The Labour Party spent €1.5 million on its election campaign, when it raised more than €1.6 million, delegates were told last night.

Labour’s incoming CEO, Gino Cauchi, gave a breakdown of the figures during the party’s annual general conference.

“Tonight, we are doing what has never been done before. This is another sign that we deliver what we promise,” he said, before announcing the audited accounts.

Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech said that, in the coming weeks, ministers would start holding meetings with the public to keep in touch with citizens.

He appealed to party delegates to help keep the Government’s feet on the ground.

The party’s deputy leader, Toni Abela, thanked former general secretary, Jason Micallef, and former deputy leader, Anġlu Farrugia, for their contribution to the party. He paid tribute to leader Joseph Muscat.

“He has the diligence of Pawlu Boffa, the courage of Dom Mintoff, the humanism of Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and the mind of Alfred Sant. Put all these together and you get Joseph Muscat,” he said, adding that historians would analyse Labour’s phenomenal victory for years to come. Dr Abela said he often had differences with Dr Muscat’s risky and daring methods but now understood how the leader had managed to see the writing on the wall.

However, Dr Abela warned that what goes up, must come down, and it would be a tragedy if Labour were to remain in power forever. Avoiding a one-party system was one of the main reasons Labour had to win the last election.

He urged party supporters to share their criticism of the Government openly so that the party would not fall into the same trap as the Nationalists. Party and Government must remain distinct, he insisted.

The conference was a show of “renewal”, with veteran party officials such as international secretary Alex Sceberras Trigona, operations officer Ray Azzopardi and president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi making their last speeches and giving the floor to their younger successors – Marc Vella Bonnici, William Lewis and Daniel Micallef respectively.

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