Lawrence Gonzi yesterday questioned where Labour’s money was coming from as he called on the public to be generous during a PN fundraising marathon to be held on Sunday.

The Prime Minister and PN leader also said his party was recovering at the polls, even though it remained at a disadvantage, contrary to Labour’s absurd claim that it was the “underdog”.

“I am determined to give every last drop of my energy to this campaign,” he said with the same vigour he displayed in the 2008 campaign.

Replying to the question over funding, Labour said Dr Gonzi could not understand how an organisation could make progress with competent and responsible leadership.

It added it was the only party that publishes its accounts.

Addressing his second press conference of the day – this time from PN headquarters after a meeting of the party executive – Dr Gonzi upped the ante against Labour, saying public sector workers should be afraid of a Labour government because it would mean vengeful transfers.

He said Labour had “ruined” the country when it was entrusted into its hands in 1996, turning stipends into loans and freezing Malta’s EU application.

Warning the country not to give in to Joseph Muscat’s “populism”, Dr Gonzi said Labour “was, remains and will continue to be a Socialist party” which refused to give back land it expropriated.

It was insulting for Labour to propose former Prime Minister Alfred Sant as an MEP candidate when he had worked so hard against EU membership.

Dr Gonzi said he regretted not having chance to legislate on cohabitation and party financing, but this was out of his control.