Last Sunday’s mass rally at the Labour Party headquarters was truly an amazing experience. After just a few hours at the helm of the Labour party, Joseph Muscat, our new leader, managed to transmit an electrifying and positive atmosphere all around Hamrun. An atmosphere which in the last years a lot of us thought could never exist.

Joseph is a truly unifying leader. Last Sunday at the CNL I saw for the first time great political figures, who although they had played an important role in the past Labour governments and administrations, had never visited the headquarters. Well done, Joseph, for welcoming back these important members of the Labour party family. Well done, Joseph, for urging all those who felt uncomfortable to come back to the party and saying that if they did not, you will go after them yourself.

The other four contenders for the MLP top post, George, Michael, Evarist and Marie Louise, are all my friends and I truly hope that they will continue working within the Labour Party. In my opinion, all the five contenders were valid and the Labour party supporters should be proud of this.

Speaking about the MLP leadership contest, I must mention the good work carried out during the whole process by the party electoral commission. Now that the contest is over and the delegates have democratically expressed their views, we should all unite around our new leader and help him achieve his vision of a winning generation and of our country becoming the best in the European Union and a truly European society.

After the last general election, a lot of politicians spoke about a new way of doing politics. In my opinion, Joseph is the ideal person to put these words into practice. Our new leader has the energy and courage that will revolutionise the way most people view politics in Malta. In more than one instance, Joseph gave a sign that the opposition will be dynamic and proactive in keeping the government on guard, but cooperating on national issues.

A lot of people, not just Labourites, agree that Joseph Muscat is a successful MEP and that he could have made it easily to another term in the European Parliament. Although he knew that his life and that of his family were to experience a great social and financial change, he felt that the party and his country needed him and he decided to take part in the contest. That is why the whole country, not just the Labour supporters, should appreciate the decision taken by this great man.

As a member of the Labour Parliamentary group and as a friend, I wish you all the best Joseph. Keep up the good work. I believe that the future for the Labour Party with you as our leader will be an exciting one.

Silvio Parnis MP

[email protected]

www.silvioparnis.com