Lawrence Gonzi was yesterday present for the official Freedom Day celebration as Joseph Muscat honoured a commitment made during the election campaign that the Opposition leader would be invited to National Day ceremonies.

However, Dr Gonzi had to wait in the sunshine as the Prime Minister arrived some five minutes’ late before, together with President George Abela, they laid flowers at the Freedom Monument in a ceremony held a week early due Easter falling on March 31.

Dr Muscat was greeted by shouts of “Joseph” and the clapping by residents who had started piling up behind barriers an hour earlier.

The President was accorded a National Salute and inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by the AFM. The three men then walked up the monument together, with the President placing the red and white flowers first.

A Government spokesman told The Sunday Times that protocol had been changed so that both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader could be present for official National Day ceremonies, and both are likely to take part in the Independence Day ceremonies.

The Labour Party held its Freedom Day celebrations in Vittoriosa later in the evening. Addressing Labour supporters Dr Muscat said he would like the number of national days reduced to two from the current five.

Speaking at the foot of the Freedom Monument he did not specify the days he was referring to, but said he wanted Labourites to love Independence Day as much as they loved Freedom Day, and he wished to see Nationalists love Freedom Day as much as they loved Independence Day.

Last December President George Abela has also suggested that Malta should have two national days, but suggested these should be Independence Day and Republic Day.