Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil said that the gap between the parties has been halved, adding that the PN can reach the finish line.
Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil was addressing PN supporters in the Siggiewi Party club this morning, the crowd often erupting into "Simon chants" and cheers.
Both parties have claimed victory, with Labour holding a 54% majority, however the PN increasing support in a number of areas.
Dr Busuttil said – “If we are capable of reaching the halfway point after two years, imagine what we can do in the coming three years”. He argued that the doubts people had that the PN can make it have now been cast aside.
"This step forward was against all odds, against the buying of votes for favours by the government, against personal attacks, against the constant mudslinging".
The PN won the St Paul’s Bay local council, he announced, as the crowd turned into a flurry of “Simon chants”."Yesterday’s result saw the the gap between the parties halved. This means we have reached the halfway mark".
The PN Leader said that 9 seats in Councils have been gained by the PN, and that progress has been seen in the south of Malta.
“We do not pretend we have won, however we registered a large advance. There is still a lot to do, a lot of work to be done and people to convince. There are many who were hurt who we still need to address. The road ahead is still an uphill battle, even though we have climbed up to the halfway mark”.
He said that the party has heard the message given by the Gozitan people, adding that the PN will not lose hope, but will work for Gozitans for the PN to become the majority party in Gozo.
“”We will not give up, the PN plays to win and this result fills us with courage, energy and motivation”.
He stressed that the PN aims to be the natural party for youths and also again become the party for the south of Malta.
“We will no longer only be an opposition, but also an alternative government, a credible alternative to the current government”. He said that the PN has not only acted as an opposition, but also as a party which has made proposals.
“We will propose new ideas in the coming weeks,” he said, referring to the need to continue his party's reform.
“Right now a massive tragedy has taken place in the Mediterranean, where a boat with 700 souls sunk and many people are drowning”. He appealed to the Maltese government to give all possible help and save as many lives as possible.
He also asked the government to call for an urgent meeting of EU states to address this situation “and I assure the government opposition’s support in this regard.