He started off by making references to the past, took several swings at the Malta Labour Party and their policies and lack of ideas along the way, and ended in crescendo by showing his full confidence in the people by explaining what the Nationalist Party’s vision for the coming decade is.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi ended a week of political interventions during activities marking the 43rd anniversary of independence with a politically-charged speech on the Granaries in Floriana, lasting more than an hour, which can be taken as having opened the PN’s electoral campaign, although no date has as yet been mentioned for the general election.

He did not reply to the recent spate of allegations and accusations that MLP exponents and the media friendly to the opposition have been making about the scandals that have hit the government, although to be fair Dr Gonzi did make a public apology – a day before – for all the mistakes that he and his fellow ministers have made in the past years.

Perhaps, during the mass meeting, Dr Gonzi should have given more of his time to make it clear to the people that he will not tolerate any more mishaps that, after all, have given the government a bad name in spite of all the collective work that has been carried out to take Malta forward. Perhaps he should have explained why ministers kept their place although they were politically responsible for decisions that did put the government in bad light over the past few months. Perhaps he could have given indications that, if elected, as prime minister he will take what has happened into consideration when he will name his new Cabinet of Ministers. Perhaps Dr Gonzi will find to time to address these issues in the coming public appearances.

Last Thursday, Dr Gonzi preferred to concentrate much of his one-hour address to say why the Nationalist Party is still the party for Malta’s future and that although Labour have been in opposition for nearly two full decades, they are still unprepared to take control of the country.

He continuously reminded his supporters – and those who were watching at home – of the wrong positions taken by the MLP, and the way they had to change their policy once they realised that it was the best road the country could take. Still, he said, if Labour had been in government the decisions that would have been taken would have not been in the country’s best interest, foremost

among which is the issue on Malta’s European Union membership.

But the past was not the main focus of Dr Gonzi’s address. He dedicated great attention to what the PN is planning for the future, once again highlighting the six targets that have been set for the country to reach by 2015. The PN, he said, has been in government for two consecutive legislatures, but it is still the party with the better vision for the country, and this is largely because it has full trust in the people’s capabilities.

Once again, the prime minister went to great lengths to explain what the government is doing and will continue to do in the education, health, ICT, financial services, tourism and industrial sectors – the six areas which have been singled out by the government as being areas where Malta could excel.

The highlight of Dr Gonzi’s address however was not the party’s vision per se, but the confidence that the party in government has that the Maltese have the capabilities of reaching the goals that have been established. The prime minister made it a point to say this more than once, knowing full well that Malta can only survive the stiff global competition if everyone pulls the same rope and gives his or her best.