The leader of the Labour Party Joseph Muscat on a number of occasions repeated that the Labour Party is the underdog in the forthcoming election.  In these initial days of the official electoral campaign this was confirmed and once again he is correct.  The Labour Party lost the last general election by a whisker but still it was a defeat.  A vital role in that election was played by the media when the so called ‘independent’ media used to be biased in favour of GonziPN.  I can say that the same is happening today.  One does not need to have a degree in communication to clearly observe the bias that certain media and presenters have against the Labour Party and in favour of GonziPN and his clique.

Unfortunately even the so called ‘national’ TV station has the same attitude towards the Labour Party.  In name of pluralism one should not tolerate that democracy is put at risk.  I appeal to the Broadcasting Authority to not only monitor what is happening and the tricks that are used and how presenters interrupt only the Labour Party speakers and at the same allow the GonziPN speakers to freely and calmly speak, but also to take the necessary action as the competent authority they feel are adequate in the circumstances.

In spite of all this the Labour Party is trying to convey a positive message with a number of proposals being put forward for the attention of the electorate.  But what about GonziPN?  Complete silence when it comes to proposals. Of course they are making a lot of noise when it comes to speak about the Labour Party. I believe they are doing so because they have nothing to offer and nothing to talk about.  But in spite of all this they pretend that the voters should make the mistake to put them back into power.

The country needs a change in direction and I am convinced that it will be a change in the right direction.  This change is required not only for the sake of change but to give Malta back to all Maltese and as such not remain a hostage of the GonziPN clique.  The GonziPN caretaker government is claiming that they have results to show.  In this first week where most of the talk concentrated on what the Labour Party is proposing showed that this is not the case.

One of the first proposals of the Labour Party was about the energy tariffs and subsequently other proposals regarding the environment and alternative energy followed.  What are the achievements of GonziPN?  Facts state that households have the third highest energy bills in the European Union while industry and shops have the second highest.  Other facts show that Malta during the GonziPN clique in government is still last in clean air which is leading to a number of health problems. We are far away from reaching the EU target of having 10% of our energy through renewable sources. This is not a track record but something that GonziPN in this day and age should be ashamed of.

What Joseph Muscat and the Labour Party are proposing is that in the shortest possible time we try to recover the lost ground to reverse the above shameful record of GonziPN.  I firmly believe that if elected to government we will lower the energy tariffs, have cleaner air and come closer to meet the EU targets which are to our benefit after all.  We as Labour are not presenting a wishful list but are giving the details of how and when we are going to get there.

Maybe some are thinking that this is very ambitious.  Maybe yes but we need to be so to gain the lost ground under the current clique in administration.  Every day that passes is lost for our country. Moreover we are different from the present administration. We will keep our targets and commitments and if we say that in one year we will deliver we will do so in that specific time. Of course I do understand the Maltese because we are used to have projects that we know when they start but these seem never come to completion.

We need to start doing things differently and in an efficient manner with sound leadership otherwise we will never achieve the European standards and try to be the best in Europe.  Another clear difference is that Joseph Muscat is focused on issues for the Maltese and national unity while GonziPN is concerned only about the few.

One final consideration that I would like to share with you is that the only emphasis that GonziPN are counting on is the fear factor.  Their message is be afraid of Joseph Muscat.  The latter on the other hand has a positive message with a lot of courage for a brighter future.  Of course GonziPN do not have any ideas of how to run this country if they are re elected to power.  After all this is all they want power for them to continue protecting the clique that surrounds GonziPN.  On the contrary for the Labour Party winning the next election is a means to work for a better and just society for all Maltese.

Carmelo Abela MP is Labour Main Spokesperson for Social Policy

Email: [email protected]