Sunday, March 3

Lawrence Gonzi urges supporters at a PN mass meeting in Dingli Street, Sliema, to each convince two undecided people to vote Nationalist. Only the PN, he says, can be trusted to create jobs. “When you go to vote, keep in mind that red means unemployment and blue means work,” he says.

Joseph Muscat, speaking at a Labour mass meeting at the Granaries in Floriana, appeals to those still lukewarm to Labour to take the plunge and seize the “once in a lifetime opportunity to write a new chapter in this nation’s history”.

Michael Briguglio tells a press conference in Sliema that should Alternattiva Demokratika have the opportunity to form a coalition, it would seek to join with the party it felt closest to following negotiations.

Monday, March 4

Lawrence Gonzi tells supporters in Ta’ Giorni that this is not the time to take risks as making the wrong decision could threaten the country’s sound finances and stability. First-time voters, he says, should not vote for change for the sake of it.

Joseph Muscat tells a Labour mass meeting in Xagħra that PN promises to listen to the people if re-elected are too little too late. “They said the same thing five years ago. They promised but they didn’t deliver,” he says.

Tuesday, March 5

Lawrence Gonzi tells Gozitan supporters at a mass meeting in Victoria that the whole campaign boils down to the five seconds during which people vote in privacy. “Let’s make the next five years the best years of a PN government,” he says.

Simon Busuttil says during a televised press conference on PBS that the Government’s customer care was “the biggest defect of this Administration” and points out that the Government focused too much on the bigger picture while sometimes ignoring the justified demands of the electorate.

Speaking on One Radio, Joseph Muscat says thugs and empty talkers who wield their Labour party affiliation as a weapon will be “disowned” by the party. His warning comes two days after a Nationalist supporter said she was allegedly hit in the face by a Labour supporter in Hamrun.

“We will be reporting these people; violent or irresponsible behaviour will find no refuge here,” he says.

Wednesday, March 6

Lawrence Gonzi says the Government got the bigger picture right but may have failed to treat individuals with the respect and dignity they deserved. Addressing party supports in Pembroke he pledges to improve this aspect of government should the PN be re-elected. “People should not be treated like files or reference numbers,” he says.

Joseph Muscat tells a party activity in Fgura that the Labour Party is not a coalition of the disgruntled but one of people with a vision for the country. He says he was honoured to have radically changed the party after it was “in pieces” after its slim 2008 defeat. “We changed by firstly admitting our mistakes. We opened our doors and there is no us and them anymore. This movement became people’s natural home,” he says.

The final leaders’ debate of the campaign saw both leaders stick to their respective pitches of stability versus change. Dr Gonzi stressed the PN’s economic record while Dr Muscat highlighted the need for a new type of politics.

Thursday, March 7

Eddie Fenech Adami addresses a PN mass meeting at the Granaries, Floriana. He tells a jubilant crowd that the PN is best placed to continue to lead the country towards a secure future. He thanks Lawrence Gonzi for his hard work “during which he managed to overcome huge difficulties”.

Speaking at the same meeting Dr Gonzi says those seeking a change of direction should be told “thanks, but no thanks”. He also says voters should put the interests of their country and the future of their families before their own.

Joseph Muscat promises a Labour mass meeting at Ħal Far that a Labour government would create jobs “not numbers”. He admits that in the past Labour made mistakes, was divided and distanced itself from the people. “We take responsibility for these mistakes. We paid for them for 25 whole years,” he says. Dr Muscat says the party had now changed and is ready to unite the country, bringing an end to partisan politics.