The Nationalist Party condemned what it described as derogatory remarks made by the senior spokesmen of the Labour Party, which were in breach of an electoral campaign that should be based on a comparison of proposals and ideas. What the MLP was doing, the PN added, was resorting to a campaign of lies and attacks against those who did not agree with it.

In a matter of 24 hours, it said, Wenzu Mintoff described the Nationalists as vulgar and silly, Joe Mifsud proposed that the PN logo should be strieh u serrah” (translated literally, rest and relieve) and Toni Abela urged PN supporters to say the rosary. MLP leader Alfred Sant had himself described those who did not agree with him as snakes and freaks. Now deputy leader Charles Mangion argued that PN supporters have a different DNA.

Digging up remarks from the recent, and not-so-recent past, the PN said the MLP wanted to turn the clock back and was showing it had nothing new to offer.

Dr Mintoff replied to the PN accusation by explaining whom he meant by his ‘vulgar’ and ‘silly’ adjectives. He said he was not referring to all Nationalist supporters, but to a few women who on Saturday at Qormi, accompanied PN leader Lawrence Gonzi at visits to shops. Every time Dr Gonzi appeared, these few women started shouting hysterically and behaving most indecorously. It was these women he made the remark on radio about, saying “now they knew where those who are vulgar are”.