Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the Labour Party’s socialist roots are as strong as ever before, following the news of the resignation of Gzira Mayor Conrad Borg Manche from the PL having said that he could no longer recognise the PL as being the worker’s party.

Abela addressed the closing of the PL’s annual general conference on Sunday, with the theme “Strengthening our Malta,” (Insahhu Malta Taghna) where he said that he is focused on the party’s clear vision, complemented by actions, for the 10 years to come.

“We won the elections by offering hope to the country, and now 10 years later, we can look back at what we achieved with pride,” Abela said, adding that the PL changed the country from one which was limping, to one which sprinted forward.

He said that the country will still face challenges, some of which come from the wealth “we ourselves created,” or from national and international pressures.

Referring to the PN, Abela said that the more the PN attacks, the more his will to fulfil his mandate is strengthened, adding that the PL movement has the enthusiasm and the energy to lead the country.

Abela also said that in the 18 months of his legislature, his government has already worked on 40% of the PL’s electoral programme.

“What we planned for five years of this legislature is only the base for our vision of the future, and to do this you need the strength, the courage and the will to make decisions,” Abela said.

On Air Malta, Abela said that there were those who did not want Malta to have a national airline, but the Labour party’s vision is that Malta does indeed need a national airline, and that is what government brought in negotiations to guarantee a stronger national airline.

“We arrived, because government did not refrain from making these decisions,” Abela said.

He continued that he wants to continuously listen to the people from all districts, and he has listened to worries about development, traffic, mental health and more.

Abela said that the PN is there solely to complain, criticize and confuse, and whichever leader is in the Opposition “has the same recipe,” to put burdens on the Maltese public.

“The difference between the two parties is the thoughts, priorities and beliefs. We are here because the people trusted us, and we can never leave the people. The worst judgement is when the people start thinking that we are cut off from their realities,” Abela said, adding that the PL is a party of solutions.

He alluded that the upcoming Budget gives a clear guarantee of a “strong investment” so that energy prices remain stable, adding that these means they will not increase, as opposed to the PN who told government to increase prices according to the EU market, or liberalise it.

Abela accused the PN of wanting to put the weight on the public.

He also said that in a few weeks, government will announce a revision of prices on medicines, of which the process is currently underway and undergoing scrutiny.

Abela said that in the upcoming Budget, his second of the legislature, will include a strong economic plan which will continue to generate wealth, and with more investment directed towards sectors where their growth would benefit the country.

He said that government believes in business, but also believes that businesses can contribute further to the community, and so government is strengthening incentives for businesses to invest in digital and environmental practices.

Abela said that the country is currently undergoing an economic transition, and that government will see to it that all sectors are prepared for it.

He said that the PL is not scared of updated the economy according to the needs to the country, and government is adjusting the economy while focusing on leading for a better future.

“If a year and a half ago the public trusted the PN to lead the country, what discussion about the economy would we be having today? With all the high bills that they want, with all the basic economic mistakes they had in their manifesto,” Abela said.

Abela continued that had the PN been in government, the worker would be struggling for their daily bread.

He said that sections of society need to be reached so that they do not fall back, and the middle class will be strengthened, as well as pensions for the elderly.

“Our socialist roots are strong as ever before,” Abela said, adding that he wants to see the Labour party alive, and very strong. He said that the party is proud of being socialist, saying this as a socialist himself.

Abela said that each party has its electoral tests, and that it is their duty to not let arrogance take the lead, as even after the PN’s loss in the general elections, it remained destructive and continued to damage the country.

“The more you attack us, the more you will strengthen and unite us,” Abela said.

He said that each electoral race starts with nothing, and that the PL will work daily for the people’s trust.

Abela accused the PN’s representatives for next year’s MEP elections of partisan speech, undermining the country as well as damaging it.

“Malta always needed a strong Labour party,” Abela said, adding that the EU agenda is also the local agenda.

Abela spoke about the energy sector, where for the first time in history, the country is exploring energy potential on our territorial waters, producing clean energy and creating a new sector, as well as regulating the number of foreigners coming into the country through regulations in the temping agencies.

“A human being is not a business. Only those who are needed must come to Malta, and only where they are needed,” Abela said, adding that this is to preserve the dignity of the person.

He said that the party finds itself in a moment which will define the PL’s leadership in the coming years, and that the PL is the only unified force which can bring change in the country.

“We can and we will get the future right,” Abela said.