Socialist leaders approve manifesto

European Socialist leaders have approved their electoral manifesto for the forthcoming European Parliament elections under the theme The People First, A New Direction For Europe.

Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat, who is attending the meeting in Madrid, said this was the same message being transmitted by the Partit Laburista (PL) in Malta.

In his address to the meeting, Dr Muscat underlined the need for the European socialists to not only set a new direction for Europe but to send to the European Parliament members who worked for the people and their country.

Dr Muscat also referred to abortion and said the PL was reiterating its pro-life position.

Dr Muscat met several European leaders including Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Italian Democratic Party leader Walter Veltroni and the new leader of the French socialist party Martine Aubry.