Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1522102
5 maltatoday | MONDAY • 10 JUNE 2024 MEP ELECTION 2024 MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt PRIME Minister Robert Abela ad- dressed an enthusiastic Labour crowd outside the party headquarters on the Mile End from a stage and not from the party's 'victory' balcony. Abela addressed the crowd in full knowledge that Labour's Pyrrhic victo- ry at the European election had cost it its massive supermajority. Estimates at the time of writing expected a gap of less than 10,000 votes. "Your decision has sent us a message of trust, but also other messages which we have understood well," Abela told Labour supporters in Ħamrun. "We will be replying to this message, with our work, with a clear message that carries our humility, that we will be keeping our fingers on the pulse, and be more sensitive to your needs," he said. Abela said voters had already shown their trust in Labour even when the country faced the economic challeng- es from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. "While others celebrate a loss," he said, referring to the PN, "I am here not to celebrate a victory, but to tell you that I hear your message, with great humility. People want a better version of Labour, of myself first and foremost. As of tomorrow, my team will be rolling up its sleeves and work better towards your interest." Earlier in the day, Abela went on TV to call the victory for Labour but re- frained from indicating what result the party was projecting or expecting as a vote gap. He simply said the PL had a "strong showing". Robert Abela on Labour's dampened victory: 'We hear your message' Prime Minister Robert Abela says his party will be replying to voters' diminished majority for the PL 'with humility' FOREIGN minister Ian Borg has cautioned Labour to heed the implicit message sent to the par- ty by those who did not vote in the 2024 European election. With a slashed majority for a Labour Party that has grown accustomed to victories, Borg said the PL had to understand the message sent to it by its voters. "I am sure that it pained those Labour voters not to vote for the party in these elections. We must understand what that hurt means. We cannot ignore it – we would be hurting these vot- ers once again if we do not seek them out and listen to what they have to say," Borg said. Borg was speaking on One TV as the vote-counting process was underway and after Robert Abela declared victory. "So, it's all hands on deck now – let's go out there and under- stand what our voters have told us," Borg said. Former Labour minister Ed- ward Zammit Lewis also de- scribed the electoral result as a "tug at Labour's ear", asking that the party takes stock of what the vote ultimately means for the party. Meanwhile, former GWU official now Labour TV host and pundit Manuel Micallef claimed on his Facebook that Labour's campaign was carried by the Prime Minister alone, and that ministers did not pull their weight throughout the EP campaign. On the other hand, former PL secretary general Jason Mi- callef insisted on gloating on the victory and blaming the PN of being arrogant in defeat. 'All hands on deck, Labour must heed voters' message' – foreign minister Ian Borg Foreign Minister Ian Borg says party must heed the message sent by Labour voters who chose not to cast their vote or did not vote Labour Foreign minister Ian Borg (left) and Former Labour minister Edward Zammit Lewis Prime Minister Robert Abela addressing the media at the counting hall