Speaking during an activity to celebrate the party’s success at the 12 June European Parliament and Local Council elections, Dr Sant said the 12 June election results led the MLP to become the largest political party in Malta and this also brought along increase responsibility. This responsibility included that of showing that the MLP was not only there to criticise the government but to come up with alternative solutions and to show how these alternatives can be put to the test.

Dr Sant spoke at length about the island and its problems adding that the current economic slowdown in Gozo was worse than that affecting Malta. He also commented about the Xewkija industrial Estate which look more like a cemetery than an industrial zone, he said.

Dr Sant said the MLP wanted to take all the necessary steps to ensure that jobs are created in Gozo adding that there are ideas and initiatives which the Nationalist Government can take but which are never taken. He said it is important that the MLP gives the necessary push to tourism in Gozo as well as to investment in the island.

Deputy leader Charles Mangion also addressed the activity.

He spoke about the government’s convergence plan for the country’s fiscal deficit. he said the government had planned a two per cent increase in the economy when in fact this decreased by two cent.

Deputy leader Michael Falzon spoke about the 21,000 majority votes attained by the MLP during the EP election. He said the MLP must continue working for the country to have a Labour government, as it deserves.

Also addressing the activity, Labour MEP Joseph Muscat spoke about how the Labour MEPs were prepared to work with anyone, including the nationalist Party, in the best interest of the country. He said it was not acceptable that PN MEP Simon Busuttil makes it seem as if he is the leader of the Maltese MEPs. He said the MLP MEPs had their own leaders and did not need Dr Busuttil to lead them.

Labour MEP Louis Grech, who could not attend the activity send a message in which he explained that the EP results showed that the electorate gave a vote of no confidence in the present government and added that the government, now more than ever before, must take heed of what the MLP was saying.

Labour MEP John Attard Montalto spoke about the result and how this should be taken as a spring board for other victories in the near future, especially in the next general election.