It is “unacceptable” for the Nationalist Party to believe it has “a divine right” to determine what the national interest is, Labour MEP Louis Grech warned party delegates yesterday.
To gain credibility you have to tell the truth
Addressing the opening session of the Labour Party’s annual general conference, Mr Grech said the PN “almost expected the Labour Party to give it a vote of confidence” as the government struggled to retain a majority in Parliament.
Drawing applause from the well-attended conference, Mr Grech urged the Labour Party to set its own agenda and ignore the PN’s “spin”.
Speeches delivered by delegates and officials were peppered with references to the current political crisis.
A party official said the number of delegates attending yesterday’s opening session was uncharacteristically high and probably a result of the political crisis, which has heightened expectations of an early election.
Mr Grech urged delegates to keep their feet on the ground, adding that the PN was unable to convince people because it was not believed.
“To be believed you need credibility and to gain credibility you have to tell the truth and this is the government’s problem,” Mr Grech said.
He urged the government to say the truth about the expenditure cuts announced and asked whether the Budget for this year was still relevant.
“They told us that new measures were necessary because of what happened between the Budget and now but who did not know that 2012 was going to be a very difficult year for Europe?”
Deviating from his original speech that had to be about the work done by Labour’s MEPs – this will be tackled in a workshop on Saturday – Mr Grech said the Labour Party will be honest with voters.
While thanking veteran MP Karmenu Vella for his work on the electoral manifesto, Mr Grech said the Labour Party would not be promising things it could not implement.
“We will not promise miracles . . . we will present an economic programme that includes incentives for businesses without touching the social dimension,” Mr Grech said, urging delegates not to fear change and accept new ideas.
The Labour Party general conference is expected to come to an end on Sunday week when Labour leader Joseph Muscat will deliver the closing speech.
This Sunday, Dr Muscat will take part in a question and answer session with delegates.
Opening the conference yesterday party president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi dwelt on the theme of the conference – Prudence in Leadership, Progress and Stability – adding it was very appropriate for the country’s current situation.
Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi said he could not believe that the Prime Minister, who had broken off his holiday during the Libya crisis to chair an emergency Cabinet meeting, was going abroad next week – he is expected to visit Tunisia and Qatar – in the middle of a political crisis that was threatening the government’s stability.
Members of the administration yesterday gave a brief overview of their respective portfolios and the relevant yearly reports were approved by the delegates.
Delegates also discussed one of the motions put forward by the party’s executive dealing with local councils.
The second plenary session will be held tonight when Labour deputy leader for party affairs Toni Abela and the architect of the party’s electoral manifesto Karmenu Vella are expected to address delegates.