News
07 June 2009 18:58
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Birth of a new movement - Muscat
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“This victory is more than an election. It is the birth of a political movement never before seen in the Maltese and Gozitan Islands.”
Speaking during a celebration during which the Labour party celebrated its landslide victory in the European Parliamentary Elections, Labour Leader Dr Joseph Muscat emphasised how a new movement had been born through the coalition which the Labour Party had brought about.
“Today let us celebrate, but from tomorrow, we go back to work again. This is only the point of departure,” Dr Muscat emphasised. He also stressed the importance of continued work and effort “so that once and for all, this movement will be united.”
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(Photo: Joe Camenzuli)
“They told us that this day would never come, but here it is,” Dr Muscat said.
Dr Muscat sent out heartfelt thanks to all those who on Saturday decided to step up and form part of the national movement. He thanked both long-time party stalwarts for their continued dedicated and loyalty, as well as those voting for the PL for the first time.
Dr Muscat pointed out that this result only showed how Dr Gonzi’s government is falling apart, adding that the result of yesterday’s vote was not only a protest vote, but a clear vote in favour of the Labour Party.
Earlier (1900hrs):
Speaking during a celebration during which the Labour party celebrated its landslide victory in the European Parliamentary Elections, Labour Leader Dr Joseph Muscat emphasised how a new movement had been born through the coalition which the Labour Party had brought about.
“Today let us celebrate, but from tomorrow, we go back to work again. This is only the point of departure,” Dr Muscat emphasised. He also stressed the importance of continued work and effort “so that once and for all, this movement will be united.”
(Photo: Joe Camenzuli)
“The Maltese and Gozitan population had one clear choice between the party of yesterday, and the movement of tomorrow.”
This, Dr Muscat emphasised, is a movement which gathers all within it, and one which sees across party boundaries, ignoring if one has red or blue affiliations. “This is a coalition of people united in their readiness to bring about change in the country.”
“They told us that this day would never come, but here it is,” Dr Muscat said.
He also thanked those who might have voted for other parties, recognising their democratic right to vote for whom they wished. Referring to those who did not vote, however, Dr Muscat emphasised how, as a politician, he was duty bound to listen to their message as well and pledged that he would be doing so.
He expressed the hope that these who did not vote would one day unite themselves with the new movement through the coalition that the Labour Party is gathering together.
“Today we are here celebrating together, and this is the way it should be. But this is not the point of arrival, but only the beginning.” Dr Muscat stressed.
“The population of Malt and Gozo has sent a strong and clear message to Lawrence Gonzi. They have told him that everyone has had enough of being taken for a ride, and that this will not be tolerated any longer,” Dr Muscat said.
Dr Muscat started off his address by saying how now, more than every before, he missed the late Labour MP Karl Chircop, who passed away recently, and wished he was still among us.
“Here, today, we mark this day which they said wouldn’t come, this birth of a national movement, by singing together the national Maltese anthem,” Dr Muscat concluded.
Earlier (1900hrs):
Crowds gathered outside the Labour Party Headquarters, celebrating the electoral absolute majority win that the Labour Party achieved at the European Parliament Election hours earlier.
The crowd, packed with old and young revellers alike, stretched all the way down the road and spilled over to the surrounding areas, all already celebrating with music being played, while they awaited an address by Labour Party leader Dr Joseph Muscat.
Earlier today, the PL had achieved an absolute majority landslide victory by obtaining 55-56% of the total votes cast.
The victory meeting was called by the Labour Party, who also urged caution and restraint for any of those wishing to celebrate the party’s landslide victory.
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Comments
anna - 10 June 2009 16:52
minn qalbi nifrah lil partit ghaziz taghna ,veru kienet elezzjoni ghal parlament ewropew...imma ahna ghal partit laburista ivvo tajna .u ghal min ma jafx 4-2,gejna.u ma sraqnix voti lanqas ..min ivvota labour, buona volonta tieghu .ghax .kemm il-darba se ddum tidhaqq bil-poplu?...ma tafux li min jidhaq l-ahhar jidhaq l-ahjar.xxxxxx.
JOE BORG - 09 June 2009 08:23
Jiena ninsab kuntent ghax issa il-poplu qieghed jifehem li mghandux fiducja aktar fil partit ta' Gonzi p.n. Iridu nahdmu iktar ghax dan hu it-tluq u nahdmu iktar halli nkabru il-magoranza; halli nghatu rigal lil mahbub tghana u ngharawh imexxi lil din MALTA tghana. jiena Joe Borg penzjonant .grazzi
chris gauci - 08 June 2009 17:15
As a foreign citizen living in malte for the past twenty years..I am so glad that Joseph Muscat made a change in the labour administration and also so happy to regarding the results of the european elections. Enough of the failed PN directions, corruptions, idiotic way of doing politics, this is only the start of a long journey...However I believe that they still a few good changes that should happen in the PL....We still have four years of PN to go so let's gear up now that they got the message of the electorate...let's kepp the good work well done J.muscat.
ronnie azzopardi - 08 June 2009 16:11
Well done dear Dr.Joseph Muscat.Keep on working.We need to keep on striving in order to get what we aim for.Keep up the good work
R D - 08 June 2009 15:28
Welcome aboard Tony, many more are following your courageous move!!! We invite Alan to do likewise. PL is everyone's party, all those who really wish the best for Malta. Joseph we always knew you were the ONE and you're are proving it. Now let's get on with our business and prepare to govern in a clean and honest way, sooner than later it seems.
JOSEPH BONELLO - 08 June 2009 13:17
I would like to congratulate our beloved Leader, Joseph, the PL Administration and all those who were involved in th MEP's election last Saturday, not forgetting Louis Gatt and all at the Electoral Office. A very big great and tremendous success!!!!
M. Storace - 08 June 2009 12:01
A very big 'thank you' for all those voters who understood the PL's message and voted for the party last Saturday.
Let GonziPN still be 'seated and in power' and see what happens at the General Election.
After such a crushing defeat, he's still as arrogant as ever and likely to remain so for a leopard never changes its spots.
Heartfelt congratulations and much appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Muscat who showed his capabilities, intelligence and was able to deliver the right message to the electorate.
Well done also to all the contenders for the EP as they have shown their validity and expressed openly that they have the interest of both the country and people at heart during their intensive electoral programme.
carmen - 08 June 2009 11:22
Thank you Joseph and all the candidates for your work and dedication. This is the first step. Never forget that the fight has to be till the end. You are giving us courage and a smile again. So happy that I lived the day to see another future labour prime minister. Bil Qalb prosit. Ibqa maghna u ahna nibqaw mieghek.
g.portelli - 08 June 2009 11:21
Joseph Muscat is earning trust, mine included. This is a good result which one hopes is conducive to a change in government four years down the line. It is a credible effort and I sincerely hope nothing derails this trajectory. Democracy needs viable alternatives. How much longer can the PN sustain a system based on patronage, arrogance and creative bancruptcy? Then again patronage is something the PN government is very reluctant to eschew. I doubt very much the next four years will be a level playing field, nonetheless, these results should strengthen the political resolve to achieve the desired outcome. It is a good day for Maltese democracy.
dusty williams - 08 June 2009 11:16
Nifirhu bir ragun.
Ghal dawk li qed jahsbu li huma certi li tigi meta tigi l-elezzjoni genarali ser jirbhuwa tal-PN, jiena nghidilom haga.
Tafu li jekk tilghabu Fair titilfu! allura xtaghmlu?
Tohorgu Tenders bl'addocc
Tohorgu lista ta wieghdi li tafu li nhux se twettqu
Taghtu Fridges, Cookers, Plazma Screens
Tmorru timmanipulaw lil anzjani gol homes
Il-MEPA permessi tal ahhar minuta
etc etc
Dawn l-affarijiet irebbhukom l-elezzjoni my friend, dak huwa serq u inutli tohorgu tghidu li ghandkom valuri nsara ghax hadd ma qed jemminkom aktar.
U ghalekk Gonzi jghid hhhhee heeeee imm l elezzjoni nirbaha jien! Ikun jaf x'qed jghid.
R.Degiorgio - 08 June 2009 10:46
Yes I agree that the PL just won the battle and not the war YET. But defenetely PL is on the right track. And lets not forget an important thing here...that the PN is governing without the majority. The maltese on saturday sent a clear message to this gov...Maltese are fed up of the PN arrogance. And still this PM didnt listen because yesterday again he stated...STILL IN OFFICE AND IN POWER!!! Is this the way a mature PM should talk???
joyce aquilina - 08 June 2009 10:21
@alan mela iddispjacik li ma vuttatjtx? la ma vuttajtx sinjal li int imwegga bxi haga mela darba ohra ivvota pl
Chris - 08 June 2009 10:11
Alan lanqas tista tghid li dawk is- 60,000 ruh ha jivutaw PN! Jekk inti daqshek kburi bix xoghol li qed jaghmel il gvern ghaliex ma hrigtx tivota! Jien naf hafna Laburisti li ghadhom jghidu le ghal ewropa (u dik opinjoni taghhom) ma hargux jivutaw... fl elezzjoni generali labour jivutaw! Iz- zmien itina parir! din wirja cara li l elezjoni tas- sena l-ohra kienet misruq b'qerq nazzjonalista. Prosit Joseph
Chris - 08 June 2009 10:11
Alan lanqas tista tghid li dawk is- 60,000 ruh ha jivutaw PN! Jekk inti daqshek kburi bix xoghol li qed jaghmel il gvern ghaliex ma hrigtx tivota! Jien naf hafna Laburisti li ghadhom jghidu le ghal ewropa (u dik opinjoni taghhom) ma hargux jivutaw... fl elezzjoni generali labour jivutaw! Iz- zmien itina parir! din wirja cara li l elezjoni tas- sena l-ohra kienet misruq b'qerq nazzjonalista. Prosit Joseph
fran - 08 June 2009 09:46
Noqghodu attenti u nahdmu biex ma naqawx fnasba bhall ma waqajna fdawn l ahhar 30 sena.ahdmu flimkin minghajr ma hadt johrog rasu u jitkellem indipendenti mil partit tieghu u jghid kliem li jkun ikel ghal pn biex fl ahhar jahdmu fuqu.gonzi ghandu ragun ma hadiex bi kbira ghax go rasu ghandu biss l elezzjoni generali u drajna bizzejjed it tattika li juzaw.ejjew inkunu VERAMENT partit wiehed u mhux bhal passat. grazzi
joyce aquilina - 08 June 2009 08:54
bil QALB nejdlek prosit u grazzi dr muscat.
Alan - 08 June 2009 08:47
Jien nahseb li qed tkantaw vittorja kmieni, ghax fuq 60,000 ruh ma jivvutawx ma jfissirx li dawk xi darba ha jivvutaw lill PL ! Jien wiehed minnhom.. MEP ijja haga.. Elezzjoni Generali ijja kumpletament differenti !
carmel attard - 08 June 2009 08:06
Congratulations PL. Gonzi must consider a new and proper way of governance,or otherwise consider calling a general election. The Nation has spoken. We must all be treated equally as one people.
Tarcisio Mifsud - 08 June 2009 07:57
As usual Dr. Gonzi has confirmed the arrogance of his government and party, he stated that they will carry on as they have been doing, naturally that includes all the corruption, delayed projects, undelivered promises, etc...
peter - 08 June 2009 07:39
Dik tkaxxkira eh! ghandek xi ddum titfarfar gonz
I B - 08 June 2009 07:14
This is true the start of a new era. Its a great victory but we should never take things for granted. We need to work harder in a collective manner and results will be achieved. Well done for all who appreciated the duty to go out for voting.
Finally, Joseph. You are the inspiration for the Labour Party, under your leadership we are trusting a new era looking after the interest of the majority. Well done
Il-Bucks - 08 June 2009 07:14
This is true the start of a new era. Its a great victory but we should never take things for granted. We need to work harder in a collective manner and results will be achieved.
Well done for all who appreciated the duty to go out for voting. Finally, Joseph. You are the inspiration for the Labour Party, under your leadership we are trusting a new era looking after the interest of the majority. Well done
Tony - 08 June 2009 06:48
I have been voting PN since 1981.This time I changed to LP,and I am sure soon we will have the youngest ever PM in Malta's history.
Tony - 08 June 2009 06:48
I have been voting PN since 1981.This time I changed to LP,and I am sure soon we will have the youngest ever PM in Malta's history.
Colin Camilleri - 08 June 2009 06:44
This election was not about numbers but about seats!! The PN still managed a "win" here. Lets be realistic, at the end they will still have 3 seats, as much as PL although getting 33,000 votes less. Again labour should take a lesson from their intelligence and organisation. These people were afraid that they will get one seat and managed a par with PL. Gentlemen keep down to earth and read between the lines. Not all that glitters is gold.
This momentum must be however translated to a General election victory. Mark my words.
Alexander Azzopardi - 08 June 2009 05:18
Goodluck joseph !!!! this is stagun Politiku gdid !!! 199+ out of 100 for this test lets get the Exam !!!
Joseph Scerri - 08 June 2009 02:19
How can Dr. Gonzi sleeps well tonight (hope he does) and thinging about that in the morning he need to go to Castile facing the day with about 35000 votes against his party. The first thing he must do in the morning is to call a new general election!!
Shawn - 08 June 2009 01:57
Cannot understand thisnew movement.I guess it is a ne slogan for the PL we gotuse to the now!! Some people think that this is the general elecion but ofrtunately it is not. If one looks at the past he PL made a number of acomplishments on a low scale such as the EU and ocal councils but always failed to win the general elections which ultimately are the ones that count.
CM - 08 June 2009 01:04
Do you really think that PN has no time to regain lost votes in the next 4 years? PL just won a battle not war ,just wait and see.
CM - 08 June 2009 01:04
Do you really think that PN has no time to regain lost votes in the next 4 years? PL just won a battle not war ,just wait and see.
Charles Stafrace - 07 June 2009 23:34
This result has shown that the people have believed Joseph and not Gonzi. And no wonder, for the PM has failed to meet his promises so many times that he has now lost all credibility. Now it's up to his colleagues to see that he is stopped from doing more damage to their party. The more the PN remain in power, the more their party breaks into disarray. Better call it a day now and make way for an alternative government than be remembered in history as the perpetrator of a total PN break-up.
miriambellante - 07 June 2009 23:33
viva labour, joesph muscat is the best, keep it up.we love u we are behind u.
Yaneka - 07 June 2009 22:32
Great!!! At long last, tomorrow when I wake up, Joseph will be at Kastilja, taking Gonzi's seat. I always thought Joseph will look better as PM: he's cuter than Gonzo and he loves us!!!! Love you xxx
S Fenech - 07 June 2009 22:16
Just so happy that I am part of the PL family. today at Hamrun was just one big party, making you feel you know each and every person present there. Something did unite us, it is our loyalty to the party, our country and last but not least, our leader Joseph. We are all happy we were able to give your first anniversary gift, your work is all worth the gift.
Carmel Grech - 07 June 2009 22:12
KIEKU l-Onor. Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, LL.D, M.P. kien tal-affari tieghu, kieku kien iwarrab minn Kap tal-Partit Nazzjonalista, ghax bieh. il-Partit Nazzjonalista mar il-bahar! Imma Dr. Gonzi, s-siggu tal-poter ihobbu wisq. Hallieh jghaffeg aktar. Aktar ma jigdeb u jipprova jqarraq bil-poplu, akbar tkun ir-rebha l-ohra tal-Elezzjoni Generali! Kuragg poplu Malti, dak il-jum jasal ukoll!
Mario Camilleri - 07 June 2009 22:02
Today's victory confirms that in the previous election, on the 8/3/08 Gonzi and the PN should not be in power and governing this country. They stole that election. This result shows that when the PN play fair they lose. By the way one good question from Noel Grima "Are you (Gonzi) in office or in power?"
Anthony Micallef - 07 June 2009 21:40
At long last The Maltese have awaken to the truth and from their hibernation.May this be the base on which Malta is served by its everlasting ,strong movement under the honest direction of all its leaders in the Malta Labour Party.
c dimech - 07 June 2009 21:39
Our leader had his first year at the helm yesterday. I am for sure he pressed the right button: "LABOUR".
Well done to everyone. Congratulation for the future.
heywood - 07 June 2009 21:25
well done for big victory
Bernice Schembri - 07 June 2009 21:21
why movement? can't it be the whole country :S
I didn't understand Muscat, does he want everyone to be Labour? or did he say he wants everyone to be united no matter what they voted for?
GC - 07 June 2009 21:18
Let's see you take the message from the people Dr Gonzi. If you happen to be finding it difficult to interpret the message it simply says CALL GENERAL ELECTIONS.
Gordon Scicluna - 07 June 2009 20:42
nothing happened for Gonzi. AFFARIH.
CG - 07 June 2009 20:39
What about the 6th seat??? Gonzi said on Net TV that the 6th could be one from them??? How couls this be?? Justice again??? What about the magiority talk???? U qal ohra: In the seat and in power!!!! really??? This is to be seen. Keep hitting the people on their heads and you will see one day that you cant cheat all people all the time. By the way: "Thanks you very much, Dr. Gonzi for the bulbs??? I am paying 450Euro more per year for them!!! Joseph KEEP IT UP!!!
mike turner - 07 June 2009 20:16
Malta needs this new political movement and this moment, but it will have to be rid of all the stupid political squabbling, aggression and patronage. PL now has a genuine opportunity to take the lead for a really better Malta, but it will not be easy clearing up the mess of inherited mismanagement. Positive thinking will succeed.
marygrace deraffaele - 07 June 2009 20:05
thanks for everything you have done so the pl won this election and good luck for the future
ray - 07 June 2009 19:26
Even though the PM stated that he does not consider this vote as a no confidence vote in his government THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. The people have spoken and the PM does not want to listen, not because the people’s words are not clear but because the government is too arrogant to listen. It is good to remember that whatever the power any PM might have it comes from the people because finally they are his employer and he is only an employee. I suggest that the PM should that this vote as a warning because next time he could be out of a job.