To diners enjoying a sunny afternoon on the Marsaxlokk seafront, it was hard to tell whether the political rally suddenly playing out in front of them was an unwelcome nuisance or a spot of free entertainment.
Żaren Bonnici, an independent candidate better known as tal-Ajkla, kicked off a campaign he said would lead to electoral victory next year with a characteristically scattergun speech, entwining anger at the political establishment, Xarabank host Peppi Azzopardi, and bursts of song.
“Wherever I go, I find people in front of me,” he yelled to those gathered, a claim which has often been demonstrably false, but which had some basis in reality this afternoon, as diners at nearby restaurants turned their chairs to watch the performance and a small crowd formed around the flatbed truck he had rigged with banners and amplifiers for the occasion.
As he has done on several occasions before, Mr Bonnici began his speech – after singing the Ajkla party anthem – with an attack on Xarabank for not inviting him to a political debate broadcast last Friday.
From there, he moved on to calls for the resignation of Opposition leader Simon Busuttil (over his criticism of the Police Commissioner), who he branded a “prophet” acting as though he knew all.
The other calls were to Partit Demokratiku leader Marlene Farrugia, for “betraying” the Labour Party, and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, for failing to take action against corruption, were not spared either, although the political class was at least absolved of blame for the collapse of the Azure Window, conceded as an “act of God”.
“I challenge everyone, wherever and whenever you want,” a combative Mr Bonnici said to loud cheers. “I challenge you all to debate me. In four years I’ve never been invited onto TV. The people are going to pay you back at the next election. They’re not going to vote for you; they’re all voting for me.”
If not exactly fired up by a speech unsurprisingly devoid of policy, the gathered crowd at least appeared entertained. People joined in with Mr Bonnici's frequent song breaks, and not a moment went by that wasn’t captured in a photo, video or selfie.
One group at a nearby coffee shop was more involved than most, booing and jeering any mention of the PN or its leader. But the group was less pleased when Mr Bonnici, a self-described former Labour voter, trained his sights on the Prime Minister. “Don’t you dare,” one woman shouted, all traces of humour gone.
It was no repeat of the Ajkla (eagle) party’s first mass meeting in Żabbar four years ago, when thousands gathered with balloons and placards to cheer on the independent candidate, whose best election showing, the 2014 European Parliament election, returned just over 1,000 votes (0.48 per cent).
But Mr Bonnici appeared either not to notice or, as is more likely, not to care.