Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this evening that he wants unity, irrespective of who one votes for or where one comes from.

"This country is and will remain united," Dr Muscat said, while adding that when showing what one can offer the country, the road of provocation and hatred should never be taken.

The Prime Minister was addressing a political activity at Santa Lucija.

Arriving at the event with his wife Michelle, he was welcomes with "Joseph chants." The Prime Minister's administration has been under siege both locally and internationally, after the Panama Papers revelations. More recently, it has been alleged that his wife is the owner of the Panama company Egrant, and that OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri took kickbacks for the IIP scheme.

PM told his supporters that the EU Commission said that Malta is strong. "They told us solid growth continues. The people who write these reports have no party, they see things as they are. They came out with this analysis."

"They said the economy will keep growing, that peoples funds will expand and finances will remain in a surplus. They said that they were assuming a no policy change when saying this, meaning that for things to remain strong, the policies adopted by this government continue."

"First we expanded the economy, and now that the fruit has grown all the Maltese and Gozitan people begin to benefit from it."

He spoke of pensioners, and said that for the first time in 25 years they saw their pensions increase, twice. "Our commitment remains, that in the coming years we continue increasing pensions. We made our aims clear. If you give us your trust, we will raise pensions by €8 per week."

"These proposals are costed, we know where we will get the funds from and we know how the system will work." Referring to the PN proposals, he said that today the PN woke up, and said they will also increase pensions, by €22 a week. "I said, wow. Good, I'm pleased. They said this will cost €8.5 million for 18,000 pensioners. I grabbed my calculator, and found that this came to €20.5 million."

This all shows that Dr Busuttil either has no idea what he is talking about and if elected, he would say the circumstances have changed - such as when they used to make so many promises - or instead, to finance all of this, will send the country into an excessive deficit procedure. This would mean social services would need to shrink, VAT and income tax would need to rise. As such, the choice is between a government that knows what it is saying, making realistic and costed proposals, or those persons who want to bankrupt this country."

He called the PN irresponsible, and said they do not know how the economy works. "This is symptomatic of a coalition of confusion that wants to lead the country. A coalition led by two captains, and a ship with two captains does not move."

"They brought out their manifesto and said they would give back the housing rents, yet they do not realise people are already receiving those cheques."

"He said that he wants to make a summer school for children with disability. This service already exists in four summer schools, and 100 such students make use of these services. He has not even realised this. This is why this election is a question of credibility."

He said that if reelected, the PL will continue to keep their promises.

"Over seven years will resurface all roads, and will remove wires from roads."

He mentioned Wi-fi on buses. "We will go for new measures to change car registration tax, where those who purchase cleaner cares will benefit."

He said that government will introduce new systems to help find parking. "I know in Qormi it was introduced, where there will be a sensor and a board would reveal how many spots are left in a parking lot. We will have apps that could do this, without introducing payment systems for parking."

"We will provide an incentive for private land in a development zone, and owners of the land who turn the area into a public garden with an underground car park, will receive a lower tax rate for the first years of the parking lot's operation."

PL MP Michael Falzon took the stage, and said that the PL is the party for everyone with good intentions, and for those persons who want to be on the right side of history.

Michael Falzon was earlier in this legislature, Parliamentary Secretary for Planning. He had resigned following an auditor general's report in the Gaffarena property expropriation.

He attacked the PN Leader over the voting document statements, saying that there are 4 people appointed by the PN Leader on the Electoral Commission. "If he is ready to attack them, and attack the thousands of people working in polling booths, what will he do if he will be in a position to truly harm people!"

Michael Falzon said the PL kept their promises, and closed power stations resulting in cleaner air. "We kept our promise to reduce energy tariffs. The former PN Prime Minister said he would vote for higher tariffs happily. We kept our word to reduce them, and strengthen the economy."

Turning to the PN's battle-cry "I choose Malta." He asked: "When was the PN choosing Malta when in the EU Parliament. Where were they choosing Malta in the 80s, when there was so much good. We have always chosen Malta first and foremost before anything."

PL candidate and Qormi Mayor Rosianne Cutajar addressed the crowd. She called herself the youngest PL candidate, and said that in 2013 the youths were instrumental in changing the direction of the country, and voting the PL into government. She said that before 2013, many youths feared the PL, as the PN used to incite such fear. "Today we know what a PL government means, as it is tried and tested. Joseph Muscat kept his promises and did what others couldn't do. He stands for a guarantee of jobs and opportunities, for a country not piled under debt."

She said that Simon Busuttil only offers politics of lies and insults, with candidates like Wayne Hewitt, Josie Muscat and Salvu Mallia. She said that, with a PL government, youths will have free transport and free SEC and MATSEC exams.

Pictures and Video by Baskal Mallia