Brussels, 11/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Saturday 9 March, the Maltese Labour Party won the country's general elections. This is a return to power for the centre-left after more than 15 years in opposition.
The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, congratulated the leader of the Labour Party, Joseph Muscat, a former Member of the European Parliament and journalist, on his victory. "Dr Joseph Muscat can count on the continued commitment of the European Commission to work side by side with Malta and to overcome the challenges we face", he said in a press release. The President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz of Germany, congratulated the Maltese people on a turnout rate of above 93%. "Malta can look forward to continued good economic growth. Malta may be the smallest nation in the EU, yet it is strategically located", he stressed. The Commission forecasts growth in GDP of 1.5% in 2013 for Malta, following an increase of 1% in 2012. The Maltese deficit is likely to rise to 2.9% of GDP this year, having reached 2.6% last year. (MB/transl.fl)