.
It was this perception that widened the chasm between citizens and institutions, between politician and electors. It would expand the sector of the people who felt that the best message they could send would be to stay away from voting because they would continue to be part of the majority that paid for the extravagance of the few.
Dr Muscat reiterated that he had entered politics with a view to change. But it was not a change that could be achieved by one section of society. There were people of all ages that wanted change. Ideals recognised no boundaries of age.
The party he was now leading was the same party that had led the country to several innovative concepts. But it was also a party that had made mistakes over the years. Even before his election as leader he had said it was time for the Labour Party to make peace with its past, and for political parties to shoulder their respective responsibilities.
He was conscious that the Nationalist Party had played a significant role to open the festering social wound of the politico-religious struggle. As the Church had done, the PN should shoulder the responsibility of its role and ask for the pardon of thousands of families whom it had hurt with this role, both active and passive.
Labour had hurt different sections of society. The aim had doubtlessly been genuine, but there were times when methods were heavy-handed and he could never agree with them. He had immediately apologised for the MLP to all who had been hurt. Now he was saying this in the highest institution of the land. Labour sincerely wanted to turn a new leaf.
At the end of the speech, Joe Debono Grech (MLP) deplored the fact that no Nationalist MP had listened to a maiden speech - something that had never occurred in all the years he had been a member of the House. The Speaker, however, ruled Mr Debono Grech out of order.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
23 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
V Fenech
Oct 18th 2008, 16:30
@ Joe Vella
I think that you're not the ideal person to talk about me in that way. Despite living abroad you have become more addicted to NET than a 2-year old becomes to Barney!!!
You're known as the copy-cat commentary of the Nationalists' media, so it isn't appropriate to deal with someone like you.
Joe Vella
Oct 17th 2008, 08:03
@ V. Fenech
Unlike you I do not see the world through the eyes of Super One and the MLP Media. Having lived abroad, I do not think either that my vision is as clouded as yours in regards to Maltese politics.
V Fenech
Oct 16th 2008, 20:12
At the moment it does not make any sense to discuss the people's choice of last March Mr.Karl Abela. The truth is that even in this short period, PN has twisted all its promises and already showed the electorate that it had nothing prepared of what it had promised.
Not withstanding John Saliba's comment and the usual Joe Vella song, one has to think about what the people out there need. They need a credible leader like Dr.Muscat who is not distracted by with throwing mud and insulting history like all the PN apologists here. As he proved himself in the EP, Joseph Muscat knows what he's saying. The government can no longer ignore the Opposition and can no longer choose the easy way out.
What I found bewildering is the fact that certain bloggers here can't highlight Muscat's evident determination for proper politics and their blindness towards Gonzi's incompetence.
l Galea
Oct 16th 2008, 20:06
John Saliba
The MLP at the time wanted the Maltese to have the same rights as the British and also have a number of Parliamentarians in the British Parliament.
The PN leaders wanted to unite Malta with Italy because they insisted that Malta was a province of Italy. That makes a hell of a lot of difference.
Integration with the UK would have meant same rights as the British people and representation in the British Parliament.
Malta irredenta meant that Malta would be just another province of Italy.
Did the PN change?
No.
They have again made us a colony, this time of the eu and all the other member countries.
Dear John, it's no use trying to deny or change history.
Anyone can check the facts in the newspapers published in the relevant period.
Joe Vella
Oct 16th 2008, 18:35
@ Anthony Muscat Inglott
I do not hide behind anything and make no apologise for what I am.
The following is what you wrote.
"To gather all the forces available round him in the party while introducing new blood . He is building a new team and leaving space to everyone"
Can you mention the new blood you are referring to in your statement? I submit to you that Joseph Muscat not only kept the same players in place but brought back others from the dark days of the Mintoff era.
Very frightening indeed.
Paul Muscat
Oct 16th 2008, 18:02
Mr Saliba never heard of " Malta irredenta" and he is giving us Maltese political history lessons?!
Chris Borg
Oct 16th 2008, 16:45
Dear John Saliba, get your facts right...Ellul Mercer was not the only labourite buried in the mizbla. Re the 88th anniversary celebration, it was the same Party, only the name was changed. PN says it was founded in the 1800s as it takes the foundation of the Anti-Reformist Party as its own foundation...however the Partito Nazzionalista was founded in 1926....
Chris Borg
Oct 16th 2008, 16:37
@ Joe Vella. Pledging to give five free bulbs and making other promises (such as cutting income tax) which PN knew it could not deliver respected the people's intelligence....I think what I said on Labour is more suited for PN....
anthony muscat inglott
Oct 16th 2008, 16:16
@ joe vella
1 To be honest if you did not want to waste time i would not get offended if you did not reply cause no one asked you for it
2 if you read and understood my point that was in simple english i never did and i am not going to declare that i am a labourite . Neither am i a blue eyed boy but i am a simple person who uses my mind and say the truth .
3 Probably you are one of those who get easily passionate when they quote your beloved party but believe me my friend that 20 years in government is definitely not fresh blood
4 Just keep in mind what dalli is trying to do and how austin is acting and you can easily come to a conclusion how Dr Gonzi is leading the country . Do your homework and tell us the answer . IF YOU HAVE TIME
D Attard
Oct 16th 2008, 16:07
@ John Saliba
So if everyone takes your view one should stop commemorating all events that are deemed important for them, such as birthdays on an individual basis and occasions such as Indep day or Victory Day on a national level.
JM clinging to the past? He has a progressive outlook, he's the one who has recently re-opened discussion on divorce as a civil right. Perhaps for you that's clinging to the past. Plus in your comment you even went back to 1949 to tell everyone about Mintoff and Boffa...wow that's recent!
John Saliba
Oct 16th 2008, 15:41
Chris Borg might be refering to the burial of Dr. Ellul Mercer. He must note that he died in 1961 and that's before the PN won the 1962 elections.
J. Galea's insinuation that there were PN leaders who wanted integration with Italy is unfounded. Unfortunately for him it was the founder of the Party he supports that advocated integration with a foreign county (Britain). That's the pot calling the kettle black for you, my friend.
D. Attard implied that I was clinging to the past. No man it's your leader that's doing his utmost to cling to the past; so much so that he opened an exhibition to commomorate the 88th birthday of his Party. Please, Mr. Attard, let your immature leader know that the Malta Labour Party was founded by Dom Mintoff in 1949 after he clashed with Sir Paul Boffa who was the leader of the Labour Party. There was no Malta in the name at the time.
Paul Muscat
Oct 16th 2008, 15:24
With Joseph,' what you see is what you get,' no more no less. With the PN and its politics, truth does not matter, because their lies create a new reality. But we all know that life is not a lie!
Joe Vella
Oct 16th 2008, 14:20
@ Anthony Muscat Inglott
What is wrong with the MLP and MLP sympathisers is that you all take the Maltese Electorate as ignorant, unintelligent and somewhat living in a close minded society. The facts shows what you wrote holds no water at all. The audience here is not the one that is glued to Super One or the one that all it listens to or read is the media of the MLP.
Please respect one's intelligence.
I am not going to waste to much time with you; but just want to point out a couple of things to you to justify the above.
Joseph Muscat and the MLP had a chance to renew, rejuvenate itself but have failed miserably. Joseph Muscat and the MLP elected just the very same individuals that were directly responsible for the MLP's last election defeat. In addition to add insult to injury they brought skeletons out of the closets that many of us thought were politically dead and buried.
On the other hand, Gonzi and the PN, injected new blood in Government with many of them are shinning in their new responsibilities and renewed, rejuvenated the leadership of the PN administration with new blood and new faces.
D Attard
Oct 16th 2008, 14:10
@ Karl Abela, John Saliba and Joseph Sciberras
I think your comments are somewhat unfair. JM has apologised for all Labour mistakes that had spelled hurt to many. For you it's not an apology -then what is it?
Do you deny that people in general are becoming more and more detached from politicians? Please note he highlighted institutions and politicians from all sides not just the Government! I don't think you're being very realistic if you deny this.
JM has even admitted that Malta's voice within the EU was underestiamted by the MLP prior to the accession. The man is truly turning a new leaf for the party. Clinging to the past and scaremongering will not work for the PN this time.
l Galea
Oct 16th 2008, 12:53
John Saliba
Did the PN ever condemn any of its ex-leaders, including those who wanted Malta to be part of Italy and who were interned by the British (although I definitely do not agree with it) due to their allegiance to Italy?
Karl Abela
If you are so sure that the people have not had enough why don't you suggest another election right now?
Go on, tell the PM to take the challenge if he has the guts.
Joseph Sciberras
Oct 16th 2008, 12:31
"The party he was now leading was the same party that had led the country to several innovative concepts. But it was also a party that had made mistakes."
What about his own gross mistake of opposing Malta's entry to the EU? Are we being expected to consider it as a minor error and simply forget about it.? I personally cannot trust someone who made such a glaring mistake at a time when it was obvious to anyone who was not a diehard MLP supporter that it was in Malta's interest to join the EU? Where would we be now had we listened to Joseph in 2003? Sorry, but all the pretty words are not convincing at all.
anthony muscat inglott
Oct 16th 2008, 12:06
the difference between the two leaders is that one looks enthusiastic , young and willing to the peoples voice whilst the other looks more attentive , wise and plays with peoples mind .
they both mean business but it is a game of credibility .
Muscat is doing what AS did not manage to do . To gather all the forces available round him in the party while introducing new blood . He is building a new team and leaving space to everyone . He is not talking before consulting his mind like the one before him used to do , but he looks that he is ready to listen what the others have to say .
on the otherhand we have Gonzi that although he is a leader he is showing that he has got sharks round his seat internally . on one side he has Austin s blog whilst on the other he s got Dalli s . He is in the middle and that is all what happens when you are so long in power .
new blood is more healthy for the country ' s interest
David Galea
Oct 16th 2008, 11:34
Whilst I concur with Dr. Muscat's vision for Malta to become the Best in Europe, I feel that this is somewhat Vague. The Best in what and in what perspective. We need to specialise is defined economic clusters in order to prosper. This is "at least on paper" what the present Government is doing. There have been some success stories, although I would wish to see more emphasis on Research and Development. In my humble opinion, the Economic Vision of any party should seek to determine the right basis for establishing appropriate benchmarking not only for the creation of wealth but also its distribution amongst citizens of the country. Obviously other issues (which are not less important) should be consider such as the environment & sustainable develoment.
Chris Borg
Oct 16th 2008, 11:21
@ Karl Abela. Let's forget, for a moment, about the abuses (MEPA, Social Housing, Air Malta tickets etc etc) which took place in the months prior to last election. Just keep in mind that the majority of those who voted wanted a change in govt. since PN obtained less than 50% of the votes...
@John Saliba. Will PN apologise for having allowed Sir Micheal Gonzi bury labourites in a secluded part in a STATE OWNED graveyard? Will PN apologise for having closed both eyes in the face of nationalist thugs in 1987 and 1998 ? Shall I continue?
John Saliba
Oct 16th 2008, 10:30
The leader of Opposition must be more specific with regards to his appologies. He mustn't feel sorry for all those that were hurt only because Labour deliberatly hurt the highest institution as well. Does he admit that they attacked and hurt the Church, the Courts, the Health institution, the then Opposition including their Leader's mother and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition at the time. They have hurt the Education instutution, the free Press and everything else that represent democracy... yes they even attacked the Constitutional Court by preventing it from functioning for three years.
So, Joseph, if you really expect us to believe that you really regret Labour's actions, condemn Dom Mintoff and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici. Make it clear to one and all that you wholeheartedly object to the way they threatened democracy. Condemn them for hanging on to power when the electorate said to them "Enough is enough". How did he come to the conclusion that "He was conscious that the Nationalist Party had played a significant role to open the festering social wound of the politico-religious struggle."? He wasn't born yet, but he believes the lies spread by Mintoff and Co.
M. Brincat
Oct 16th 2008, 10:08
Karl, yes, the people have had enough of this government. Proof? No absolute majority in the election! The *only* reason PN are still in Government is not because PN has proven to be a good government, but because MLP has proven to be a bad opposition!
Really, the choice is not between the "good and the better", but between the "bad and the worse"!
Mallia A
Oct 16th 2008, 09:55
The headline chosen by The Times today for this piece, in my opinion merits some explanation. No qoutes means The Times believe it!! Is The Times saying that labour vision for Malta is the best in Europe...am i right?
Karl Abela
Oct 16th 2008, 09:24
'people had enough of the government' ????!!!!!!
Does this mean that Muscat does not respect the people's decision of reconfirming PN in government just 7 months ago?
Doesn't it occur to Muscat that people have had enough of labour's dodgy vote winning tactitcs which have also been witnessed after the election?
That is very undemocratic to say the least, and arrogant to be more precise.