The Labour Party's general secretary, Jason Micallef, has described the Nationalists' reaction to his controversial speech last week as cheap propaganda steered by a party trailing at the polls.
The PN media's reaction to his comments was a "futile" attempt to deviate attention from the real problems afflicting the country. "It's a non-issue... This incident does not harm the MLP. People will not vote on manipulated speeches," Mr Micallef told The Times yesterday.
He landed himself in hot water after addressing a social event held by former Labour minister Charles Buhagiar during which he said: "We will be a government for all Maltese and Gozitans, but here we are Labourites among Labourites (qeghdin bejnietna). I tell you we will also be a government for Labourites and we will carry out justice with Labourites in the first few months".
Mr Micallef admits he is disappointed that the speech was posted on YouTube by a "naïve" person who had no ulterior motive and that it had embarrassed Mr Buhagiar. But he insists he has no regrets and that he intended instituting libel proceedings against the PN media.
"What I told those present for the event is that we have the same political beliefs. Yes, it could have been misunderstood, but it doesn't help that my quote was taken out of context.
"I used the same tone I have always used - that we should have a government for all the Maltese, based on meritocracy. There is nothing wrong to say that we won't exclude the Labourites this time around."
He says the Labour Administration between 1996 and 1998 was insensitive to nine years of injustices suffered by Labourites at the Nationalists' hands.
"Rightly so, Labour supporters at the time were upset. They were trampled upon simply because of their political beliefs. I have an obligation to say it."
To back his claims, he harks back to 1989 when former PN general secretary Austin Gatt told the general council that the civil service cannot remain apolitical.
Mr Micallef makes it clear his party is determined to eradicate the same "clique of 50 staunch PN supporters" who have been shifted from one chairmanship to the other along the years.
"How can you have (Water Services Chairman) Michael Falzon steering a propaganda programme on Radio 101 on Sundays? How can you have (Air Malta chairman) Lawrence Zammit on the PN strategy group?"
Unlike former Prime Minister Alfred Sant, the government persists in appointing ultra-partisan people, he says.
When it was pointed out that the Labour government did in fact play the same tune and awarded people like former MLP candidate Reno Borg with the chairmanship of Bank of Valletta, Mr Micallef cuts in: "Are you telling me Reno Borg wasn't competent?"
He says a future Labour government will have no problem reappointing valid people with Nationalist tendencies.
"I wish the country was more politically mature. Of course, there's nothing wrong with appointing people the government can trust but I expected (Prime Minister Lawrence) Gonzi to believe more in meritocracy."
Throughout, Mr Micallef is determined to put the message across that the winds of change have wafted over the party, which has been in opposition for nine years.
A new Labour government will be different from the past - circumstances have changed and Malta has joined the EU. The Labour Party is addressing problems better and is holding wider consultations, says Mr Micallef, adding that he personally disagrees with boycotts.
He is, however, clearly not entirely satisfied with some aspects within his party. Asked whether it was a sign of an evolving party that Labour MP Joe Debono Grech recently advocated a closer link between the MLP and the General Workers' Union, he replies: "Everybody has a right to say what they believe in. God forbid we all had to agree about everything. Of course, certain individuals have their unique style. But I can assure you the MLP is not forging ahead with a partnership with the GWU".
The 35-year-old insists that the party has moved with the times while the Nationalists keep referring to the past. The Labour Party did commit mistakes in the 1980s, he admits, but why shouldn't it be given another chance?
Since giving up power prematurely in 1998, the majority of the MLP administration has changed and, though its MPs remain practically the same, they have matured.
He hints that Labour's anti-EU membership campaign was misjudged and says the party could have understood people's wishes better.
Political parties need to evolve with the times and Labour was mature enough with the EU debate to the extent that it had no qualms in ratifying the EU Constitution.
"There is no turning back now. We are prepared to work to reap the advantages of the EU and to stop losing the funds we're entitled to. Where are the EU standards we brag about?"
After listing the EU's and the government's shortcomings, Mr Micallef singles out the environment as the one sector which has benefited greatly from EU membership, though he says Malta was still lagging on aspects like alternative sources of energy.
Now that EU membership was no longer a political ball, Mr Micallef believes his party is on a steady roll towards securing power. On the other hand, the PN is at its most "critical" point - with polls reflecting rampant corruption.
"I'm very optimistic about our chances, and apart from the positive polls, I keep meeting young people who will be voting for the first time for the MLP... and traditional Nationalist supporters who claim they will stay home on polling day."