MEP election is a choice between myself and Busuttil– PM

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that the upcoming MEP election was a direct opportunity for the Maltese to express their preference for Opposition leader Simon Busuttil or himself.

Speaking a political activity in Qormi, and with less than a week to go before the MEP elections, Muscat said that the Nationalist camp was trying to “brush off” the political responsibilities attached to the election by claiming that it was solely related to European issues and the candidates’ competence within the EU.

“Let us be frank and sincere here,” Muscat said. “These elections are a choice between the two parties. It is a choice between myself and Simon Busuttil.”

“People need to make that choice from scratch,” he said. “And I believe that the people will make the right choice in voting for this movement.”

“In doing so, you will be sending a clear and strong message that this country is on the right track.”

Addressing those persons who may opt not to vote at the elections, Muscat said that this was “their prerogative” but urged them to re-think such an act. He said that the Labour party will continue to campaign “till the very end” and said that a successful result at the elections will serve to “re-energise the government’s already-positive energy.”

Muscat said that government had been elected under “exceptional circumstances” last year with an “enormous coalition of people demanding a change.” However, during his speech, the PM opted to take a different approach to the discourse which has engulfed the MEP campaign thus far. Refusing to talk about what government had done during its first year in power, Muscat spoke about the legacy he hoped this government would be remembered for.

“You all know what we’ve done and that we are delivering on our promises,” he told the crowd of party followers. “But this all stems from the ideals that we envisage for this country.”   

“We want a country where every child that is born is not discriminated against,” he said. “A country in which everybody is at liberty to make their own decisions without the pressures of being judged by others.”

“We want a country that challenges the status quo,” he said. “And one which does not live in the past.”

“We want a country in which civil rights are granted, thereby putting everyone on an equal playing field.”

Muscat said that government will not rest after the election. On the contrary, he said that it would double its efforts to ensure that Malta continued on the right path.