Prime Minister Joseph Muscat asked this evening, with reference to the removal of time-barring in cases of political corruption, "do you think that if I did something wrong, I would have remove the law which protects me?"

Dr Muscat was addressing a political activity in Msida. He is under heavy fire due to allegations that his Chief of Staff took kickbacks for the IIP scheme, and that his wife owns the Panama company Egrant.  The scandal has been picked up by the international press, and the Pana committee are also insisting that Dr Muscat appear before them.

 "We removed time-barring from politicians, meaning that if any politician is caught doing wrong then he can never escape from justice."

The Prime Minister once again took aim at the PN-PD coalition, stating that the only thing uniting them, "is their position against me."

"That is the only thing that ties the coalition together. The problem with the coalition of confusion is, that if they win, they probably would not even agree as to the time they should wake up. They agree on nothing."

The Prime Minister said that in the past, Dr Busuttil had gone to Europe and complained about the IIP scheme. He said that selling citizenship was not acceptable on principle and that to introduce a programme like that was not acceptable. "I expected Dr Busuttil to announce that he would remove it. Instead, yesterday, he said that he would keep it. Where has that principle gone."

The Prime Minister said that he is not perfect, "and I know we disappointed certain people who expected more from us, and I carry that responsibility. But we are not hypocrites. We know where we made mistakes and we are ready to arrange mistakes and learn from them."

Turning to governance and transparency, he said that this government published every possible contract. "We were criticised for holding back some parts. I went to look at some contracts recently, regarding roundabouts and lotteries. Those, neither I nor any Prime Minister in the future can ever publish as even after they expire, they cannot be published. Those preaching transparency did not want them published."

Turning to equality, he criticised the PN for accepting Dr Josie Muscat as a candidate, "who up until a few months ago said that many a time, when a man hits a woman, that the man was provoked. "

The Prime Minister said that the PN Leader is, to his understanding, showing that his proposals have no principles behind them. "Dr Busuttil promised free childcare for everyone after we introduced it for those persons who work. If we want to do a race to the bottom, then we would do this." Dr Muscat stressed that the whole reason the PL introduced free childcare for was so that the parents could go out and work."

He asked: "Which stay-at-home mother would send their children to childcare. The mothers I know stay home to remain with their children. This proposal could be a poverty trap, as it won't make it as worth it for them to go out and work. This is why I fear for the country."

Turning to the recent attacks against him, and his family, Dr Muscat said: "We don't want to fight hatred with hatred."

"My job is to unite the country. We have an opposition leader who unfortunately believes otherwise. He has a classist ideal. Years ago he said Deborah Schembri had the face of a nationalist. If someone comes before me and asks such a question I would tell them that they have a Maltese face."

Dr Muscat declared that if the people do not want him, he will step aside. "If the people want me I will continue to serve, I will continue working with you if you entrust government to us."  

The Prime Minister commented that the PN said this was an election on principles and not proposals. "I was astonished. Every election is about principles. Secondly, the proposals we are pushing forward are based on principles. If the PN Leader thinks that the two are separate, he is showing how little thought he is putting into what he is saying."

He said that social mobility is one principle the PL proposals are based on. Dr Muscat mentioned the tax rebate for all persons who work, to help their families. "We are not sending a cheque to buy a vote. There is a principle behind it, and that principle is social mobility, so that everyone can move forward."

Another principle, he said, is social justice. "While encouraging those persons to move forward, you help those who are in need, those who need a push. This is why we will increase pensions and why we will help those couples who cannot pay the first 10% deposit to purchase their first home."

Turning to Education, he said that all children should have the same chance to succeed, irrespective of everything else. He mentioned an education measure, "one for equality, where children and their parents should not need to pay for their exams."

The Prime Minister mentioned civil unions, and said that the time has come to change the name to marriage. "I know there are those of you who see this as extra, but you cannot pick and choose with equality, you either believe in it, or you don't. Fighting for the rights of minorities means that you speak for those sectors which do not have a voice."

He spoke of quality of life, and the proposal regarding public holidays falling on Sundays being given back to workers. "There are a number of things that you cannot buy in life, one of which is time. No matter how much you earn, you can never bring back the time lost while away from one's family."

Home Affairs Minister Carelo Abela said: "day after day we keep showing that we exist, and on 3 June we will show just how much the PL exists and let us have another win for Malta and for the PL."

He said that the PL have a strong leader who leads Malta, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. This led the crowds to burst out into a "Joseph" chant. The Minister said that the PL movement has been choosing Malta since its inception. He quoted Mintoff "Malta first and foremost," and said that the PN always worked against Malta. He said that over the past four years the PN always went on international stations or to the EU Parliament speaking against the national interest. "And today they say that the choice is between Malta and Joseph Muscat?"

Minister Abela criticised the PN's choice in candidates. "The risk to turn back the clock, by the message they have, is there. Simon Busuttil has agreed with certain statements they have made, which is further confirmation that a PN government would take Malta backwards." He said that the PL is positive, "while others are negative and are embarrassed to say who leads them".

He said that the new PL manifesto will be more ambitious than the 2013 one, adding that Joseph Muscat kept his 2013 promises.

PL MP and candidate in the coming elections Silvio Schembri said that a choice lies ahead, "a choice between moving forward, and turning back the clock, between those people who fight for the right of Maltese persons, and those people who speak against the country at every turn as they cannot stand for the success achieved by this government."

He said that a PL government will attract more investment and more people to work in Malta, meaning that the economy will grow, businesses will grow and so will tourism. Turning to PN Leader Simon Busuttil, he said the people do not want him as they do not trust him.

PL candidate and OPM Deputy Chief of Staff Alex Muscat was the first to speak. "You fill us with courage to continue with our work, you are our strength." He praised the choice of Joseph Muscat as Prime Minister four years ago. He said he was appointed as an assistant, close to the Prime Minister in Castille. He said that the PL found Enemalta in a bad state, and high tariffs. "We found unstable fuel prices and out of stock medicines." He said that Enemalta was saved under this government. "Last year Enemalta made a profit, and government made this possible in just four years. We reduced energy tariffs for families and businesses and stabilised fuel prices."

Photo by Baskal Mallia