[WATCH] Muscat calls for national unity: ‘I have no hatred in my heart’

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has called for national reconciliation in the wake of Labour’s landslide election victory, insisting that he has “no hatred or bitterness in his heart” despite him and his wife being the targets of a smear campaign.

Addressing a victory rally from the balcony of the PL’s Mile End headquarters. Muscat said that the result – almost identical to Labour’s 2013 victory – proves that the Maltese people have chosen optimism and positivity over negativity.

“The people have confirmed their trust in this movement, despite it being the target of one of the most negative campaigns in our country’s history,” he said. “Those who thought that the Maltese people would choose negativity don’t truly know the Maltese people, because the Maltese people choose positivity, opttimism, energy, goodwill, unity and equality.”

He noted that this result means that Labour has won two successive elections for the first time in 41 years, with both elections won by the two largest margins in Malta’s history.

All photos: Marc Pace/MediaToday

“Our job is not done though and we are only halfway there. You have chosen not to stop halfway but to continue progressing and our first task will be to re-unite this country. My wife and I got attacked more than anyone throughout this campaign, but we have no bitterness and hatred in our hearts.

"I urge each and every one of you to help me work with everyone who wants to seek Malta progress, because this is the movement of all Maltese and Gozitans. It would be easy for us to act arrogantly, but this movement’s strength comes from seeking unity, because Malta must come first and foremost.”

He said that he will take his oath as Prime Minister on Monday at 11am and that the Labour Party’s victory mass meeting has been postponed from this evening to Saturday.

“The best days are ahead of us…for parents, youths, elderly people, for everyone who wants a liberal leap forward, for everyone who wants national unity.”

In earlier comments to state broadcaster PBS, Muscat said he is ready to extend a hand of friendship towards everyone who is willing to work towards the good of the country and pledged that the past four years “will be nothing” compared to what’s still to come.
He said that the next Labour government will learn from the mistakes committed by the past one, while continuing to build on the positives.