Labour to mark Abela’s six years in office with rally
Party to present future plans as deputy leaders hail PM’s leadership during crises
The Labour Party will hold a rally this Friday to mark six years since Prime Minister Robert Abela took office.
Deputy leader Alex Agius Saliba said the event will be held at 7pm at the Cottonera Sports Complex. It had initially been scheduled for Saturday, January 10, but was postponed due to bad weather.
“This will not be just a celebration of the achievements that this Labour government and Robert Abela managed to achieve in the last six years, but it will also be the eve of the launch of Vision 2050 - the way forward for the country,” Agius Saliba told a press event.
He added that attendees could expect to learn more about Malta’s Vision 2050, including its ambitions and the challenges that lie ahead.
Agius Saliba also spoke of the human side of Abela, noting the care he shows not only for large-scale projects but also for individual needs, particularly medical ones.
He highlighted measures aimed at improving work-life balance, such as the increase in paternity leave, urgent family leave, the introduction of carers’ leave and miscarriage leave, as well as better conditions for the self-employed.
On an international level, Agius Saliba noted that Malta had left its mark by hosting the Socialist International for the first time in 2023. He quoted Pedro Sanchez, Spanish Prime Minister and President of the Socialist International, as hailing Malta and the government of Robert Abela “as a beacon of hope for other governments throughout the European Union”.
On the other hand, fellow deputy leader Ian Borg said Abela had shown “resilience” in his leadership, notably when facing the COVID-19 pandemic within 100 days of becoming Prime Minister.
Borg praised the government's efforts to protect businesses, jobs, and public health, saying that despite global turmoil, Malta continued to look forward.
He said that while many EU countries were grappling with economic stagnation and austerity, Malta’s economy had grown. “Our national wealth is six per cent higher than the median rate of our European counterparts,” he said.
Borg also pointed to the ongoing impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict on global food and energy supplies.
“The Labour government run by Abela carried the burden while letting Maltese families and businesses continue to plan their future,” Borg said.
He added that Malta offered humanitarian aid and formally recognised Palestine.