Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Robert Abela told supporters on Sunday that the scoreline for the upcoming general election still stands at 0-0, as he dismissed talk that the result is a foregone conclusion.

“Every election starts at 0-0, and today we are still 0-0.  Some wrote that this is Labour’s election to lose, others mentioned surveys… I completely disagree with this talk,” Abela told supporters gathered at a mass rally in Naxxar.

“Remember, the Labour Party never found its bed made.  It always had an uphill battle,” he said.

The first survey of the election campaign, published by pollster Vince Marmara on Saturday, shows the PL ahead by a margin of around 28,000 votes.

Abela opened his speech by speaking of how “nice and positive” the first week of the electoral campaign had been.

“We showed that we are the movement of fresh ideas.  We showed that we are the movement which has its finger on the pulse of the people.  We put forward ideas which came from you,” Abela said.

He ran through several measures that the party has announced on the campaign trail: the right to request remote working and flexi-work and the assistance provided to employers who accept such requests; improving stipends by 15%; offering free therapy for children who need it; new support measures for first-time buyers and for families wishing to buy a new home; pensions being increased by €50 per week; lowering taxes on part-time work; and opening learning accounts for youths.

“If there are people who are already out of breath with what we have announced, trust me the best is yet to come,” Abela said to cheers.

“In 2022 we had a strong manifesto, but this one will be even better because it builds on the successes of the country,” he said.

The Labour Party leader said that his party’s manifesto will give the new and fresh ideas that the country needs, and said that the party remains the force of change and the only political force capable of making a positive difference in people’s lives.

He continued that this will be the first political manifesto with a wellbeing index: “We aren’t just measuring economic wealth, which remains important, but we are also measuring how much better your lives will be with each measure so you can hold us accountable.”

Abela moved on to announcing two more measures: increases in the Children’s Allowance and the In-Work Benefit – two benefits which past Labour administrations had introduced.

He said that measures like this are possible because the country has a strong economy.

“The economy is the basis of everything.  With a robust, resilient, and diversified economy we can give you an easier and better life,” he said.

But to have a better Malta, the country needs to have the best team leading it, he said.

He said that if the country is not careful it can end up like others, where governments want to help but are unable to do so because their economy does not allow it, meaning that they are constrained to resorting to austerity.

“Success isn’t easy to achieve, but it is easy to lose,” he said. “These measures are no good if they remain on paper,” he added.

It was here that Abela said that every election starts at 0-0, and that the Labour Party has always had an uphill battle.

He cited the treatment given to Omar Rababah as an example. Rababah, a member of the Youth Advisory Forum and a social worker, recently announced that he had been approached to contest the general election under the Labour Party’s ticket.

He was then subjected to racial abuse and insults on the basis that he is a practicing Muslim.

“My solidary with you, and thank you for your commitment. We are with you, because you are Malta,” Abela said.

Abela said that the party must work doubly hard against “those who believe they have a divine right to govern.”

He spoke briefly about the energy sector, saying that others think that the energy subsidies are short-lived.  “This is not the time to risk what we achieved together,” he said.

Abela also said that the party will announce a new concept of maritime transport in order to continue widening what has already been announced.

“Speak to those who feel that this election means nothing.  Never be arrogant, but don’t take anything for granted: the only survey is the one on 30 May,” he said.