The Sunday Times takes a light-hearted snap shot of the campaigning, promises and allegations. Guest appearance by Qattusa, Dr Gonzi's cat.
February 4
The Prime Minister springs the shock of the century and announces that the election will be held on March 8. Even his cat, Qattusa, fails to express surprise since the media had been reporting this for days. Gonzi lists achievements longer than the Coast Road and apologises for the things that could have been done better (a list about the size of the St Paul's Bay bypass, unfinished version). Sant pledges new EU talks on dockyard, agriculture. Both parties reach agreement to have a civil campaign (back to that later).
February 5
PM pledges more tax cuts. Qattusa wakes up. Sant plans measures against corruption. Qattusa goes back to sleep. Charles Mangion quoted as saying workers won't get any extra pay for overtime. Qattusa's litter tray appears to have his footprint in it. He says he didn't read the text of the interview.
February 6
Tonio Fenech refuses to release workings of PN's tax cut proposal because the MLP would copy it. It surely would. Would not. Would. Would not. Would. Would not... and did not. It proposed to halve the fuel surcharge instead. For everyone? Definitely. Maybe. Perhaps. Not.
February 7
PM releases workings... MLP approves manifesto, which Sant describes as an abridged version of the 'Plan for a New Beginning' document launched last year. It's not just their own interviews that they forget to read - some of the measures have since been implemented by the Government. Tonio Fenech accused of abusing the Good Causes Fund by giving money to a commercial enterprise. MLP says public will reach the same conclusion if they read the terms of reference... assuming, of course, they have better literacy skills than those so far displayed by Labour.
February 10
The Sunday Times carries a story quoting an EU spokesman as saying that EU talks cannot be reopened. Sant says they can... Not. Can. Not. Can. Not... PM tells youth the country is in their hands. Very reassuring.
February 12
PM pledges to take Mepa reform under his wing, but denies it's a vote of no confidence in George Pullicino. All the other ministers agree with him. Labour says it will respect the European Court's ruling on spring hunting. At last, a proposal that the media cannot shoot down.
February 13
Contest. Contest me not. Contest. Contest me not. Dom Mintoff, 91, asks PBS journalists for a ride; and then returns the compliment by taking them on one as he toys with the idea - sorry, them - of taking part in the election. But after sitting in the Electoral Commission offices for an hour when it was shut, and forgetting his voice could no longer persuade the staff to open it, he leaves. Everyone is disappointed. Except those that live close to Mile End. Gonzi presents the PN's candidates and says everything is possible together. Then continues the campaign alone. AD convert Carmel Cacopardo threatens to release report on Sant Antnin waste recycling plant.
February 14
It's Valentine's Day and the earth moves for thousands of Maltese. But it's not love in the air or Mintoff making a return to the electoral office. A real tremor after an earthquake in Greece. Pullicino says he is happy the PM took up his suggestion on Mepa reform. Perhaps because he literally took him up on it. Mepa auditor condems Cacopardo's threat.
February 16
Cacopardo leaks the report, which he wrote himself while a Mepa employee, as an example of good governance.
February 18
The leaders are invited to a debate at the University attended by the nation's budding graduates; who display their tolerant and intellectual acumen by shouting down Sant every time he opens his mouth. No one remembers what was actually said during the debate.
February 19
Sant insists manufacturing still has a future, which is bad news for Austin Gatt, who had a wager on the sector being on permanent shutdown.
February 21
Gonzi says Labour's reception, sorry 'repeater', class proposal is dangerous. Educators agree. But Sant repeats the proposal at a reception, and then boasts about telling The Sunday Times in an interview that he has no regrets about his anti-EU stand in 2003. Police investigate another footprint in Qattusa's litter tray.
February 22
Sant says PN has plans to close Junior Lyceums. PN says Labour has a do-it-yourself manifesto. There's nothing quite like an educated debate.
February 24
Gonzi says Malta needs five more years of stability. Sant tells his supporters not to believe a word the Government says. "The tranquil change we will be bringing about will be calm, fair, transparent and satisfactory," the Labour leader tells a huge audience on the granaries, and the lions of change roared with approval. Earlier deputy leader Michael Falzon had sung for them. Watch out Joseph Calleja, Youtube received an unprecedented number of Maltese hits for the video... he probably felt a few from his colleagues.
February 25
Georg Sapiano asks Sant if the reception class will apply to private schools. Er, it won't. Or will it? No one's really sure. But Sant says it's already in operation at De La Salle. A real-life lion, Bro. Martin Borg, roars back "not". Qattusa is now getting very upset.
February 26
Sant goes on an investigative visit to Magħtab, but is denied access. Elementary, my dear... Elsewhere, Gonzi rubbishes Sant's statement that achieving a balanced budget was not a priority.
February 26
Sant reveals a policy proposal saying health fees were being considered by the Government back in 2004. Not so healthy for Gonzi, who had previously denied such discussions had taken place at Cabinet level. Qattusa's litter tray is reported missing.
February 28
Gonzi and his Cabinet sue for libel over Sant's accusations of corruption in The Sunday Times interview. Case will be heard in two legislatures' time.
February 29
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando attends a press conference by Sant at Mepa; not because he's pursuing a new career - yet - but because he thinks he'll be mentioned. He's not, but watch this space. Gonzi tries so hard to prove that he will not introduce fees on health care that he says he'll resign if he does so. Interesting theory. Sant says that Gonzi lied "and I say it confidently. He's a liar".
March 1
Pullicino Orlando writes an article in The Times saying he has a piece of land at Mistra, near the sea, which he rents out. Someone, whom Pullicino Orlando said he didn't even know, applied to build a dance floor. It's not just the grasshoppers in the area that are a little confused. Pullicino Orlando follows Sant to Gozo, only for the Labour leader to give him the slip and get on a ferry back before the Nationalist MP. On to Mistra, where he holds a press conference revealing the Mistra scandal. A breathless Pullicino Orlando arrives minutes after Sant has left to insist he knew nothing about the details of the project. Later, the Nationalist MP holds a press conference to allege that two of the MLP's senior MPs made false declarations to the MFSA. Who needs Magħtab when political debate gets like this.
March 2
Qattusa's litter is returned, and Gonzi says there may have been reports about health but it's what's happened that counts. Sant says he has more documents proving corruption. But like Oliver, he is empty-handed. Sant asks if PM will ask police to probe the Mistra application.
March 3
After completing obligatory Net Television training which consists of attending, and taking part in, two press conferences, Pullicino Orlando turns up as an accredited journalist at a Broadcasting Authority press conference with the Opposition leader. The BA lets him in. Then Sant arrives and it tells him to leave. He doesn't and tells the Labour leader to face him. Everyone is expecting Mickey Mouse to walk in, but Sant leaves just in time. Then the Labour leader declares his MPs did nothing wrong. Zero tolerance, eh?
March 4
Sant takes the press with him to the Police Commissioner's office where he intends to report the Mistra case, only to emerge with yolk on his chin because the PM already did it. Gonzi says he'll fire anyone accused of wrongdoing.
March 5
Pullicino Orlando says he'll let people be his judge. AD chairman is served with arrest notification, so someone else will be his. Coincidentally, a PN journalist had asked him about it just hours before. Sant says reporting such news - presumably as opposed to being at the centre of it - is sleazy. One News take note. Just one day of dignified political debate to go.
March 6
MLP releases a contract with Pullicino Orlando's name on it, alleging that it proved he knew as much as the grasshoppers about the Mistra development. What took so long?
March 7
The newspapers cannot report this development. But they can say that 5,266 voting documents were uncollected. Five weeks is a long time in politics. In this case, perhaps too long.