Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning that the main characteristic of the Labour government's first year was the energy it had instilled in the administration.
Speaking at a well attended Labour Party activity under pouring rain in Palace Square, Valletta, Dr Muscat said those who voted for Labour a year ago had charted a new course for the country. He expressed gratitude for those who had voted for Labour for the first time, perhaps with a certain amount of uncertainty, and said it was him aim to remove their uncertainty and confirm their Labour vote in four years' time.
In going over the government's achievements, Dr Muscat said the results were clear and the people were pleased, even those who had not voted Labour. People could confirm the energy of the new government compared to the old one.
The government retained what was good and changed what needed to be changed. As a result, the EU had confirmed that economic growth and job-creation had reached levels unseen in the past few years. The deficit had been narrowed and the economy's inbuilt unbalances were being corrected.
Simon Busuttil had said Malta under Labour would need a bailout, but now economists were saying Malta's performance was the best, Dr Muscat said amid boos for Dr Busuttil.
He told his listeners that when he mentioned Dr Busuttil, they should be as pleased as he was, and may Dr Busuttil remain head of the PN and Opposition leader for many years to come.
Dr Muscat reiterated that electricity and water tariffs would be reduced for families this month, and for businesses in a year's time. He said the government had stabilised fuel prices, particularly the price of diesel.
This government reduced income tax for high income earners and for parents. It also stopped the former government's plans for a tax on waste.
This government, he recalled, had cut Mepa tariffs by half and given new life tot he construction sector. Incentives were given for first time property buyers.
In a few days' time, the government would implement its promise of free childcare services.
Incentives were being given to those who employed more people, refunds were being given to those who paid VAT on vehicle registration tax. Prescription on political corruption cases had been lifted and the Whistle-blower Act had been enacted.
Students' stipends had been improved and would continue to be improved, Dr Muscat said to applause.
This, Dr Muscat said, was a government of principles which gave true meaning to equality by, for example, removing discrimination on the basis of a person's sexual orientations. One of the most important liberal statements was the Civil Unions Bill.
In the social sector a strategy had been drawn up to tackle the plight of those at risk of poverty and a new child supplement of €400 each was being given to children in this situation. The grant was linked to a number of conditions - they had to go to school every year and they had to receive the regular medical check-ups. When parents did not do their duty the funds would be withheld and deposited in a bank for the children when they grew up.
Dr Muscat defended the government's plans to moor a gas tanker at Marsaxlokk for the new power station, recalling that up to a year ago, the PN used to say that such tankers practically did not exist. The EU's foremost expert had given the go-ahead for the government's plans, and the Opposition's scaremongering would not be believed by the people of the south. The new gas power station would mean cleaner air, replacing the 'silent killers' which others had allowed in the south. Hopefully, when a funding agreement was reached with the EU, a gas pipeline would replace the tanker. Marsa power station would also be closed, as would the fuel storage in Birzebbuga, Dr Muscat said to applause.
Turning to the nomination of the President, Dr Muscat said the former government, repeatedly failed to nominate a woman while claiming it wanted gender equality. Indeed, no women were important to any of the top posts including the Speaker and the Chief Justice or the head of the civil service. He augured that on April 4, President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca would be greeted by all Maltese as a person who would continue to unite the country.
It was an honour for him to be the first Labour prime minister in 32 years to nominate a President. That was Dom Mintoff in 1982, when he nominated Agatha Barbara.
Concluding, Dr Muscat said a lot of hard work lay ahead and the government could work better. He could assure everyone he had the same enthusiasm as he had a year ago to move this country forward to make it the best in Europe.