Labour conference | Hundreds descend to Labour’s headquarters

Hundreds descended in Hamrun this morning to show their support to Prime Minister and Labour leader Joseph Muscat on the day that the Nationalist Party will be organising a second demonstration in Valletta over Panama Papers.

One after the other, party delegates, candidates, councilors and MPs sung their praises to Muscat.

Addressing the closing session of Labour’s annual general conference, general elections candidate Aaron Farrugia – who was yesterday elected to the party’s national executive – described Labour as the inclusive party that challenged the status quo.

“Change is not easy but our forefathers have taught us that it is the rare moments that define us and the leader who knows who to face these challenges … this is what Joseph Muscat is doing,” he said.

Farrugia said the people’s choice was between the “opportunists” and the Labour Party which is bringing about much needed reforms and was on the right side of history in voting in favour of civil rights.

Backbencher Deo Debattista accused the PN of taking the law in its own hands, undermining democracy in the opposition’s decision to descend in front of the law courts to protest the criminal defamation that was filed by former police chief Peter Paul Zammit against PN MP Jason Azzopardi.

“We are here for the full legislature … and this democratic will of the people has to be respected. This doesn’t mean that we are taking our parliamentary seats for granted. On the contrary, we will respect it,” Debattista said.

He reminded how The Economist described the government as a model of socialism.

Debattista urged the party followers to attend the 1 May mass meeting.

Backbencher Charles Mangion said the Labour Party was always made to face stormy waters, which is what makes it so strong. “We will keep standing strong behind our Prime Minister,” he said, adding that the opposition’s no-confidence motion gives the Labour parliamentary group an opportunity to reaffirm its support to Muscat.

“Thank you for giving us this opportunity Dr Simon,” Mangion said to a standing ovation.

Mangion questioned Busuttil’s “moral authority” on political honesty, arguing that the first fundraising scheme launched by the PN was “a secretive scheme”.

The conference was also addressed by Frank Zammit, former PN Marsa mayor and PN executive member who last year contested the local council elections on a PL ticket.

In his speech, Zammit compared Muscat to former US President Ronald Reagan in his ability of attracting opponents to his party. He urged the people to be proud of the elected government whilst always listening to what the people are saying.

In a more bellicose speech, OPM aide Glenn Bedingfield hit out at the opposition as being the party of those who offended gay people and persons with disability – referring to incidents outside the law courts on Wednesday afternoon.

Amid calls for Muscat to take action against his energy minister and chief of staff over the offshore trusts and companies, Bedingfield insisted that Muscat takes decisions when he deems fit “and not when the opposition says so”.

“[Muscat] has always proved himself right,” he said.

Whilst insisting that the PN was “just after power”, Bedingfield hit out at the “opportunists” who tried to get close to the government right after the 2013 election “but have now gone back running to the PN at the first opportunity”.

“If we are so corrupt, why did they want to tender for government contracts?” Bedingfield said, of UHM chief executive Josef Vella.

The UHM will be joining today’s PN protest after expressing concern over the crisis in governance.

Economy Minister Chris Cardona said the government is set to announce two major announcements in the coming days – one is an expansion and a new investment set to employ “hundreds of youths”.

Cardona warned against “political attacks”: “When, politically, you attack us with a knife, we will hit back with an axe.”

Referring to Panama Papers, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said the leaks had shocked the world and the financial services sector was now under increased scrutiny.

Whilst arguing that Muscat will be taking the decisions that need to be taken – a veiled reference to the growing pressure to act – Zammit Lewis turned to his leader and said: “The people need you to lead them. No one else. You have to decide. He decides when he chooses to, not when the media says – which has its own agenda – or when the opposition tells him.

“We will decide and we will move forward. The election is the Prime Minister’s prerogative.”

FZL member Matthew Chetcuti took the floor to drive home the message that persons with disability should never be stopped from making their voice heard.

“I joined the Labour Party three years ago because I always believed in the strong values of this party. I wanted to be one of those to deliver the message in favour of inclusiveness,” Chetcuti said.

Chectcuti was targeted by hate speech outside the law courts on Wednesday afternoon during the PN protest. He however insisted that he will not let Wednesday’s attack put him down.

“They wanted to undermine me and persons like me … they wanted to make us feel different. I will not let them. I will try and forget what happened and work even harder within this party,” he said to cheers of support.

Chetcuti praised several government initiatives to help persons with disability, including appointing persons with disability on boards and the opening of community homes.

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said that certain people within the PN who think that they only they can govern, “a very anti-democratic sentiment”.

“It is the electorate who decides the change in government and not a few people in a party. Then again, when you can’t topple government they resort to attacking people and undermine the reputations of institutions … attacks which come from Malta and beyond.”

Scicluna said the strength of the Labour Party was in its pride.

“We have internal challenges … it’s not easy being a minister and you have to be careful at every step. And yes, it is important that we have the highest of standards and adopt a zero tolerance policy,” the finance minister said.

“I personally think that we should not endanger the government … we trust the prime minister to take the right decision and we ourselves must help the prime minister in taking that decision.”

Bringing the session to an end ahead of Muscat’s address, Labour Party president Daniel Micallef turned to former PL deputy leader Toni Abela to urge him to remain active: “This country and this party still need you.”