Updated | Labour leader welcomes President's call for constitutional reform

Labour leader Joseph Muscat has welcomed the proposal by President George Abela for a public assembly to discuss constitutional reform.

"Labour has been supporting the president's efforts on constitutional reform," Muscat said after his party's ceremony at the Republic Day monument on 13 December Street, Marsa.

Muscat said he would like to see a national constitutional convention that groups civil society as well as parties and unions. However he said that the coming elections must be taken into context: "We have to take into consideration the electoral calendar too, as Local Council elections will be held in March next year and possibly the general election will be held next year too. Such talks take longer much longer than just a few months."

"Constitutional reform requires a sensible national debate and if there is a real will to change things, then constitutional reform will happen. However we do not agree that talks should be merely held between the PL and PN. All stakeholders within civil society should be involved. The opposition fully supports the President's proposal of forming a national forum," Muscat said.

In a short address, Muscat said Republic Day was a national day that gave the public the opportunity to reflect on what the country had achieved since becoming a republic. "This includes the defence of work, social solidarity, and neutrality. Our efforts to defend what we have achieved must now reflect today's realities."