Opposition Leader Bernard Grech gave his first reaction on Wednesday after the Nationalist Party managed to increase its seats in six Local Councils, in the first day of the counting votes in 23 Local Councils.
Grech was speaking on party media where he thanked all candidates who contested for the Local Council, and who had worked tirelessly on leadership, strategy, home visits and on the ground work by keeping contact with residents.
He said that the difference between the PN and the PL is that the Labour party has detached itself from the people, has “hurt them and blamed them”, adding that the party which is supposed to be the Workers’ party, is in fact attacking workers.
Grech said that the PN had a political program for each locality, and the people made their choice. Grech said he was satisfied that in today’s batch of local councils, the PN increased seats in many localities.
He mentioned St Paul’s Bay, which switched from red to blue, while Mellieha lost its Labour majority, and the PN increased its majority percentage. Former MP Censu Galea was elected mayor in St Paul’s Bay.
Grech mentioned Zebbug which also lost its Labour majority, and the PN increased a seat. The same was the case for Birzebbuggia, and Dingli, the latter having now elected two new councillors, who are youths active in the MZPN.
Grech said that the party is not only advancing in each locality, but also regenerating itself, which is the “secret for a party to grow,” meaning that there are several new youth and elderly councillors.
He continued that now, the party and councillors must continue working, to “fix others’ mistakes.”
More PN representation in localities means that more people need the PN to help in their localities, Grech said, adding that the public has strengthened the PN, so that in turn, the PN could strengthen the public’s lives.
He said that the PN has and will continue to build a better relationship with the voter, and continue with its responsibilities. The results have given the PN courage to continue working, Grech said.
Grech said that unfortunately, Labour’s internal problems are slowly becoming the public’s problems, which will continue damaging the people. He said that the public has sent the message that it is fed up with Labour, and are resorting to the PN for a plan.
He said that the people, and not the politician, must be the protagonist, mentioning the good people have done in several sectors around the country, such as the health sector, and the education sector, unlike the Labour party where the Prime Minister continues to goad with educators.
Next Sunday, the PN will be officially closing the electoral campaign, where Grech’s message will be that the PN will remain humble, appreciates the public’s faith, and continue working to attract more people to the PN, and work so that the public trusts it to become the new government.