These days we are marking the first one hundred days in office of the new Labour Administration, which was once again given a very strong vote of confidence in the election held on 30 May. It was indeed a historic victory, the fourth consecutive one, something that no other political party has managed to achieve in Malta's political history.

This victory has placed even greater responsibilities on the shoulders of the Labour Administration, particularly in view of the considerable geopolitical turmoil the world has been experiencing in recent months, at a time when no one could predict what the future would bring.

The vote of the Maltese and Gozitan people in the last election was a vote for stability. It was a vote for continuity. It was a vote for a government that has remained close to the people, listens to them and acts in accordance with their aspirations. It was a vote for a government that gives people peace of mind in the knowledge that, whatever difficulties may arise, they will have a government that looks after them and protects them from whatever challenges may emerge.

The first 100 days in office

As the Ministry responsible for the implementation of the Electoral Programme, these have been three months of continuous work to ensure that all the measures we promised in the INT Malta manifesto were allocated among the various ministries, including a number of newly established ministries, so that work on their implementation could begin immediately.

With the assistance of the unit specifically established for this purpose within the Office of the Prime Minister, we have accomplished this and have begun monitoring the work of every ministry, particularly with regard to the implementation of those measures that were due to start being delivered within the first 100 days.

Constitutional protection for persons with disabilities

It was during the first sittings of the new Parliament, which convened just three weeks after the electoral victory, that we passed, with a two-thirds majority in Parliament, the first constitutional amendment providing full protection to persons with disabilities.

We also presented constitutional amendments for the establishment of the National Commission for Human Rights and Equality, but obstruction by the Nationalist Opposition prevented these amendments from being approved by Parliament.

White Rocks declared a national park

One of the first decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers led to the publication of a Legal Notice declaring the entire White Rocks area a National Park.

Through this measure, the whole area is being granted legal protection guaranteeing that no development can take place there.

Agreement on Amendments to the Planning Law

As Prime Minister Robert Abela had also promised before the election, during the first one hundred days we succeeded in securing the agreement of everyone, with the exception of the Opposition, on the amendments we submitted for public consultation concerning the Planning Law.

These amendments are intended to stop work on a development whenever appeals against the development permit are still pending.

It is shameful that, after the public consultation closed so that the Government could evaluate all the submissions received and finalise the legislation for discussion in Parliament, the Opposition has now said that it is launching a public consultation of its own.

€20,000 for first-time buyers with disabilities

Another promise delivered during these first one hundred days concerns housing assistance for persons with disabilities.

Under the first-time buyers scheme, persons with disabilities will now start receiving assistance of €20,000, double the amount they received previously.

Another measure announced by the Prime Minister in this area concerns people who have benefited from the First-Time Buyers Scheme and subsequently separate from their partners. Even though separated persons may technically be purchasing their second property, they will still be considered first-time buyers.

We broadened the parameters of the IVF Law

We have also kept our word with couples wishing to start a family through IVF.

As promised, during these first one hundred days we broadened certain parameters of the law so that more couples can now become parents.

There are many other measures that we have implemented during the first one hundred days of this new legislature, while work has also begun on hundreds of other proposals contained in the Int Malta Manifesto. We will see the results of this work in the weeks and months ahead.

There is no doubt that the 2027 budget, which Finance Minister Clyde Caruana will announce this coming October, will continue to build on all of this, and we have every reason to expect that it will begin the implementation of key measures contained in the Manifesto.

Without any doubt, the dynamic work carried out during these first one hundred days has laid a solid foundation for five years of work by a Labour Government aimed at improving the quality of life of the Maltese and Gozitan people.

Omar Farrugia - Minister for Youth, Wellbeing and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme