'I need every one of you,' Robert Abela tells Ħamrun rally

Prime Minister Robert Abela urged Labour supporters at a packed Victor Tedesco Stadium on Sunday to keep knocking on doors and convincing undecided voters ahead of the general election, which he framed as a choice between his leadership and that of Opposition leader Alex Borg.

Labour supporters filled the stadium in Ħamrun’s Mile End on Sunday, wearing red and white and flying party flags as the party geared up for the final stretch of the election campaign.

Voters will be heading to the polls on May 30 for a general election.  

When Abela reached the podium, the crowd started chanting “Robert tagħna il-mexxej, ħallelujah” [“Robert is our leader, hallelujah”] and “Viva l-Labour” [“Long live Labour”].

Abela kicked off his speech by describing the election as a vote of confidence in his leadership.

He pointed to the Labour Party’s economic track record in government, referring to the European Commission’s spring economic forecast for Malta, which predicts the country registering the strongest economic growth in the EU until 2027.

Abela said a new mandate for the Labour Party would keep the country financially strong. 

Abela also described the vote as a choice between ‘Team Malta’ and ‘Team Borg’, referring to the PN leader. “Who do you want as prime minister? Alex Borg or Robert Abela?” he said, as the crowd cheered for him.

Labour supporters gathered at a packed Victor Tedesco Stadium on Sunday. Photo: PL.

He accused the PN of being inconsistent in its proposals and underestimating the cost of major pledges by several million euros.

Abela also listed several economic measures taken by the Labour Party over the years, including increases to various social benefits and major tax cuts.

He mentioned the PL returning Manoel Island to public hands, and its plans to turn White Rocks and Fort Campbell into national parks.

Turning to IVF, he said some people were only alive thanks to publicly funded IVF treatments that were introduced under a Labour government in October 2013.

Abela then urged supporters to continue convincing their friends and family to vote Labour on May 30.

“I need every one of you. Let’s not stop working to convince everyone until the last minute. Knock on doors, call a friend, make sure everyone understands that the country does not deserve to lose what has been built.”

For Sunday’s mass meeting, Labour brought international music artists La Bouche, Fragma and Christina Novelli to perform and energise the crowd.

The next mass meeting will be held at Floriana Granaries on Thursday with more international artists expected to perform, including Ultra Nate, Daecolm and Armin van Buuren.

Speaking before Abela, European Commissioner Glenn Micallef praised Abela and his trust in the youth to take the lead in politics.