Muscat congratulated by EP president Martin Schulz and S&D president Hannes Swoboda

Prime Minister elect and Labour leader Joseph Muscat is congratulated on his and the Labour Party's victory by European Parliament president Martin Schulz and S&D group president Hannes Swoboda.

In separate statements, both EU figures congratulated Muscat and the Labour Party for their electoral victory.

In a statement, Schulz, saluted that Maltese people "who have participated in one of the most active democratic elections in Europe with over 93% voting turnout."

He also congratulated the Labour Party "and my highly regarded former colleague Joseph Muscat for winning the trust of the Maltese people in these elections."

He said he is looking forward to working closely together with a view to finding common answers to the challenges faced by the European Union.

"Malta can look forward to continued good economic growth. Malta may be the smallest nation in the EU, yet it is strategically located and is enjoying a solid economic performance."

"The European Parliament also looks forward to working closely with the Maltese government in the run-up and the deployment of its term at the helm of the Council of the European Union in January 2017.''

In another statement, S&D Group president Hannes Swoboda noted that Sunday's general elections in Malta ended with a landslide victory for Joseph Muscat and the Maltese Labour Party.

"I extend my warmest congratulations to Joseph Muscat and the Partit Laburista," Swoboda said. "The Maltese people have made a clear choice and I am confident that 'Malta for all' as well as 'Europe for all' will become a reality under the new government:

"In today's times of growing wariness towards Europe, I am glad to see a pro-European leader and a pro-European party will govern the country," he added.

"The Maltese Labour Party now has the opportunity to address the pressing issues affecting the country and deliver fair and socially responsible policies for the people, on energy, employment and growth.

"For Europe it is great news to have yet another left-wing government which is committed to fairness, equality and truly progressive policies. Malta's elections are the latest sign that voters in Europe are fed up with right-wing austerity and want to see real change."