[LIVE] Follow our live blog from the PN's first rally of the campaign

7:56pm That's all folks! The PN supporters give one final standing ovation to Gonzi and his deputy, Simon Busuttil and see their heroes out of the hall to the tune of the PN's age-old anthem. Thanks for following and good evening from the PN HQ in Pieta.

7:55pm A bellicose PN leader concludes his address with a passionate appeal to back his party's bid to win the 9 March election to secure a safe future in jobs, health and education. 

7:52pm Noting that the PN does not possess the same financial ability the PL has, Gonzi says the PN will not recur to gimmicks and asks, "why did Labour launch their campaign at midnight? What is the hurry? They did not even have the decency to wait for the President to dissolve Parliament." 

7:50pm "We must remain the party to offer solutions to everybody's needs in a country which embraces social justice."

7:48pm Ours is not just a simple slogan, but a clear message. A message that our doors are open to everybody. Let's make it clear. Nobody in society should be sidelined. We want to include everyone," adding that the country cannot avoid discussing gay rights, IVF, cohabitation and other issues stressing this should be done in a serious manner.

7:44pm Gonzi reminds the young people sitting around him of Labour's decision to remove university stipends, saying "they did so within five minutes of being in government [in 1996], shall we trust them in government for five years?"

7:40pm Describing education as his administration's cherry on the cake, Gonzi says the country should be proud of its achievements in the field thanks to the PN's determination and repeated investment in education. 

7:38pm In a clear indication of things to come in the two-month campaign, a fired-up Gonzi notes the plight of neighboring countries where persons lost their jobs, homes and their dignity. He adds that his administration's sound handling of the economy ensured that this did not happen in Malta. 

7:36pm One mistake now will cost the country very dearly and it will not be easy to set things right again. Denouncing Muscat's advise to model Malta's economy on Cyprus, which ended up asking the EU for a bailout, Gonzi says "I will never allow this country to be humiliated in the same manner. I give you my word. I will never allow our country to suffer the same humiliation," as the crowd erupts in a loud 'ole,ole'. 

7:31pm Warning of a repeat of the short lived 1996 Labour government, in which "Labour buried itself in the hole it dug up itself," Gonzi says current PL leader Joseph Muscat was at the heart of the then Labour administration.  

7:26pm Gonzi stresses the link between a safe future and jobs. He says the PN must be close to the workers and small businesses who he describes as the"backbone" of Malta's economy. He assures that the PN will remain close to workers and small businesses and insists that the economy does not only depend on foreign investment. "Investment will only happen if there is stability and security." 

7:21pm "When we talk about the future we are speaking beyond 9 March. It is about the future of our youngsters. The future of all of us is at stake and this party has always stood for a better future." Taking a dig at Labour's midnight launch of its campaign last evening and its colorful billboards, Gonzi says "We focus on the future while others are busy with their gimmicks." 

7:19pm Gonzi reminds the difficulties faced by the country in the last five years and spells out the challenges ahead. 

7:17pm "Let's go for it, let's go for it! I only race to win!" Gonzi says as the crowd bursts into loud cheers. He adds "We race to win together" as he explains that the country's future is bright. 

7:14pm "While others were busy with frivolous things we were focusing on you. We were focused on saving jobs in a hostile international scenario." 

7:12pm Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi takes to the stage as he recieves a somehow mooted reception. However he slowly works the crowd up as he is calmly explaining that the country's future is at stake on 9 March. 

7:08pm "We will base our campaign on the truth and honesty and not gimmicks. On 9 March the country needs you. If you are a Nationalist, a Labourite or a floating voter, you know where you stand with us. The country needs you because on 9 March you will decide the future of the country," Busuttil emphatically says as he concludes his address. 

7:05pm "We cannot take our achievements for granted," Busuttil says. He adds that the PN will not rest on its laurels and will be explaining its new and innovative proposals in it's "programme for the future."

7:02pm Shedding doubt on Labour's intentions in the economic, educational and health sectors, Busuttil says Labour is only about "bling bling, spin and blue ties."

6:58pm Gonzi's right hand man says the Labour Party has not contributed one single idea or proposal. "The only thing they will bring is a change of direction, however theyt are not saying where they will take us. Therefore we ask will it be a change in Malta's EU policy... after all it was Muscat himself who described EU membership as the century's greatest burden."

6:55pm Busuttil goes on a customary roll of questions, asking "who do you want to run the country's economy?  who do you want to run the country's education system? who do you want to run the country's health system?" Unsurprisingly his answer is "the Nationalist Party."

6:52pm Deputy leader Simon Busuttil says that five years is a long time and this requires an important decision on 9 March. Clearly the PN's first objective in the campaign is to get out its vote as Busuttil echoes Borg Olivier's appeal to PN supporters to vote on election day, warning "do not let anyone else choose for you." 

6:51pm PBO says this is not the end of the road for the PN, but "its only the beginning for a better future."

6:48pm "If you do not vote somebody else will choose for you. Vote for the PN because we can guarantee the safe future. Lawrence Gonzi will never dump you alone in the middle of nowhere." 

6:45pm Borg Olivier says the PN is the underdog in the 9 March elections, however says the PN supporters should not lose hope. Inviting the party faithful to spread the word of the party, he says "Be our billboards advertising our successes. Be our candidates. If you gain a vote for the PN you earn a vote for the country."

6:43pm PBO says that Labour leader Joseph Muscat is no longer proud of his connections with former Spanish Socialist PM Jose Zapatero and current French President Francois Hollande because of their negative record in government. 

6:40pm PN secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier kicks off proceedings by stirring up the crowd's enthusiasm. "We still have a lot to offer to this country."

6:35pm Chants of 'Nazzjonalisti, Nazzjonalisti' greet the Prime Minister who earlier on had an informal chat with journalists in his office over a cup of coffee. He later launched a revamped PN webpage which went online as of this evening.

6:32pm PN activists have gathered behind us journalists in the balcony overlooking the hall, armed with colorful balloons. The balloons are now being thrown in the air as Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi arrives.

6:28pm The crowd is warming up as the Beastie Boys' We Have a Right to Party is blasting out from the speakers. The crowd will be also addressed by PN secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier and deputy leader Simon Busuttil. 

6:19pm Welcome to our live blog from the Nationalist Party's headquarters where the PN is holding the first rally for the 'official' 2013 electoral campaign.  The hall at the PN headquarters in Pieta is packed to the rafters as the party faithful and candidates are eagerly waiting for Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.