On the right side of history

This week, Prime Minister Robert Abela took centre stage at the United Nations Conference in New York, and in front of world leaders, declared proudly and unequivocally that Malta was recognizing the State of Palestine.

It was a historic moment in world politics, and for Malta, it was yet another confirmation that we stand on the right side of history.

Bold step

Since 1988, Malta has recognised Palestinian 'aspirations' for statehood, but it is the current Labour government, led by Robert Abela, that took the bold step of recognising the state of Palestine. 

In his speech, the Prime Minister said that the only solution to lasting peace in the Middle East was for the State of Israel and the State of Palestine to co-exist in peace and stability. Anything short of that would mean more wars, conflicts, and the death of innocent people.

Ibrahim

Robert Abela singled out a young Palestinian boy, who lost a limb in Gaza, and who was brought to Malta by the government for medical care. Ibrahim is now able to walk again. By mentioning Ibrahim at the UN Conference, Robert Abela gave a face to the bloody conflict in the Middle East. Like Ibrahim, there are thousands of other young and not-so-young people whose lives were put on hold, while others were destroyed.

Israel

Malta's recognition of the state of Palestine is not an attack on Israel. Malta stood with Israel when, in October 2023, the terrorist organisation Hamas kidnapped and slaughtered Israeli youths, which eventually led to Israel's war in Gaza. In New York, the Prime Minister boldly stated that the future of the State of Palestine does not include Hamas and that the future lies in a two-state solution.  

Malta has always had strong relations with Palestine. In 1974, Prime Minister Dom Mintoff had invited the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) to open an office in Malta. That was a bold decision by Mintoff, who faced huge resistance to do so, not least locally, from the then Nationalist Party Opposition, with the late Professor Guido de Marco being the exception. De Marco also supported the Palestinian cause for statehood. Robert Abela's Labour government sealed Malta's support for the Palestinian cause by recognizing the state of Palestine.

Economic competence

Labour is in its fourth year of a five-year legislature, and when we present the 2026 Budget on October 27th, it will be even better than the ones that came before it. This is an unprecedented success in Malta's contemporary economic history, but it is not a matter of luck but of hard work, political stability, and the ability to lead.

There was a time before 2013, when Budget Day used to cause anxiety with people glued to their TV screens to see by how much taxes, water, and electricity rates, petrol, and diesel prices would be increased.

There was a time when pensions were stuck in time, and so were children's allowances. Free childcare was unheard of, and hundreds of medicines were out of stock. That time is no more.

A normal day

Nowadays, Budget Day is, for people, another normal day, the difference being that by the time the finance minister has ended his budget speech, people would be looking forward to seeing the positive measures announced being implemented within a few weeks. And Labour is the only party that can deliver positive results - our track record speaks for itself.

Contrasts

As I write, hundreds of thousands of protesters across France are vociferously protesting their government's austerity measures. In Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse, thousands of jobs are on the line, and the economic prospects are dim. Not so in Malta - the EU's smallest state, here we have the highest employment rate in the EU, and the fastest growing economy in the Eurozone. A recent EU-wide survey told us that the Maltese are highly optimistic about their future. We are a government that delivers success - constantly, and unfailingly.

Trust is earned

In 2022, we asked the people to renew their trust in us, based on our positive economic track record, and by offering them a strong manifesto of 1,000 proposals. We are now more than halfway through the legislature, and most of these proposals have been delivered successfully, and we have done more, over and above what we promised in 2022, because we listen to people's needs and aspirations, and act accordingly, immediately, and without procrastination. The people know that we can be trusted to strengthen their future.

Promises made, kept

For Labour, its promises made, promises kept. I am a hands-on politician and a strong believer in the importance of being close to the people. 

Meeting people in the comfort of their homes allows you to understand better their situation, their challenges, fears, hopes, and aspirations. My colleagues, within Labour's Parliamentary Group, also give weight to home visits. It is based on these informal, yet deeply powerful meetings, that we can constantly address people's needs, and the reason why people continue to trust us. Trust is earned, and you must work hard for it. As Prime Minister Robert Abela recently said, we do not believe that we have a divine right to govern [the PN does] and that we must deliver successfully if we want to retain the people's trust in us. 

That is what we do, warts and all, of course, for we are human, and we err too, but our love for country, and our deep commitment to make people's lives better, is what drives us to work hard, strive further, and achieve better for all. The future is bright. October 27th will make it brighter.