Azzjoni Nazzjonali will most probably contest the European Parliament elections expected to take place in a year’s time, said party leader Josie Muscat yesterday.

Speaking at the party’s headquarters, Dr Muscat confirmed his intention of staying on at the party’s helm after representations by party members. He did so after considering a number of issues: that the party had been founded because people had become disenchanted with the way in which the country was being run as well as the fact that AN’s electoral programme, which was focused on radical changes, needed to face the challenges of the 21st century.

Dr Muscat said he also reflected on the need for a smaller government and public sector as well as the problems related to irregular migration. Reacting to Prime Minister’s Lawrence Gonzi’s comment that Malta was being invaded, Dr Muscat queried why no journalist or NGO had decried the PM as being xenophobic, while the same adjective was reserved for him. No matter, he said, time has already vindicated AN’s warnings.

He said he also remembered that AN was formed by supporters of both major parties who had grown dissatisfied with the political divide in the country. Dr Muscat also recalled the people he had approached to become candidates who, he said, had refused to contest on a small party ticket, even though AN’s vision suited them because they were afraid of confronting the government.

In the light of these considerations, Dr Muscat said he also felt he could not abandon the party in view of his gratitude to all those who had voted AN.

The party will work on a vision that takes into account the enormous change brought about by ICT, where workers started being called associates and rigid hierarchical structures greatly hinder production and results.

AN, said its leader, will endorse policies that resolve problems rather than create new structures, will champion a political leadership that stimulates citizens into taking action and becoming partners with the government rather than the government being a “Big Daddy”.

Dr Muscat said AN was full of young people, with a young secretary-general (Malcolm Seychell) and an energetic Gozitan woman as deputy leader (Mary Gauci).