In a statement, Mr Micallef said the MLP believed in the integrity of the AD leadership. Labour believes that political campaigns should be based on arguments regarding issues that interest people and not on personal insinuations, as was done by the PN in recent days.

AD remains a political adversary but, Mr Micallef said, the attitude of the PN does not reflect the change in local political tactics Dr Gonzi had promised when he was elected prime minister.

On the contrary, he said, it shows that the Nationalist Party is still attached to archaic tactics, “a further confirmation that the PN is avoiding discussing those issues that matter to the people, like welfare and the environment”.

The sort of personal attacks issued by the PN towards AD are not what the Maltese and Gozitan electorate deserves, Mr Micallef said.

Speaking to this newspaper, AD chairman Harry Vassallo said he appreciated the MLP’s act of solidarity. He also expressed his satisfaction that once again AD – as is stipulated by the party’s statute – was serving as an instrument of national union.