Grazzi

THANK YOU

I would like to thank all the people of Malta for their full participation in these elections.

I pledge that my colleagues and I will serve the Maltese people wholeheartedly from the Opposition benches in Parliament. As we have served to the best of our capabilities in Government, we will now do this from Opposition.

I would like to congratulate the Labour Party and its leader, Joseph Muscat, who will now be Prime Minister. He now carries a heavy burden. I look forward to seeing the Nationalist Party cooperate fully with the Labour government in ensuring Malta continues to create new jobs, educate and train our youngsters to the maximum, and that it invests further in health services, while the quality of life improves.

Naturally, I fully respect the vote of all those who have voted Labour, AD or Independent yesterday as well as those who decided to abstain. I accept your decision with humility.

I want to thank all those who have contributed to the Government of Malta and to the Nationalist Party in these last five years with their ideas, efforts and sheer hard work, particularly in these past weeks of campaigning. I have seen many generous and genuine people who have worked very hard and our defeat is certainly not their fault. Huge and heartfelt thanks to all of you who have voted for the Nationalist Party yesterday. My message to all of you is courage; we shall continue to strive to represent you with positive, useful and effective initiatives in Parliament.

This moment is an opportunity for renewal of our party.

I thank the people of Malta for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading the Government over the last nine years.