Live blog of the PN mass meeting in Mosta

Welcome to MaltaToday's live blog of the Nationalist Party's mass meeting in Mosta. REFRESH here to update the stream.

5:27pm Thanks for following...we're off in a desperate attempt to beat the traffic.

5:25pm The show is over. Fireworks take off in Mosta as Gonzi concludes his address. A fiery speech by a gritty Prime Minister which will unquestionably inject much needed enthusiasm in the PN's war machine which had a slow start to the campaign. The fight is on.

5:22pm "Do not give up. We are going for it. We are determined to ensure that the country has the government it deserves, the best government to ensure that our children, our students, our workers and our pensioners have a better future.

5:20pm "I tell you, the honest people that you will find me by your side fighting against corruption," Gonzi says as he reminds the crowd that he promised protection to whoever has any information on the alleged corruption at Enemalta but will not protect the minds behind the kickbacks.

5:20pm Gonzi says that the PN will hammer home the message that it was the only party that was actively fighting corruption. "I strongly reiterate that who ever is corrupt will find no refuge in the PN. There is no playing around with me on corruption. If you play with fire you will get burnt. I will never take it lightly, whoever you are, a judge, a government official or a clerk."

5:15pm "Now that Farrugia said that there are close links between Labour and construction magnates. What is the link between these revelations and Labour's MEPAS reform which will sideline the environmentalist lobby. What is the link with the plan to construct a new power plant and two gas tanks? Who are the construction magnates who came forward with these plans? Are they the same construction magnates who visited Dubai with Muscat? There are more questions but we will wait for Muscat and his clique to answer these questions."

5:13pm "Unfortunately for Anglu it is now too late...but for us its not. We are still in time. Let us make sure that we do not suffer the same fate reserved for Anglu Farrugia," Gonzi says as he warns that Muscat's hunger for power and ruthlessness posed a danger to the country.

5:09pm I salute Anglu Farrugia for having the courage to speak out. I have never agreed on policy with Farrugia but when I see a politician who has the courage to stand up to injustice." Gonzi says he salutes Farrugia for exposing Joseph Muscat's real face who's only intention is to serve his own interests and that of the "fourth floor boys."

5:05pm In a crescendo, Gonzi dismantles Muscat's track record and accuses him of "disposing of his loyal right-hand man."

5:03pm Addressing viewers at home, i.e. middle of the road voters, Gonzi  says "do not run the risk of losing everything." He warns that other countries lost jobs, pensions, education opportunities. "Do not trust the country to somebody who got it wrong on EU membership, on joining the Euro, on the economy, on education, on Mcast, on University on health. Do not trust him [Joseph Muscat]."

4:59pm Our success depends on how many new job we will create in the next five years, Gonzi says. "I have complete faith in you," Gonzi tells the crowd, adding that the people should not stop believing in themselves despite Labour leader Joseph Muscat's pessimism on Malta's ability in creating 25,000 new jobs.

4:56pm "We will create jobs in the smae manner we created jobs in the last five years," Gonzi says as he urges women, pensioners to work hard and enjoy the benefits of lower taxation which a PN administration will implement.

4:52pm The PN leader lists a number of PN proposals, highlighting the plans in connection to pensioners, disabled persons, child care centres and allowing parents to take sick leave to tend to their children.

4:47pm He says the PN is just like our ancestors who thought us to "deny ourselves" from material things in order to help the younger generations.

4:45pm Gonzi also urges students to study and do well in their exams and reminds them that the PN administration will persist in offering the best education and job opportunities.

4:42pm Gonzi says that the PN openly put its cards on the table and has nothing to hide from the people. He stresses that the PN manifesto is a clear pathway to securing a safe future. "Out of a sense of responsibility we carried out an unprecedented exercise and told you how much this will cost and how the PN electoral programme can be implemented sustainably...you deserve the best and we are offering a quality leap."

4:38pm "Do not trust your children's future to who has made a mess of it when they were in power. Trust the country to who has proved time and time again the competence to run the country well." Gonzi urges the electorate to vote PN and guarantee a safe and secure future.

4:37pm Gonzi says "we are going for it" as the crowd chant "Gonzi,Gonzi". He adds that the moment of truth is getting closer and on 9 March we will all shape the country's destiny."

4:34pm National anthem is played out loud as Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is about to address the crowd.  

4:32pm Busuttil appeals to the electorate to vote "for the country" on 9 March, stressing that the country needs a strong leadership. "Shoulder your responsibility and do your share to guarantee a safe and secure future," Busuttil says.  

4:30pm "We are determined to work night and day to regain the people's confidence. The vote is not a weapon to punish a party but a tool to the country's future. If you vote Labour do not be surprised if you are lef out in the cold. If they were capable of doing that to their deputy leader let alone what they will do with others. If you vote PN we will open all the doors of opportunity for the future."

4:25pm The reason why Malta did not suffer the same fate is the Nationalist Party's shrewd management of the economy. However he admits that scores of persons are hurt because they have not been granted permits, are on a waiting list to undergo an operation or were jobless. "We recognise that we have made mistakes, but we are committed to make things right and make sure that whoever suffered from our shortcomings is

4:25pm "Health care was, is and remains free under a Nationalist Party," Busuttil says as he warns that other countries were not so lucky as the international crisis crippled their economies and ate away at the welfare state.  

4:22pm In reference to the Anglu Farrugia sacking, the PN deputy leader says that the Labour Party is capable of carrying out cold blooded political assassinations. Busuttil adds "normality should not be taken for granted" and says one little mistake could hurt the country and the people. Malta is better off than most EU countries who are suffering severe economic woes, he says.

4:17pm Busuttil lashes out at Labour and says that it would never be capable of building a power plant and two gas tanks the size of the nearby Mosta dome in two years. "Do not take anything for granted and do not believe that everything will remain the same after 9 March. Only the PN can guarantee jobs, health and education."

4:15pm Busuttil attempts to start his address but the crowd continues interrupting him by chanting his name. "With five weeks to go to te day when your future and the country's future will be decided, the differences between the PN and Labour are now becoming evident. The differences are there for all to see between the party which has told you what its electoral programme is and a party which still has not completed its manifesto despite having five years time to do so."

4:07pm Now it's Gonzi's turn to lap up the crowd's adulation. Accompanied by his wife, Kate, a beaming PN leader waves to the crowd as the PN theme song Futur fis-Sod theme song is played for the one hundredth and forty second time this afternoon.

4:04pm The wait is over...Busuttil is greeted on stage by the big crowd...as the PN faithful collectively sing Futur fis-Sod.

3:57pm A banner reading "Students stand behind you" is currently exposed at the very front of the crowd. Still no sign of Gonzi and Busuttil...but the PN supporters are not showing any signs of fatigue as the crowd is getting louder and louder. The festive mood is contagious as MPs and PN officials on stage join in the singing and dancing.

3:49pm PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil just paid us a courtesy visit in the press room behind the stage and wished us a good day's work. Not that the crowd really needed any further encouragement to party harder but as soon as Modern Talking's We Take a Chance is played the crowd goes in overdrive.

3:46pm I hear my colleagues covering the Labour mass meeting in Zabbar are experiencing internet problems...in an act of solidarity I must admit we are having difficulties too.

3:41pm PN candidates are introduced on stage and join the young people on stage to form the background to Lawrence Gonzi and Simon Busuttil who are expected to address the crowd in 20 minutes. Paramedics have just been rushed backstage...a reveller must have been taken ill.

3:33pm This morning PN deputy leader deputy leader highlighted former Labour deputy leader Anglu Farrugia's claims that he suffered 'political murder' when he was sacked in December.

3:28pm The PN classic 1987 theme song The Final Countdown by 80's two-hit wonder band Europe is now blasting out of the speakers. The growing crowd is eagerly awaiting the start of the meeting. Will Gonzi and his right hand man Simon Busuttil shed more light on the sacking of former Labour deputy leader Anglu Farrugia?

3:22pm The PN leader Lawrence Gonzi has arrived backstage as the crowd is singing along to the 2003 election theme song, Nghidu Iva. Gonzi accompanied by his wife Kate enters the trailer behind the stage where he will undergo the last preparations before addressing the crowd.  

3:15pm A huge crowd of PN supporters donning PN and EU flags is gathering in Mosta. The meeting es expected to start in an hour's time. Revellers are swigging beer and whiskey as a party atmosphere has engulfed the normally quiet neighbourhood in Mosta.

3:03pm Good afternoon! Off we go...the pre-party has started with DJ Ron and a fellow jumping jack dancing around on stage as the crowd responds with a deafening cry of approval.