Public support for the Malta Labour Party has continuously increased since it lost two major national polls in 2003.

In that year, the MLP’s policy in favour of a partnership with the European Union, rather than membership, led to defeat in a referendum on this particular issue held in March. Another defeat, this time in a general election, followed a month later.

It had then been said that the Nationalists had won the election because of the European membership policy they adopted. Today, with hindsight, one would have doubts as to whether the PN would have retained the national majority in the election if Labour had accepted the people’s will for Malta to join the EU.

But that is the past and Labour must look ahead.

Since that double blow in 2003, there has been a swing in favour of the Malta Labour Party. It started off with a victory in the elections for Malta’s representatives in the European Parliament and its win, by a slight absolute majority, in the 2004 local council elections.

Labour’s third consecutive victory came in the local elections held last year, and this time its majority increased to 53 per cent. This year, they went one further by obtaining an absolute majority of 54 per cent in a round of elections for a group of local councils that traditionally were in favour of the Nationalist Party.

Neither the EP election nor the local council election has the same importance as a general election. But taking the EP election on its own and putting the three local council elections together – which means an overall vote for all of Malta and Gozo – signifies that the MLP has won the last two “national” polls.

Labour is riding high on what seems to be a government that has detached itself too much from the people. A party in opposition has the “advantage” of not having to govern the country and it can concentrate its efforts on criticising the government. It also has more time to be closer to the people.

It is giving attention to the petty issues, including roads, pavements and lamp-posts. These are not matters of a national importance, but they are of great relevance to the residents involved. As such, Labour is using local councils, especially those with an MLP leadership, to deal with those issues that have enabled the MLP to gain more support. Where Labour-led councils cannot deliver, there is always the government that can be blamed for not doing its work or for not giving the council enough money to work with. Where Labour councillors are in a minority, they are quick to pick on the weaknesses of the Nationalist majority in the council.

Labour is in a euphoric mood after yet another electoral success. But as MLP secretary general Jason Micallef told this newspaper on Monday, Labour must keep its feet on the ground and must not let itself be overwhelmed by the success it has achieved.

Labour knows that its biggest hurdle is still to come, and it would have been futile and demoralising if, after obtaining such excellent results during the course of this legislature, it ends up losing the general election in two years’ time or thereabouts.

Labour knows that the lower turnout in local council elections is a result of many Nationalists not using their right to vote. It may be a different matter in a general election.

Labour also knows that it must keep the momentum going. The government will learn from its mistakes and will use the two years it has left to try to make up and regain the people’s confidence.

Most of all, Labour knows it must continue to project itself as an alternative government and must avoid committing mistakes of its own.