The election results had “historic dimensions”, Prime Minister-elect Joseph Muscat said yesterday, promising to keep in touch with the people and fulfil what he promised to do.
We will work together with all those who want to work with us
“This outcome could not be achieved by the Labour Party or by any political party alone but is the result of a movement and we are committed to this,” he said in his first comments at the Naxxar counting hall after Labour won the general election.
“We campaigned as a movement and we were elected as a movement; we have to govern the country as a movement,” he told the jubilant counting agents and volunteers.
Dr Muscat’s arrival was greeted with chants of “Joseph” and the rallying cry “Malta Tagħna Ilkoll” as ecstatic party supporters slammed the perspex and the walls.
He saluted outgoing Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi: “Obviously, we disagreed on many things over the past five years but we built a good personal relationship. I salute him for the work he has done for the country like other prime ministers before him. I think he did the country good even though we did not agree on everything.”
The work of a new government had started, he said.
Dr Muscat will hit the ground running because this week he will be taking his place alongside European leaders for his first EU summit as Prime Minister.
Work will start on the Labour Party’s energy plan, which “is our priority”, and, today, he would communicate with President George Abela and Dr Gonzi.
Even though the new Labour government has a nine-seat majority in Parliament, Dr Muscat said “we will work together with all those who want to work with us”.
He said before Parliament reconvened there were two issues that had to be addressed: One was the election of a new Nationalist Party leader, and the other was bringing the 2013 Budget into force. Dr Muscat said he would consult with the Opposition but pointed out there were no outstanding issues. “The only change we will make is (removing) the tax on the minimum wage.”
When asked about his new Cabinet, Dr Muscat said he had people in mind but pointed out there were new dynamics that had never been experienced before.
“The way we work must change,” he said.
When asked what he felt contributed to Labour’s landslide victory, Dr Muscat said the people saw the manifestos, the plans and compared proposals. The energy issue was crucial. “People chose to dump the politics of the past. That is the message and we will be very careful to keep this in mind,” he said.
The mandate the people gave “us is not for a blue flag to come down and a red one to go up. We will implement this mandate and work for national unity”.
He also pledged to keep in mind the government’s experience, which had a one-seat majority and was cut off from the electorate.