Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday urged Maltese youth to spread the word of hope of a better future under a Labour government.

Addressing a crowd of about 4,000 at a youth rally at the Corradino Sports Complex last night, Dr Muscat said his new movement was the natural home for youth.

In his eight-minute long speech, Dr Muscat spoke about the message the party was getting across, a message of hope for a country that is “truly European”.

“Our aim is to abolish the old way of doing politics. We want a country that is truly European, where civil rights come natural,” he said.

Dr Muscat said 4,600 young people were unemployed. “We want to ensure that you have a decent job, not only for those who move on to studying at the University but for others who do not continue studying. We are offering a job and training guarantee so you can live a decent life,” he said.

Referring to Labour’s pledge to give repeaters a stipend, Dr Muscat said his party was the only one that believed in giving such students a second chance.

In a reference to the students who welcomed him at the University, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology and the higher secondary, Dr Muscat thanked them for understanding the party’s message and went on to urging them to write history.

Addressing specifically those who are voting Labour for the first time, Dr Muscat said: “Come on, let us write a page in Malta’s history together so you can tell your children and grandchildren that you were part of the change, that you were protagonists rather than spectators.”

Concluding his short speech, Dr Muscat noted there were just eight days left before the March 9 election.

“There are just eight days for each one of you to persuade more young people to join our movement. Put their minds at rest that this movement does not look at faces but is a movement of unity, which is offering the country hope of a better future,” he said.