Labour leader Joseph Muscat said yesterday he would keep working for a positive campaign, which promoted unity and did not pass judgements on people “on the basis of the colour of their faces”.
“There is a better choice: one between negative politics of the past and a better one based on unity,” Dr Muscat told a mass meeting in Mqabba.
“It’s about what you know and not who you know. We will be positive and not throw mud. We will leave that to others,” he said.
The party would concentrate on “facts and what interests families and businesses”.
These past few days, when there were the “worst type of politics”, did not do the country any good. He appealed to all to be positive and “let’s not let politics sink lower”.
The people deserved better and there should be a discussion on the party’s proposals and “not make personal attacks”.
He pointed out that, with the election fewer than two weeks away, it was time to show that the Labour movement would not resort to a negative campaign and would always remain positive.
Referring to the recent leaders’ debate at the Malta College of Arts, Sciences and Technology, where a large number of students booed the Prime Minister, Dr Muscat publicly thanked them for their support.
“Don’t worry about the attacks. Let students say what they want and thank you for your interest in the country,” he said.
To the undecided voter he said: “Not voting will be good to others as it will benefit those who forgot all about you and treated you arrogantly.” Instead, the people had to send a message out to vote for the Labour movement.
A Labour government would introduce a law on party financing so that all political parties would have to inform the public about donations, something the PL always did, he said.
“No one gives us €250,000. What would they want in return for that money?”
Dr Muscat referred to the recent economic forecast by the European Commission and said that the figures confirmed that the Government’s cost estimates were wrong.
The Commission was saying that the economy grew by one per cent while the Nationalist Party presented its electoral proposals on a forecast of 1.2 per cent. Brussels also said that economic growth was estimated at two per cent while the PN said it would stand at 2.3 per cent.
“Their cost estimates are based on a forecast of economic growth that the EU is warning is not realistic,” he said.
This would mean three things: that the PN would not implement its promises, it would increase debt or increase taxes, Dr Muscat said.
Dr Muscat said he had refused an offer to receive the €500 weekly raise given to ministers because he went into politics “to change things and not to make money”. Politics “is a service and that’s why we can’t be negative. I want my children and your children to live in a better country,” he said.
Dr Muscat said he wanted his children “to see that I went into politics to do my duty and not for power. I want a better country.”
Personal attacks “give me strength and I’m ready for the responsibility,” he said.