Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday stood by his choice to “fearlessly” hold Malta’s EU ambassador to account for bypassing Parliament.

Our legacy will not be a monument or a building but peace of mind

Addressing party supporters in Birkirkara, Dr Muscat said Richard Cachia Caruana, also a PN strategist, played the role of Prime Minister for 25 years, but without being accountable.

The Labour Party has been criticised for its motion demanding Mr Cachia Caruana’s resignation over WikiLeaks cables, which the government sought to clarify.

Dr Muscat said today’s vote on Mr Cachia Caruana would be the first since the Prime Minister set a new benchmark to have “clear” votes in favour of the government from all his MPs.

Reacting to his speech, the Nationalist Party said the “personal attacks” against Mr Cachia Caruana showed the PL had not changed.

Dr Muscat started his address by saying that while Labour turned into a movement, the PN became a constantly shrinking clique. Instead of listening to the people, the PN only turned to them for help to stay in power, he said.

Rather than seeking “ego-trip” projects to cut ribbons ostentatiously, a Labour government would ensure a “social revolution”.

“Our legacy will not be a monument or a building but peace of mind,” he said, referring to his recent pledge to create community homes for disabled people. “Parents will sleep at night knowing that if they did not live till morning, their children will still continue living in the community, independently.”

He read a letter from a disabled girl who said the pledge eased her pessimistic outlook on her future, giving hope that she would not end up in a home for the elderly when her parents died.

Dr Muscat also said 450 children left secondary school without obtaining their O levels. “These are 450 families who are crying for help.”

He recalled Labour’s “guarantee for youths”, which is being spearheaded in the EU by socialist parties and recently received a favourable vote in the European Parliament. Even Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil voted in favour, despite having criticised Labour for embracing the proposal.

He hoped Malta could excel in this initiative to the point that other EU countries looked at the island as an exemplary model.

Dr Muscat spoke about his recent meeting with SmartCity investors, blaming the government for the lack of promised jobs. Labour would work with investors to deliver results realistically.

“We want Malta to overflow with jobs,” he said, adding investors should forget about elections and attract jobs as soon as possible.

Reiterating his promise to support private enterprise and create a fair VAT system where honest businessmen were not stifled or sent to jail, Dr Muscat called on the government to forget Corporate Village in Mrieħel.

He said car switch manufacturer Methode wanted to expand to bring more jobs to Malta but the land was being eyed for Corporate Village’s “flats and showrooms”.

Malta’s limited industrial land should not be used for offices competing with those offered by the private sector but for factories. “Otherwise, where shall we put the factories? In Sliema?”

Dr Muscat said Labour would also give hope to the construction industry, not to build unattractive blocks but to find ways to reclaim land.

This would revive the industry, give better infrastructure, create much-needed space, offer jobs and safeguard the environment, he said.