A new coalition was being formed and it would send a strong message at last Saturday's elections to the European Parliament, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said last night.

Speaking in Fgura, Dr Muscat said that in order for the economy to grow in a sustainable manner, the state needed to create jobs which made sense for the country. The state needed to back those who were doing well and employing people, and it also needed to help those who were falling back so that they could stand on their feet.

Dr Muscat said that while he believed in the free market, this should not be allowed to steamroll the people. The state had a duty to protect everyone, particularly the weak and the middle class.

Delving into history, Dr Muscat recalled that it was Labour who gave the right to vote to women and lowered voting agea to 18 for all. It first came up with maternity leave, well before other European countries, and it introduced what, at the time, was a decent minimum wage.

Dr Muscat praised Labour's team of candidates, saying they were candidates who the people could identify with, and candidates who would remain in contact with the people.

Labour, he said, had brought together a coalition of people from all sectors and of all ages, and they would send a strong message next Saturday.

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