[LIVE BLOG] Follow Labour's victory mass meeting

Welcome to MaltaToday's live blog of the Labour Party's victory mass meeting in Floriana. REFRESH here to update the stream.

08:55pm Labour's victory mass meeting comes to a close, and so does this live blog. Thank you for following this live blog, and for following us throughout the 2013 General Election campaign. We at MaltaToday hope its been a pleasure to follow as it has been to report. Good night.

08:49pm Muscat and Michelle are joined by both Labour deputy leaders, who stand on stage and wave to the party faithful. Muscat embraces Grech and Abela, and the emotion of the moment is evident on their faces.

A solemn moment as the Maltese anthem plays out over the gathered crowd. The party faithful stand firm, holding their Maltese flags aloft above their heads.

08:47pm "The day has finally dawned on the country when we can finally, truly, say that Malta belongs to us all." The whole crowd joined in for that last one, and the result was truly deafening.

His address over, Muscat is joined onstage by his wife Michelle, and the fireworks, music, flying confetti and the general merriment commence in earnest. 

08:44pm "We are one. We are one united team," he told the country. "This is a movement that will not end with the electoral victory. We campaigned as a movement, and we will govern as a movement," he reiterated, adding that Malta would be also a "protagonist" in the European Union. "Without a sense of inferiority, but with a recognition of our value and what we can do as a country."

"This is the country of George Borg Olivier, This is the country of Dom Mintoff. This is the country that grew with maturity. This is the country that next year will be celebrating its 25th anniversary since its achieving its freedom, the 40th anniversary since becoming a republic, and its 50th anniversary since achieving its independence," Muscat said.

08:42pm Muscat thanked all Labour supporters for their message of trust, both new and old. He especially thanked old diehard supporters for never losing faith all throughout the years. "You will not be sorry for placing your trust in us. We have begun a new chapter in the glorious history of this country."

08:39pm He said that each and every member of Labour's team would be working as a team. "I was satisfied to see each and every one of them working as a team," Muscat said, adding that even those occupying parliamentary secretaries, saying that they have the important role of keeping the government grounded. "This party would keep its feet on the ground as if it won by only one vote."

"If you feel that anyone is getting too big for his or her boots, speak to me personally, because I am committed to ensuring that this party keeps working, existing, breathing, for the sake of the people," Muscat pledged.

08:38pm Muscat also thanked his team - including those who did not success in winning a parliamentary seat. "Your place is still with us. We need everyone's resources. I am committed to ensuring that everyone will find their place within this government."

Muscat particularly welcomed Labour's "exemplary" parliamentary team, insisting that the country would find each and every one of them standing besides them in their moment of need.

08:36pm Muscat reiterated Labour's pro business and pro-employment message, and said that the Labour government would be immediately issuing a call for ideas for national projects.

"In this way we will start this legislation by immediately examining everyone's ideas so that this government starts implementing its mission for creating work across the whole country."

08:33pm Muscat also noted complaints regarding the state of government buildings but said that the new Labour administration would not be complaining or pointing fingers. "Yes, everyone must shoulder their responsibility. And a new government will ensure that those who made bad decisions will shoulder the responsibility for them."

"I am not here to complain about how we found things. In truth, there was far more than we did not find, than what we did. But our duty is not to complain, but to do and govern. I will not complain about what we promised is not possible. Because what we promised we will see through, and we will govern responsibly."

08:33pm "Last week you decided, historically, unequivocally, without doubt, that you want a change in direction. I feel the burden of responsibility. I am more than happy to carry it, and I will be perform my duty in this regard," Muscat said, as the crowd chanted "Joseph, Joseph."

08:31pm "I am proud of you also because after that decision, we respected everyone and the opinions of others," he added, saying that this shows that his government is capable of ushering the country from one era to the next, where people can discuss ideas while still remaining one people.

08:29pm Muscat takes the podium. "I am so proud of you," he tells the audience, who respond with a massive shout as one voice. "I am so proud that last week you decided not to be spectators, but to be protagonists."

"We showed that this people was ready to make a choice for a change in direction and was ready to show its maturity. That is why I am proud of you. Because you made that choice."

08:28pm Prime Minister Joseph Muscat steps on stage as the crowd goes wild with cheers and whistles. He stands waving onstage before a sea of white and red flags and outstretched arms of party faithful.

08:24pm "We have already started down the road of change. We must remain positive, because that was the fuel of our campaign, and we will remain so. We started implementing Joseph Muscat's vision. We have started work on the budget which we want to implement immediately once in parliament. We started work in energy, so that we bring about cheaper energy bills."

He added that work has also on proposals dealing with accountability, such as the party financing law, the whistleblowers' act, and the removal of prescription on corruption crimes, which will be implemented before Summer.

"We are confident that thanks to the leadership of Joseph Muscat and the backup and support of his capable team, we will be able to fulfill the promises that you put your faith in."

08:22pm "With your vote, you gave a clear sign that you are protagonists, that you are capable of making history."

Grech adds that now that the election has come and gone, after three months of intense campaigning, the time has come for Labour to live up to its promises. "We are determined that we did not have a programme for the election, but a programme that addresses the future of the country and future generations. That is why we are committed to start putting our promises into action. We know that while the road is not easy, your support and trust fills us with courage."

08:20pm Abela is replaced at the podium by a jovial Deputy Labour leader and Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech. "Friends, thank you for your, with your vote, putting your trust in Joseph Muscat's message when he said that Malta belongs to us all."

"When we say that the country belongs to us all, we mean everyone. You gave us your trust, and we will repay that trust by seeing through what we promised in the campaign. We are committed to fulfilling your aspirations."

08:18pm "I will not tell you 'Those who are not with us, are against us.' That no longer applies," Abela said. "Today I tell you this: 'Those who are not with us, can still work with us," Abela said, adding that while justice will be done, Labour would not be the one to perpetuate further injustices.

08:16pm "Our victory was not the victory of a party, but a victory of a movement that includes people who until a short while ago did not agree with us," Abela said, also thanking Labour supporters for their loyalty. "It takes courage to remain a Labour supporter when your party has been in opposition for 25 years."

He also said that the Labour administration's trademarks should be tolerance, acceptance, unity, and an end to national division.

08:14pm "We will not tolerate corruption. All those 36,000 votes that separated us from the Nationalist Party are a reason for us not to operate in the same way," Abela said, underscoring the message that a government is for the people, not the other way around. "We are here to serve you, and not for you to serve us or to vote for us."

08:13pm "Will not give you your rights simply on the eve of an election, but throughout the coming five years," Abela says, and also calls on the working classes to see their employers "not as an enemy, but as an ally." At the same time, Abela comes down hard on those employed in precarious conditions, insisting that work has to be dignified and also conducive to a quality life.

08:11pm "As Muscat promised, we will inform you of everything we do, and every decision we make. All that we will do, we will do before you, not behind your backs. You will not listen to what we have to say, but we will listen to what you have to say. We will ensure that Malta truly belongs to us all."

08:10pm Abela thanks all those who put their faith in Labour's proposals, pointing also to Labour's victory at the Local Councils election, saying that it is another sign that Labour is on the right track.

"Our victory is not only a sign for the Nationalist Party, but a sign for us as well. The Maltese people are telling us that if we abandon you, you will abandon us. We make a solemn promise: we will not abandon anyone halfway."

08:09pm "We're there. We're finally there where we wanted to bring the country. But we have not yet won. Victory will be ours when we manage to win the trust of each and every one of you."

08:07pm Labour deputy leader Toni Abela takes the podium and the music dies down. He kicks off by thanking the country for putting its trust in Labour.

08:05pm Meeting seems to be running slightly late. Labour's well-worn 'Taghna Lkoll' anthem comes on, so it can't be long now. Going by the rate of the cheering and the horn-blaring, the crowd can't wait to start either.

07:52pm The start of the mass meeting nears ever closer as the stage starts filling with Labour party exponents and they start taking their seats on an sloping seating arrangement towards the back of the stage itself.

The sound system starts pumping the crowd further into a frenzy with a selection of techno tracks which are generous with the bass. La Roux's 'Bulletproof' is particularly well received.

07:49pm And the cameras zoom in on the crowd to reveal a particularly zealous party supporter waving a laminated family portrait depicting Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, his wife Michelle, and their two daughters.

07:43pm And a few minutes before the start of the mass meeting, we're treated to Mary Spiteri singing an admittedly less rocking and more melodic cover of Guns N Roses' 'Knocking on Heaven's Door'.

07:37pm The crowd is raring to go, cheering loudly and blaring horns as the song associated with Labour's landslide victory at the polls just under a week ago comes to a close. Just a few minutes left now.

07:30pm Labour's campaign anthem 'New Tomorrow' hits the speakers, heralding the impending start of the mass meeting proper. Not long now folks. Cue for the kids on stage - including Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's own daughters Etoile and Soleil - to start singing along merrily. Plenty of bobbing up and down too.

07:29pm William Mangion and a backdrop of young teens and kids step on stage to sing John Lennon's iconic 'Imagine'. First thought to be a choir, the kids behind Mangion are doing anything but singing - mostly limiting themselves to waving their arms back and forth.

07:24pm Its not even 10pm yet Abba's 'Man After Midnight' hits the airwaves. Hopefully we won't have to wait that long for Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to make his appearance. Approximately 20 minutes left for the speeches to start.

07:20pm Eurovision aspirant Lawrence Gray announces to the world that 'He's a Believer', as he sings the chorus to The Monkees' 1966 classic track.

07:08pm Queen's 'Somebody to Love' rings out over the crowd and clearly, love is in the air.

07:04pm And now for something completely different: a spirited rendition of Neapolitan folk song 'Funiculi, Funicula' which sets the crowd bobbing away merrily. Funfact: the song was penned by an Italian journalist (Peppino Turco), to commemorate the first funicular cable car on Mount Vesuvius in Italy.

06:57pm  An enthusiastic young lady strides on stage sporting a fitting red coat to deliver a heartfelt rendition of Tina Turner's famous (yet originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler) 'Simply the Best'.

"Better than all the rest" Labour faithful sing away at the top of their voices.

06:51pm Taghna Lkoll banners and Malta's national flags wave back and forth picturesquely over the assembled crowd as the guitar solo twangs out over the fosos.

06:49pm The crowd is currently rocking along to a live rendition of The Cranberry's 1994 hit 'Zombie' - quite a welcome change of pace from the usual mass meeting playlist your correspondent has been exposed to over the past few weeks. Kudos to whomever put together the song-list.

06:44pm We are informed that the meeting proper is expected to begin at 7:45pm. In the meantime, the crowd is being whipped into a frenzy by a live band and familiar on-stage faces such as Enzo Guzman and Joe Demicoli.

06:42pm Welcome to our Labour victory mass meeting liveblog. We join you now live from Fosos where Labour supporters are celebrating hard with various musical performances and perhaps a victory toast or five. Labour officials and volunteers behind the stage are in a particularly giddy mood, congratulating each other for a well-executed campaign.