‘Let us never forget what we did during our first year in government’, Grech tells delegates

Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech urged Labour party delegates to never forget what the Labour government achieved during its first 11 months in government.

"Our budget included 120 pledges from the electoral manifesto; we are honouring our pledge to reduce tariffs and we are on track with our energy plan. This is the credibility of a Labour government in the making... but for others it's like we're doing nothing," Grech said.

Addressing the PL's annual general conference, Grech said it was the PL's responsibility "to write its own history".

"They used to attack our credibility because they thought we would never reduce energy tariffs. They thought that our electoral promises would be implemented at the cost of raising taxes. But this never happened. And we have to remind ourselves of this, or else the truth will only be manipulated."

Grech described the imminent introduction of civil unions as a "gigantic step" and warned the party activists "not to allow the Opposition's negativity take over Labour's agenda".

"We did take difficult decisions. And you have to be tough to taken. We have certainly shown that we have the courage to take the decisions that need to be taken.... I believe our Prime Minister has a lot of that courage," he said

The deputy prime minister said while the government was working hard to introduce new laws and innovative ideas, mentality was the hardest to change.

Turning to the Individual Investor Programme, Grech questioned where was "the difference between European and Maltese values in wanting to have the necessary funds to address poverty, promote innovation, generate jobs, addressing housing, improve hospitals and allocate funds to sectors traditionally not considered to be a priority".

"We don't want our country to be threatened by financial institutions. What will happen when Malta is no longer a beneficiary of EU funds? Because let us be clear that these funds will not keep coming forever. History will judge who was right and who truly provided this country with the added value," he said.

Hitting out at the Nationalist Party, Grech said the PN "can't accept they no longer are in government".

"They still have a certain air of superiority around them... the same arrogance, if not worse. Because you really have to be in denial to think that 57% of the electorate chose Labour because of their electoral campaign," he said. "It all boils down to a question of attitude: we choose to be positive, they choose to be negative."

In preparation for the European parliament elections, Grech warned delegates that while the electorate could be suffering from "electoral fatigue", yet the elections could not be taken lightly.

"We have to work hard and win these elections... which would also mean it would be the first time that a party in government wins the European parliament elections. We have strong candidates and we have to be strong... the strongest element is our unity," he said.

"But never take things for granted."