[SLIDESHOW] ‘Be protagonists in a new tomorrow’ – Muscat

"Be protagonists. Choose to see the birth of a new united nation. Vote for a change in direction" was the message which Labour leader Joseph Muscat drove home this afternoon.

The mass meeting at the Floriana Granaries this afternoon attracted thousands with supporters spilling to behind the church and to the sides.

Photography by James Galea/MediaToday

Addressing the party faithful, the Labour leader made his case for a 9 March vote in favour of the Labour Party and its candidates.

"In the remaining six days I want you to continue working. I need you to encourage everyone to collect their vote and to vote for all our candidates. Because by not voting, you won't be saying 'I want change' but 'thanking' those who have exploited you for years."

In a patriotic message, Muscat said the vote was not to replace the blue flag with a red one but to see the Maltese flag waving high.

"This is going to be a historic choice... a choice which discards the partisan politics and sees the rise of a united nation. A choice where the electorate elects a government that defends him, that helps him, that truly represents it. It is a clear choice between the past that divides and a future that unites."

Muscat's impassionate speech continued by urging the electorate to do away with tribal politics and to embrace meritocracy. "Vote to live in a country where you don't have to go down on your knees in front of a politician to enjoy what is yours by right."

After a MaltaToday survey which showed the PL leading by 12 points, Muscat warned the electorate to "ignore" the polls. "On 9 March, it will be your vote that counts and not the surveys... let us unite together in change."

Much of Muscat's speech was taken up by calls to the youths to be "protagonists" and be part of the change.

"This is the time. This is the time to introduce patients' rights which are for all;  a solid pension that is for all; an investment in our children which is for all; an investment in students which are for all... the possibility to vote for a new chapter is everyone's."

Counteracting the accusations made by the PN that a Labour government would bring about unemployment and a loss in opportunities for the upcoming generations, Muscat not only pledged the retention of stipends but also the granting of stipends to post-secondary students who repeat classes.

Muscat drove home the message that youths would be the priority for a new government: "The PN sees no problem with 4,600 youths being unemployed. But you cannot call 4,600 youths irrelevant. Every boy, every girl is relevant for us. Jobs will be generated through the best energy we have on this island: our private sector, our self-employed."

He added that the Labour movement was proud to be "pro-business... because it means supporting workers."

On his part, deputy leader Louis Grech hammered on the need for an "inclusive, progressive and mature society".

"A 9 March vote for the PL would mean a vote in favour of a progressive society, that would be economically strong, mature. A different society but not divisive.

"The first step is your vote. We are prepared to implement this roadmap. We are aware of the difficulties we will face but we will make it. Because a Labour in government can truly offer a different way of doing politics."

Grech also urged his supporters not to let anyone demoralise them or provoke them. "We have built a positive campaign and we have kept strong. Let us not allow anyone to take this away from us. Let us keep this momentum going."

The deputy leader insisted that a Labour in government would represent the people as the party reflected well the people's concerns and issues.

"We know what people want and we will work for that. The politics of the past our not in our interests. Our roadmap reflects the doable. We are not offering the impossible and we are not reinventing the wheel."

Grech said the Labour candidates were prepared to work hard to bring about change.

Somewhat poetic, Grech said the future lay in the hands of those who were ready to create their own future. "This country's future is in your hands. Those who want to do away with negative politics and move towards humane politics, must vote for all the Labour candidates and give their support to Joseph and the PL. Together we can create the future for a Malta for all."

Grech said a vote for the Nationalists would mean a vote for "more of the same: the same arrogance, the same inefficiency and the same promises; a party who spent a year in parliament without functioning. A party who lost the trust of its own members, who is in denial, who has hid its head in the sand."

On the other hand, he said, the Labour Party dreamt of a country where power, authority, red tape and indifference towards the people's suffering would not form part of a new government's politics.

"You, the citizen, is at the heart of our policies."