As both parties launched their respective campaigns in the run-up to next month’s European Parliament election, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat insisted this afternoon that his party would be the underdog in the race.

He said that last year’s historic victory with a 36,000-vote majority would have no bearing on the outcome, adding that both parties will start head-to-head.

Dr Muscat argued that no party in government has ever won a majority of votes in these elections since they were first held in 2004. On the other hand, he expressed himself optimistic that his party had a good chance of achieving this feat, saying that in its first year the government had achieved important results.

Interviewed on One Radio, the Prime Minister said that Labour’s slogan ‘Malta Positive Energy’ epitomised what the party stood for. One basic difference from the former administration was that this government was doing its utmost to keep its pledges, such as the lowering of utility tariffs. He also stressed on the need to take a positive approach throughout the campaign.

The Prime Minister said that the PN’s slogan 'Better Malta' was an admission by the Opposition that the country was faring better after a year of Labour.

Touching on the Civil Unions Act, the Prime Minister said that its timing was not linked to the MEP election but that government was keen to implement its manifesto as early as possible. He said that the PN’s argument that Malta was not ready for this change was “paternalistic”. On the other hand, Labour was trying to be the agent of change, he said.

Dr Muscat said that this issue boiled down to one of leadership, as the PN leader did not want to take a stand in an attempt to accommodate all internal factions. It was pathetic, he said, that the Opposition leader was trying to blame his failure to take a stand by pointing fingers at the Church.