Matthew Vella
The Labour Party yesterday heralded its victory at the polls with low-key celebrations, banning carcades and public displays of victory save for the party held outside their Hamrun headquarters.
Labour deputy leader for party affairs Toni Abela announced victory early in the afternoon yesterday, but was adamant in treating it as “just a battle”.
Without making any overtures for his party’s victory, he said Labour had obtained a “comfortable majority” and called on party supporters to treat the triumph as “a victory, but not the victory.”
He was later seen shaking hands with deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg and PN secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier.
Labour’s One TV also played down the extent of its celebrations by broadcasting monotonous images of the Naxxar counting hall, scored by a selection of drowsy instrumental tunes. There was no triumphalist music or pundits back-slapping each other. For a few minutes, the TV flashed images from the Labour celebrations in Hamrun.
Labour secretary-general Jason Micallef also “ordered” supporters not to celebrate by carcading around the island. One TV flashed repetitive messages that read ‘carcades are not permitted’.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Download front page in pdf file format
All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.
