Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/832638
3 maltatoday, MONDAY, 5 JUNE 2017 News PORTOMASOLIVE.COM REGISTER NOW 1 2 3 Register your personal account JOIN DEPOSIT EARN CASHBACK Place your deposit, play & participate in our promotions You're always a winner at Portomaso Live You're always a winner Muscat calls for national unity: 'I have no hatred in my heart' TIM DIACONO PRIME Minister Joseph Muscat has called for national reconciliation in the wake of Labour's landslide election vic- tory, insisting that he has "no hatred or bitterness in his heart" despite him and his wife being the targets of a smear campaign. Addressing a victory rally yesterday from the balcony of the PL's Mile End headquarters. Muscat said that the re- sult – almost identical to Labour's 2013 victory – proves that the Maltese peo- ple have chosen optimism and positiv- ity over negativity. "The people have confirmed their trust in this movement, despite it being the target of one of the most negative campaigns in our country's history," he said. "Those who thought that the Maltese people would choose negativ- ity don't truly know the Maltese peo- ple, because the Maltese people choose positivity, optimism, energy, goodwill, unity and equality." He noted that this result meant that Labour has won two successive elec- tions for the first time in 41 years, with both elections won by the two largest margins in Malta's history. "Our job is not done though and we are only halfway there. You have cho- sen not to stop halfway but to continue progressing and our first task will be to re-unite this country. My wife and I got attacked more than anyone throughout this campaign, but we have no bitter- ness and hatred in our hearts. "I urge each and every one of you to help me work with everyone who wants to seek Malta progress, because this is the movement of all Maltese and Gozi- tans. It would be easy for us to act ar- rogantly, but this movement's strength comes from seeking unity, because Malta must come first and foremost." He said that he would take his oath as Prime Minister on Monday at 11am and that the Labour Party's victory mass meeting had been postponed from yes- terday evening to Saturday. "The best days are ahead of us… for parents, youths, elderly people, for eve- ryone who wants a liberal leap forward, for everyone who wants national unity." In earlier comments to state broad- caster PBS, Muscat said he was ready to extend a hand of friendship towards everyone who was willing to work to- wards the good of the country and pledged that the past four years "will be nothing" compared to what's still to come. He said that the next Labour govern- ment would learn from the mistakes committed by the past one, while con- tinuing to build on the positives. Labour supporters in party mode after landslide election victory TIM DIACONO LABOUR supporters celebrated in the Naxxar counting hall and took to the streets across Malta yester- day, after it was announced that their party was projected to win the election by some 34,000 votes. Crowds of PL supporters gath- ered outside the party's Mile End headquarters in Hamrun, waving PL and Maltese flags and honking horns in celebration. Meanwhile, Prime Minister and Labour leader Joseph Muscat was given a hero's welcome as he ar- rived at the counting hall. Joseph Muscat: 'My wife and I got attacked more than anyone throughout this campaign, but we have no bitterness and hatred in our hearts'