Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today said that “you will never hear me speak a word which could be described as divisive”, but in their speeches earlier on during the PL’s annual general conference some delegates were far from being unifying.

It was Economy Minister Chris Cardona who used the harshest of phrases, saying that “if you hit us with the sword we will hit you back with an axe” to a rapturous applause from the audience.

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis told those present that Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil should be ignored, while the PM’s own aide Glenn Bedingfield openly attacked the UHM chief executive Josef Vella for criticising the government.

Those who mentioned the Panama Papers and the scandal that has been hitting the headlines for nearly eight weeks did so in full support of Minister Konrad Mizzi and the decision taken by the Prime Minister.

Among the first to speak was Labour MP Deo Debattista, who mentioned the lack of credibility surrounding the Nationalist Party in relation to transparency and honest politics. He calmly assured the crowd that the Labour Party will be in power for the last two years of the legislature, and another five years "if need be." This was said in reference to the motion of no confidence presented by Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil against Dr Muscat's government, to be debated on Friday.

He made reference to the loan scheme launched by the PN, criticising its validity and appropriateness. Mr Debattista added that he is confident Prime Minister Muscat will take whichever decision he sees fit in relation to the current scandal surrounding Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi.

Former PN member and current mayor of Marsa, Frank Zammit delivered a heartfelt speech about the work carried out by Dr Muscat and his cabinet. He asked the audience to be proud, and to be ambassadors of the government.

"We cannot ignore the will of the people, we must always listen. This is how we won the last election. You [the crowd] represent the political earthquake which took over the country with Dr Muscat's movement."

Dr Muscat "managed to bring together people from all strata of society. After he took over as leader of the party, he began with a massive disadvantage, and managed success."

"Who is sowing doubt in Dr Muscat, is upset to see the success of Enemalta, is upset with the foreign investment, is angry with the reduced tariffs, who is sowing doubt is not happy with the credibility and success of this government, who is sowing doubt is upset with the financial results, with the free child-care, who is sowing doubt is not happy with the championing of civil liberties," he said to loud applause.

He also warned the crowd not to give into provocation, and not to give the Opposition "what they want." This week Labour Party media claimed that on two occasions they were subject to abuse and verbal provocation, which was condemned by the Labour Party. 

The Prime Minister's aide, Glenn Bedingfield slammed Josef Vella of UHM for showing allegiance to the Opposition, because "he thinks that the government will fall."

"While I am speaking about facts, it is a fact that Malta is changing. It's a fact that we are bringing a positive change to Malta. It is the PN which have not changed only. The same people, the same surnames, the same corruption," he said

Parliamentary Secretary for EU funds and the 2017 EU Presidency Ian Borg assured the PL delegates and councillors to remain calm, keep in mind that the lives of people are better than three years ago.

He twice cautioned for the delegates to remain calm, and not to "fill our heads" with all that is being said, illustrating the current political storm surrounding the PL and the Panama Papers scandal. 

Dr Borg spoke about public administration, and urged workers to continue working tirelessly in order to continue to improve people's lives. He said that many of the civil servants, who never voted for Labour, questioned how the Opposition could criticise government work when so much has been done in such a short time.

He made reference to the upcoming European Presidency and how it is going be a success, despite the "destructive" work of the Opposition. 

Economy Minister Chris Cardona, while praising the government, revealed two areas of investment which will be announced in the coming weeks.

He said that there will be "expansion" of a pre-existing factory. This has been done "through the strength of Joseph Muscat," he said. With regard to the second area of investment, is all Minister Cardona said was that it will employ hundreds of youth from Malta and Gozo.

Dr Cardona's language in the latter part of his speech was a throwback to the 1980s - "if you hit us with the sword, we will hit you with an axe", he told delegates. 

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis, making reference to the vote of no confidence, quipped that Dr Busuttil wakes up each morning and chooses whose resignation he is going to request.

"This time, it's the whole government he wants to resign."

Minister Zammit Lewis stressed upon the financial services sector and the damage which it could face as a result of this scandal. He made reference to how the PL had always supported the PN government at the time, with the way it brought the financial services sector forward and pushed for it to be such a lucrative and successful sector.

He said that this is a major challenge and cannot be ignored.

"Prime Minister, it is you that people are waiting to for to take a decision. These people do not calculate Simon Busuttil. The Prime Minister decides not when the media calls for it, or when Opposition leader calls for it. He has always been on the right side of the story, taking decisions ethically and after appropriate consultation. This case, which is a challenge to this government, is one that we must discuss and not let destroy the good work."

He then made reference to the "tactics" of the PN.

"Simon Busuttil, we are not interested in what you do and say. We are interested in bringing positive change to the country. We want to provide better conditions of work and help the lives of everybody. The only person who is definitely going to stay outside Castille, in the cold, is Simon Busuttil".

Member of the Labour youth forum, Matthew Chetcuti, spoke about the need for further education among society, "so that a person with disability does not feel different, or somehow less valuable then another person. A person with disabilities should never be made to feel like this."

He made reference to the incident which took place last Wednesday, outside the law courts before the criminal defamation case of Shadow Minister for Justice Jason Azzopardi. He spoke of how he was present, together with his youth PL counterparts, and was subject to insulting and abusive language because of his disabilities.

The Youth PL were present to hand out information on a criminal libel case filed by Dr Busuttil, at the same time that PN supporters where showing support for the criminal defamation case, which resulted out of a complaint made to the police by former police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit for the words used by Dr Azzopardi in a press conference the previous year.

Mr Chetcuti also spoke about the need for more support to persons with disabilities who are seeking out a tertiary education, adding that everybody should be on a level playing field.

Parliamentary Secretary for persons with disabilities and active ageing Justyne Caruana, delivered her speech immediately after Mr Chetcuti, and promised she would work round the clock to improve the current situation.

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna slammed the PN for trying to bring the government to its knees.

"In 1998, a hidden manoeuvre managed to bring the government to its knees, and we had no idea what a PL government is like in power.

"This is happening again," referring to the vote of no confidence. He said that the scary part, is that the Opposition genuinely believe that they have the divine right to power.

He appealed to the population to study these sentiments, which are not democratic.

"We are talking about sentiments which one associates with that of dictatorships," he said.

He made reference to the concern shown by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, saying that the government cannot ignore this. He warned against PN provocation and assured the delegates that the government will remain in power for the rest of its term.