Anticipation of the general election was rife during a Nationalist Party political activity in Senglea yesterday morning and, although the Prime Minister made no reference to a date, he appealed to supporters to make their way to the brand new PN headquarters for a mass rally the evening the date is announced.
Although the electoral campaign had not yet officially begun, yesterday's activity appeared for all intents and purposes to be the first event of the campaign with Dr Gonzi saying that the road to another victory for the PN was starting close to Victory Street, in Senglea.
Dr Gonzi explained the PN's slogan for the general election saying that together everything is possible. The PN has always believed in reaching its objectives with a collective effort and following wide consultation.
He mentioned the priorities his government set when he became Prime Minister - employment, the economy, the environment and education - adding that the government had reached most of the targets it set.
One of the main differences between the PN and the MLP was that the party in government has always been optimistic about the country and its people. On the other hand, Labour always shed doubts on the country's qualities. As examples, Dr Gonzi mentioned Malta's EU membership bid and the government's plans to adopt the euro.
Dr Gonzi appealed to the undecided to weigh what the PN managed to achieve against the MLP's promises to regain power.
Referring to the reception class proposal, Dr Gonzi said this alone should be enough to condemn the MLP forever in opposition. "I started my political career because I did not want the Labour government to continue interfering with my children's education and this is exactly what the MLP is proposing again, 20 years later."
With regard to the MLP's proposal to half the surcharge on water and electricity, introduced to make up for the drastic increase in the international price of oil, Dr Gonzi said Labour would have to make up for it with people's taxes on other things.
Among the audience at yesterday's activity was Jo Said, the self-declared Nationalist who, over the past weeks, levelled accusations at the PN government.
The activity was also addressed by PN candidates who are contesting the general election for the first time as well as by PN secretary general Joe Saliba, who said the party was fully prepared for another victory.
At the end of the activity, a group of One News journalists surrounded Mr Saliba and MP David Agius to ask them questions.
Mr Agius was asked about an item that appeared in yesterday's General Workers' Union Sunday paper It-Tor?a about comments he allegedly made to Mr Said.
Mr Agius denied the comments attributed to him and later said he will be taking legal action against the newspaper.
Meanwhile, reacting to Dr Gonzi's address, the MLP said the Nationalist government holds records such as in the rise in the cost of living, in the tax burden and in the number of people whose part-time job is the only form of employment.
The MLP said Dr Gonzi criticised its proposals in the education sector which, it said, were aimed at improving the situation whereby students leave school without the basic knowledge.