An election win, by whatever margin, does not cancel wrongdoings. Joseph Muscat has led the Labour Party to a massive victory, but he is still under a dark cloud because of the magisterial investigation involving him and his wife. His inaction on Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri will still continue to taint his reputation, and we await the conclusion of three inquiries to learn more about what the Castille triumvirate was up to in the past legislature.

But credit should be given where it is due. In his first term Muscat continued to build on the solid economic foundations built by his predecessor, pushing further ahead and achieving results that appeared to be utopic when first announced – the lowest unemployment ever recorded and a budget surplus. This allowed for a feel-good factor to settle in and, in spite of the scandals that rocked the Muscat administration for four long years, he still managed a handsome record win for the second time in a row.

Apart from this, Joseph Muscat must be commended for the way he has carried out a silent revolution within his own party and, if he maintains his promise to abandon local politics before the next election, he will leave it fresh and rejuvenated.  Not only is there a substantial list of candidates who have the potential to fill his place, but there is also a good crop of young politicians whose presence has given Labour a new look the PN can only dream of.

While the Nationalist Party struggles to find a leader and to renew itself, Labour has built a solid administrative machine and is well-structured to look ahead with confidence.  Chris Fearne may have appeared arrogant when he said Labour can stay in power for 20 years. But right now the wind is very much in Labour’s sails and, with the PN at its lowest point in history, Fearne cannot really be blamed.

The silent revolution started during the past legislature, when Joseph Muscat “promoted” Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, Karmenu Vella and Leo Brincat, removing them from the Cabinet to give them more prestigious and lucrative posts.

It continued later when veteran politicians like Charles Buhagiar, Charles Mangion, George Vella, Louis Grech, Joe Sammut and Joe Debono Grech did not contest the election, making way for newer faces in the Labour fold to make it to Parliament.

The fact that Labour has 11 new MPs in the House is not by a mere coincidence. Matters were made easier for them when the older politicians chose to call it a day, or were politely told to move aside, no doubt with Muscat’s support. If the over 60s had remained anchored to their seat, the over 30s would have possibly not made it.

Of course, the change in the names does not necessarily mean that the quality has improved. We will have to see about that in the future, after the new MPs will have had their time to prove their worth or otherwise.

What is sure is that Labour’s ultimate target has been reached – that it was re-elected with a new, younger team which is eager to perform.