The greatest freedom Prime Minister Robert Abela wants to see for the country today, is freedom from politics of division, confrontation and hatred.

Abela addressed a crowd near the Freedom monument in Birgu on the eve of Freedom Day.

“Freedom Day marks the moment when our country liberated itself from foreign rule. Our presence here today is to honour all those whose efforts decades ago had made this possible. Nothing came easy.”

Abela spoke about Sette Giugno, calling it a significant moment, “where the Maltese people rose up against the forces that, after a pandemic and a harsh war, left our people broken.”

He said that those leading the country that day were not a government of the people or for the people. “Faced with the effects of an international crisis in terms of prices at the time, the Colonial government was hardly interested in what the Maltese workers were being asked carry.” He said that it was already hard for the workers.

“At the time our forefathers responded by saying that this was not right and stood up to fight for their rights,” he said. “Those days in 1919 slowly led to Freedom Day, led to the birth of the Labour Party that fought for the rights of everyone, including the right to be free from oppression. The 60 years between Sette Giugno and Freedom Day were not easy decades, but were among the hardest. Hundreds of people had to leave their country.”

Abela spoke about past leaders in Malta. “Thanks to the work of George Borg Olivier, we achieved independence and we became a nation. Then it was Dom Mintoff that made this nation a Republic.”

Mintoff didn’t have an easy road, Abela said, adding that some used to say that Malta was not capable of surviving without the military base. “The forces of the past tried to stop the future. They failed.”

On 31 March of 1979, our country was free from foreign military presence, he said.

Moving forward, he mentioned Malta joining the European Union. “Today, after nine years of good economic leadership, we have taken our place among the best growing economies in Europe.”

He spoke of the Covid-19 pandemic that “turned our lives on our heads.”

“The difference this time, is that the Maltese people had a strong base and had taken matters into his own hands,” he said.

“Above all, they found in us leadership that was and will remain standing with them. Instead of tens of thousands of unemployed, we have the lowest number of unemployed in the country’s history.”

Abela said that the government is a shield for families and businesses. “Hundreds of millions of euros dedicated to controlling the effects of the international crises. Because you did not allow the past to scare you from the future, you again placed your trust in us, so that we can continue to renew this country.”

“You believed in your strength and you chose the call of Malta Together. The biggest freedom I want to see today is freedom from politics of division, confrontation and hatred.”

“My friends and I thank you for the trust you placed in us. We will translate that trust into more jobs for you, and for future generations to have a more beautiful future,” he said.

Abela said that the government has a clear plan. “1,000 proposals that we already started working to implement. Today I announced your Cabinet, a Cabinet filled with talent. A Cabinet that is a mix of experience and is dynamic. A Cabinet that reflects the continuous renewal we want to see.”

“As a movement we were given the best mandate a government has been given since our country gained independence.” He said that it is the same strong mandate Mintoff was given in 1955 when he reunited the Labour Party.

Abela said that this does not mean that we need to relax. He said that the country has a strong Parliamentary Group that will continue to strengthen when the electoral process ends.

He said that he wants to see a Labour Party that scrutinises the government. “The success we achieved together on Saturday was due to a number of factors.” He mentioned the active role the PL took as one of these factors.

The Prime Minister spoke about humility and how he wants to build this legislature on this point.

He spoke about creating green spaces in towns and villages, creating new prosperity for the country.

“Some tried to scare you that we cannot implement what we have promised,” Abela said. “They used to say we couldn’t build social services, we did. They used to say that our policies will bankrupt the country, and today we have the highest employment rate in history.”

“The past cannot overcome the future as long as we stand together. So stand with me as you were during the campaign that just ended. Together we can create big things.”