A few days ago, Labour supporters were thrown in consternation when Prime Minister Joseph Muscat stated he would definitely not contest another election again.

Today, Dr Muscat gave his supporters a glimmering of hope: in some allusive words, he seemed to say the departure is not imminent and that he will still be leading the party at the European Parliament elections next year.

The supporters present at Qormi seemed to understand this and gave him a rousing applause.

There is still so much to do, he said.

He rejoiced that people are noticing this is the best time for them. The government is not perfect and admits its faults and mistakes. It is looking for ways to make IIP better.

He drew on the common experience of people in the towns and villages: when someone comes along with a new product, and does well, he gets a lot of people imitating him but usually the first one gets the better results. So too with IIP - Malta is not the only one offering citizenship schemes but its offer is the best.

So too with its plans regarding medicinal marijuana. So too with bitcoin and blockchain.

With regards to Air Malta, the airline will announce in the coming week plans to become the airline of he Mediterranean with flights linking Sicily and Sardinia to London just as it has announced flights linking Sicily to Vienna.

With regards to health, Malta will get three renovated hospitals. Dr Muscat expressed hope that the negotiations with MAM will come to a successful conclusion this week. The government has been very careful to avoid any dangerous confrontation.

He also mentioned the Hepatitis C programme announced last week. In five years'time Malta will be a world beater in this regard. All PN could do was to stare at out of stock medicine lists.

And new heart machines, very much needed, have been purchased from funds from IIP.