The Prime Minister received a standing ovation this evening, while delivering a brief speech to PL delegates and members attending the PL AGM, prior to his debate with PN Leader Simon Busuttil on Xarabank.

"Thank you for supporting my family," he said. The Prime Minister is under heavy fire, after allegations linking his wife, Michelle Muscat, to the third Panama company, Egrant, were levelled by Daphne Caruana Galizia.

"Tonight I will go on TV. My friends asked me whether we should prepare, as happens before every political programme, and I told them that I don't think I need to, as today I will only speak about truth vs lies."

"When speaking about facts alone, which I swear before you and before God, I go in serenity. It won't be a debate," he said while pledging to keep telling the truth.

He said that some unreported news broke today, whereas while in 2013 39,000 people were living in material depravation,  "today the EU confirmed that in three years, while ignoring this year's budget, poverty dropped by half to 19,000 people."

"Every single one of those 19,000 saved have somewhere better to live, have better education, have a better life."

"The attacks and lies can come, but our strength is in the truth, is in results, is in serenity, is in the results of social progress that we will continue to bring."