Prime Minister Robert Abela spoke of Malta's neutrality and strive for peace and reconciliation, in his speech commemorating Freedom Day.

Freedom Day is officially on 31 March, however this year the date falls on Easter Sunday.

Abela was speaking at an annual event held at the foot of the Freedom Day monument, telling an audience of Labour supporters that this is the result of previous patriotic and reformist Maltese who worked for Malta to become independent and free.

"Two years ago, during the pandemic which locked us inside and separated us from loved ones, we realised the beauty of freedom," Abela said.

He said that in a world where there is death and destruction caused by war, families and children dying under rubble, and hunger being used as a weapon of war, Malta has continued to work in favour of peace and neutrality, "with facts, and not words or photos. To work for peace is to bring people around a table to dialogue, not when you beg for war tanks," Abela said, in a dig towards the PN.

Abela said that Malta has not made distinctions between wars, but has been at the forefront at providing food and medicine and generators to war victims.

"Where there were earthquakes, our heroes went to rescue people, when there were people trapped in floods, the Maltese went. When there were children injured by wars we brought them to Malta, and we will continue bringing them to our country to receive the best care possible," Abela said.

He continued that a free and neutral Malta will continue focusing on good, hope, peace and looking out for the innocent and small. Abela said that "others" tried to endanger the most precious things - peace and the peace of mind.

"That is what makes us who we are. We are a movement of peace and love, and these principles must distinguish us in the decisions Maltese and Gozitans take on 8 June," Abela said, adding that his socialist government prioritizes the people.

He said that government has not increased taxes on any of the sectors, but rather made a social revolution, and that government will continue to modernize the country, mentioning good governance, and that he was the first to relinquish absolute power in several sectors, believing in modernisation.

Abela also said that Myriam Spiteri Debono will be the next President of Malta, with a vote to be taken in Parliament on Wednesday.

The third female president, and the first Gozitan one, Abela said that Spiteri Debono is a woman with solid principles and great knowledge.

Abela said that the general election two years ago showed that government has started, from the beginning, to implement a concrete plan to continue modernizing the country and attract the best investment and work.

He said that he is proud of the PL government's successes towards a free country, and that it will continue its legacy on social mobility, and being the ladder for people to improve their quality of lives.

At the end of the speech, Abela placed flowers upon the Freedom Day monument in Birgu, and lit the monumental torch.