Addressing the annual mass meeting celebrating the anniversary of Malta's Independence, Dr Busuttil said that for years the PN has worked hard to be on the right side of history.  

"Such historical achivements have not been an easy-ride, but the PN has fought battles, and has always been on the right side of history. We will strive further to remain so."

Dr Busuttil lauded former PN leaders such as George Borg Olivier who went against all odds to make an independent Malta a reality. Dr Busuttil said that despite all the criticism he faced, George Borg Olivier always kept the country's best interest at heart, and never gave up. 

"Malta's sovereignty provided the key to so many other possibilities."

Dr Busuttil said that what happened 50 years ago was only the beginning of many other acquisitions for the country to be a sovereign, modern and European state.

 

The PN believed that the sovereignty and independence of a nation was the sovereignty and independence of a people. It used the key Dr Borg Olivier had given the country to open many doors.

These included the doors of democracy for Parliament to reflect the will of the people, freedom, education, solidarity, respect and the door to Europe for the country to be successful and make its voice heard among that of other countries.

Dr Busuttil said there were many who had not been confident that Malta could join the European Union and make a success of membership. But he was always confident, did not lose heart then and would not lose heart now.

The PN had opened the door to a modern infrastructure, a free economy and opportunities.Dr Busuttil said that over the past years, the PN has worked to strengthen the health and educational sectors, and create job opportunities.

 ' It was this party that fought for EU membership. Being part of the EU serves as a mark of the importance of equality and diversity. '

Dr Busuttil added that the PN created opportunities in the pharmaceutical, financial, and technological sector; built a new hospital as well as an oncology centre, and several new schools.

What the Nationalist Party did it did for all the people. What it achieved was not a coincidence but a dream it had the courage to implement because it had clear and sound principles.

It managed to overcome major challenges and as the critics of Independence had now proven the PN right, so did the critics of EU membership.

He acknowledged that there were times when the party had not been on the right side of history and to show that it was genuine it had to be conscious of its mistakes, Dr Busuttil said.

However, when it came to the tough challenges needed to build a modern, European nation, it had always been on the right side of history.

The PN’s ambition now was to be on the right side in the building of the country’s future.

'The PN has always worked hard to reach its goals, and has kept its value and principles. Despite the difficulties it faced, it has continued to work for our nation.'

Dr Busuttil said the public deserves to be consulted about issues that effect everyone. 'We deserve a liberal society, and not one where begging politicians becomes the norm.'

'We have the right to a clean environment, to independent public institutions, and to a society which allows each and everyone of us to develop our full potential."

"The PN needs to remain optimistic and confident in order to hurdle over any obstacles."

The party wanted an open dialogue society which acknowledged and utilised ideas from all sectors of society, it wanted a free society where everyone was equal, a society which safeguarded that which belonged to the public, one which considered future generations and had strong, fair and independent institutions which safeguarded the people’s interests, looked after the vulnerable and invested in its people.

It wanted a society that utilised the best ideas from among Maltese talent, of which Malta had a lot.

Although some of these ambitions were tough and a change was needed in the way of doing politics, although the PN was in Opposition, it still wanted to show it was capable of having a vision of the type of society it wanted.

It wanted to remain a party which believed in itself, was resilient, optimist and not afraid of challenges, which were also opportunities.

The party was using this time to place itself on a solid foundation in its policies, structures, communication and finances. The party will be calling a general convention for all party members.

Dr Busuttil said he believed in equal opportunities for all, inclusivity and the common good.

The party had to be close to the people, it had to build its policies on principles and values, be a secular party that respected Malta’s Christian identity but guaranteed the right to all beliefs, a party that looked to the future even if it was proud of the past.

It wanted its policies to be based on facts and truth and not populism and slogans, it wanted to be a party that was optimist for Malta and had confidence in the Maltese.

The PN leader added that the party is regenerating, with changes within the party's media, the party's structure, and its youth movement - MZPN. The party has also launched a number of forums, allowing people from all walks of life to contribute.

"The PN will continue to strive to be on the right side of history."