A confident Muscat looks forward ‘to change Malta’

Labour leader Joseph Muscat was on a roll this evening as he recounted to his audience how he had transformed Labour from a party that had built up barriers to an open movement.

Addressing the last political activity in Fgura before tomorrow's mass meeting in Hal Far, the Labour leader gave what could be described as a sententious speech in which he reassured that he was "serenely" facing 9 March.

What seemingly has become his favourite way of delivering speeches, Muscat played to people's emotions as he admitted the mistakes carried out by the PL but which had also successfully managed to reinvent itself.

In an appeal to the electorate, Muscat said that come 10 March, Malta could "truly wake up to a new country which is for all".

As he recounted the long road that took his party to what it became today, Muscat said the first step his party made was to admit mistakes, to admit that it was cut away from the people.

"When I was trusted with the leadership of this party five years ago I made it clear I would embark on a mission to carry out a radical change... it's not easy admitting mistakes but it's what integrity calls for," he said.

Hinting that the legacy of a new Labour government would be civil rights, Muscat said the PL electing Muscat as its leader meant that it was choosing the road for civil rights.

"I fought for divorce. I will fight for other rights. This is a liberal movement. Civil liberties are what distinguish us as a movement. Because if you believe in what is good, you will stand by it."

Verging on the emotional, Muscat said he felt "privileged and honoured" to having worked with "an exceptional and united team".

"Like respect, you have to work hard for unity. Five years ago we were a broken party, mostly because the party had just suffered a defeat it wasn't expecting. But we pulled up our sleeves and we worked. We carried out changes which might have shocked but which were ultimately to the benefit of our movement."

"The biggest change we faced? We learnt what humility means. And we are today standing before you reflecting your needs. Because we believe in the idea of a one united nation. And we are the natural home of Maltese and Gozitans."

Muscat said that just like the PL managed to reinvent itself and modernize itself, it would do the same with the country. "We are that force that can change this country. We are the agents of change... what five years ago seemed impossible is today real. And the same can be done with our country. Because yes we can deliver."

A confident Muscat said the PL had the "spirit of ambition, of aspiration and of ability".

"They want to accuse us of being ambitious because we want to see Malta the best in Europe? Then yes we are guilty," Muscat said. "I am facing this election serenely because I am convinced that people will choose the best decision."

Muscat said his ambition was not "Saturday" but the following years. "Saturday will just be the beginning of where we want to go. People ask me if this campaign tired me out. Even I feel tired, I just get back on my feet because I have the energy... I have the energy to stand up for the coming five years," Muscat said, firing up his audience.

He said that if elected, his first mission would be to turn towards those who didn't vote Labour and "ask them to work with us".

Turning towards the Labour supporters, Muscat urged them to be "happy" because together they had already written a small chapter in which they had "opened up the biggest movement".

Somewhat poetic, Muscat ended his speech: "Let it be that next Sunday the country wakes up and says 'yes we have woken up to a Malta that has become one and for all'."