MEP Miriam Dalli has added her voice to calls for Joseph Muscat to stay put as Prime Minister, telling a gathering in Żurrieq that “Malta and the Labour Party need him”.

“Together with soldiers of steel, Dom Mintoff ensured a solid base for our country.  Today, 40 years later, let us continue to build on this legacy,” she told the crowd. 

"Let us send a clear message to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat that Malta and the Labour Party need him.”

Dr Dalli was speaking at an activity ahead of May’s European Parliament elections.

The MEP has been touted as potential successor to Dr Muscat, who has said on more than one occasion that he intends to step aside before the end of the legislature.

Dr Dalli used the bulk of her speaking time to focus on the ways in which Malta’s education system could get better.

“We need to continue building on the good that already exists,” she said, emphasising the importance of inclusive programmes that were tailor-made to students’ needs and which prepared them for the industries of tomorrow, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence.

Dr Dalli has worked with the Autism Parents Association to make the University of Malta more inclusive, allowing students with different learning abilities to continue their education at tertiary level.

The activity was also addressed by Justice Minister Owen Bonnici, Parliamentary Secretary Julia Farrugia Portelli and MP Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, amongst others. 

Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi announced that, based on an initiative with Dr Dalli, work was under way to see how to eliminate discrimination in the insurance sector against people with a disability.

“There are persons finding closed doors when trying to seek certain services from financial services institutions. There are realities in the insurance sector that don’t allow persons with disability to acquire certain products. We are now studying what solutions could be offered,” he said.