The Labour Party feted Joseph Muscat on Wednesday as a mass meeting in Paola held exactly 10 years after he was elected to the helm of the party.
Dr Muscat reciprocated in an address by promising that the ‘tomorrow will be even better than today’ for the country.
In his address to the enthusiastic crowd, Dr Muscat said he wished to thank everyone, including those who had supported him in the past decade and those who still to join the PL.
Thank you to all those who are with us in this fantastic journey changing #Malta???????? #JM10 -JM pic.twitter.com/HWnKOgPlLQ
— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) June 6, 2018
He said the party had to continue to build on its achievements. It should admit mistakes it made, and not rest on its laurels The party had become a movement because it gave space to everyone’s ideas, something it would continue to do.
Dr Muscat highlighted government achievements, including job creation, higher pensions, new civil rights based on equality, free childcare, lower utility tariffs, higher credit ratings for the country and a financial surplus. Families were enjoying a better standard of living, he said, and there was also a better business environment.
The government had also improved air quality, improved workers’ rights to those in uniform, lifted the censorship laws, given the vote for those aged 16.
“Our vision remains focused on the best time for the country. We continue to have an ambitious programme for the country,” Dr Muscat said.
One major challenge was to see that women had a bigger role in decision-making by women. Hardly any progress had been made in decades regarding women’s representation in parliament and an institutional earthquake was needed to remedy this situation. The changes could be controversial, but the government had the mandate and the commitment to bring about this change.
Other challenges included a fair reform of the rental market and a resurfacing of the roads.
The institutions and the Constitution itself needed reform. But national unity was needed for such progress. The politics of red and blue needed to be replaced by the politics of the national colours.
“Tomorrow will be even better than today,” Dr Muscat told the crowd as many chanted ‘Joseph, Joseph.’
“We are only half way, and we will continue to move forward,” Dr Muscat said.
Other speakers at the mass meeting included former deputy prime minister Louis Grech, who, among other things, reminisced about the long discussions over repeated plates of rice cooked by Dr Muscat when the two served as MEPs in Brussels.