Despite the most recent polls from major independent media suggesting that the Labour Party is in the lead with a substantial margin, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat still believes he is the underdog in the upcoming general election.

“Just look at the newspaper front pages,” he told the Malta Independent. “We will always be the underdog,” he added.

Dr Muscat was replying to questions by journalists following a press conference in Vittoriosa.

Dr Muscat had played the underdog card before the last election, when all the polls were indicating a Labour victory. And he is doing so again this year when, again, all surveys show that Labour will win with a comfortable margin.

When asked about the changes in the constitution he mentioned during the mass meeting in Mqabba, amendments which are aimed at fighting corruption, Dr Muscat said that the issue with offshore companies is whether they are declared or not. Pressed by The Malta Independent, Dr Muscat said that it was still politically insensitive to open up companies in Panama.

“But what would have made it much worse would have been the non-declaration of such companies. In that case, the Minister’s position would have been untenable.”

Prime Minister expressed solidarity with Manchester attack victims

Before starting his intervention in a press conference in Vittoriosa this morning, the Prime Minister expressed his solidarity with the victims and families affected by the attack in Manchester during a concert for teenagers.

He said the attack was clearly aimed to kill. “It could have been my children. The concert was for young teenagers and the attackers targeted them,” he said. Dr Muscat said that there were Maltese present in the concert but, as far as the government is informed, there are no Maltese citizens among those hurt.  He said most of those present already made contact with their families in Malta.

Joseph Muscat also commented on the huge fire which broke out yesterday at the recycling plant in Sant Antnin. He thanked the members of the civil protection department. Dr Muscat said that luckily, an Enemalta substation in the vicinity was not affected. A magisterial inquiry was launched to establish the cause of the fire.