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MALTATODAY 28 March 2022

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3 maltatoday | MONDAY • 28 MARCH 2022 ELECTION 2022 press after landslide election victory NICOLE MEILAK LABOUR leader Robert Abela has vowed to remain humble after another landslide win for the Labour Party at the 2022 general election. In his first comments after the result, Abela said that the win places more responsibility on the Labour Party to remain humble. "We need to be hum- ble and work to create wealth for Maltese and Gozitans." He added that his Labour government will work to foster national unity while keeping national interest at heart. The Labour Party claimed victory on Sunday, with voters giving Robert Abela and the party another mandate to gov- ern over the next five years. Projected results are not yet out, but it is clear that the Na- tionalist Party failed to dent the Labour super-majority de- spite a historically low turnout of 85.5%. The low turnout was expect- ed to dampen Labour's chanc- es of another majority over 30,000 votes. Despite a poor result on the Nationalist Party front, PN leader Bernard Grech said that he will recontest the party's leadership instead of resigning. Grech assumed the lead- ership in mid-2020, and will again be a candidate in the election mandated by the PN statute. The PN has to elect a new leader after every general elec- tion, according to its statute. PL candidates react Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne said that the low turn- out is high by European stand- ards, but the demographics among these non-voters needs to be evaluated, such as their age groups. Labour Party deputy for par- ty affairs Daniel Micallef cele- brated the absolute majority. "Like others, I work so that we can win. The people's trust is reflected in the result. Edward Zammit Lewis said the win bodes well for Labour's leadership under Robert Abela. "It's a certificate for Robert Ab- ela and for the government." Miriam Dalli added the result means the Labour Party must work even more in the next five years to address several issues. Silvio Schembri com- mented that people don't want negative politics. "This is evident when you see the campaigns of the National- ist and Labour Party." Michael Farrugia said the La- bour Party will humbly imple- ment its manifesto, while Clint Camilleri thanked voters and said that he thinks the people appreciated the party's work over the past legislature. Aaron Farrugia said the La- bour Party needed a clear and strong mandate to fulfill its manifesto - and it certainly got it. Byron Camilleri similarly said that the party must con- tinue what it started on Mon- day. Carmelo Abela added that the Labour Party led the country through the COVID-19 pan- demic with flying colours, con- tributing to the party's good standing among the electorate. in the middle of the election. "We certainly need elections that are free of vote-baiting gim- micks such as the pay-out of cheques... the country certainly needs a stronger PN more than ever." Grech said he respected the people's decision, but alleged that Labour had used the government cheques as a way of influenc- ing voters. "I think the authorities should investigate. No country in the world has a prime minister who sends out cheques to the people a week before the election," Grech said, referring to the distribution of COVID relief cheques and tax refunds in mid-March. Grech admitted that the PN had also suffered a protest vote of sorts, but added that the absence of 50,000 electors from the elec- tion signified "a clear detachment of the public from politics". "I will be the voice of all those who gave the party their trust, as well of those who did not partic- ipate in the election... I will keep on working to bring more people closer to the party, and I will in- clude those people who have not been elected." Grech also said that he had tried to get into contact with his MPs, but claimed that "20% of them had their mobile phone switched off." Grech greeted most of the PN activists and also Labour activ- ists inside the counting hall. He appeared hard-hit by the scale of the defeat, but he put on a brave face with all the PN agents, hug- ging them, greeting them, shak- ing their hands, even affording a few quips with the press inside the media room. "May you have five more years of interviews," he said, a refer- ence to Labour leader Robert Ab- ela's refusal to be interviewed by the independent press. "I think the authorities should investigate. No country in the world has a prime minister who sends out cheques to the people a week before the election"

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