Live-blog of the PN's mass meeting in Naxxar

Welcome to our live-blog: refresh here to follow minute-by-minute updates of the Nationalist Party's mass meeting in Naxxar.

5:33pm Thanks for following. Read more in tomorrow's edition of MaltaToday and maltatoday.com.mt

5:30pm Gonzi ends his speech by urging the people to vote for the party which will guarantee jobs, health, education and a safe future.

5:28pm "Keep this in mind. On 9 March you have to choose whether to trust the country to a scandalous party or to the real act. Labour are only a bad copy of the PN. We are the real thing. We are the original version. We are the party of Eddie Fenech Adami. We are the party of Gorg Borg Olivier. We are the party which wants to serve the country."

5:27pm Gonzi says that while Muscat committed political murder against former PL deputy leader Anglu Farrugia, he did not do so with his other deputy Toni Abela. "He cannot sack Toni, Joseph must go too. If Toni goes, Joseph must leave too." He adds the two are accomplices in hiding a criminal act.

5:24pm On the Labour club drug incident, Gonzi says: "This is a very serious matter. This is a crime which could land you a life sentence. The Labour leader failed to take the necessary steps and failed to report the case to the police. He should be ashamed of himself. He cannot come forward as a candidate for the Prime Minister's seat. Never in Maltese political history has anyone stooped so low. Never has anyone did so much to conceal a criminal act."

5:22pm "When you go cast your ballot keep in mind the European Commission's certificate saying that only the PN can lead the country to success."

5:19pm "Joseph Muscat failed yet another exam when he said Malta should model itself on Cyprus. On 9 March he will fail and you will send him to the repeater's class."

5:17pm "I can only promise you one thing on behalf of my colleagues. When you graduate you will have a job waiting for you. Do not give up. We will weather the storm in the same way we did in the last five years."

5:13pm "You can boo us all you want but we will promise you stipends, jobs, a new Mcast campus, a beautiful country where you can prosper and express yourself freely. We gave you a country you can be proud of.

5:10pm "Above all we are returning a safe country to you. Safe for our children, safe for everyone." Gonzi adds that the PN is the only party that can deliver change in which it believes in on a daily basis and highlights the importance of safe open spaces which the PN government returned to the country.

5:08pm "You have a country which has a safe and secure economy. You have a country which knows where it is heading. It is now up to you to decide who will lead the country."

5:04pm Gonzi says the PN administration multiplied the number of graduates at Mcast, gave the country new roads, the cleanest sea ever, a state of the art hospital, a new oncology centre and country with a spotless international reputation. "We did not hide as others did when we took a decision to stand up to Gaddafi's dictatorship. Neutrality demands that we stand for what is right because the it is always victorious."

5:01pm We are giving you a stronger country then the one we took over five years ago, Gonzi says, listing the achievements of the PN administration, including the record number of workers in full time employment, the highest number ever of women gainfully employed, 11,000 pensioners who are still working and a record number of students in tertiary education.

4:58pm "We are here to serve the people, to help the country move forward. We do not win elections by right, we win elections because you the people trust us. Once again we have to look forward at 9 March with this in mind. We only deserve to win if we can guarantee that the country's future is as safe and secure as it was in the past under PN administrations. "

4:55pm "The victory is close but a lot of work needs to be done. A lot of people remain undecided and I want to address these people. The PN is the only guarantee for a safe and secure future for all. We have tpo persuade these persons that the PN is the natural choice for a quality leap in job creation, education and health."

4:51pm "I can see a massive crowd ahead of me, which fills us with courage and hope. I especially thank the sea of young people present here. You fill us with courage and enthusiasm."

4:50pm The National Anthem is played. Gonzi is standing on podium, ready to address the crowd.

4:48pm Reminding the crowd that the 9 March will be held on the tenth anniversary of EU membership, Busuttil says the country has another appointment with destiny. "You know have the key to the future. You will decide the country's fate, especially the young voters."

"Lets not give up. Don't change a winning horse. Let's do something for the country. Let's choose wealth, integrity and a quality leap. Let's choose the Nationalist Party for ourselves, our children and our country."

4:45pm He adds that Labour fights against corruption in words while the PN fights corruption by taking action. Busuttil says that the PN is aware of its own errors and shortcoming, however adds that the PN was committed to make things right. "Although we will not be able to make amends by 9 March, but after the election we will make sure to remain close to the people and listen to what the people have to say."

4:41pm Another difference is integrity, Busuttil says.  While the PN took all the necessary steps to fight corruption as soon as the oil scandal emerged, Labour asked the police to stop from taking action. "Compare our actions to Labour's efforts to conceal the drug case at the Labour club in Safi which is only metres away from a school."  On hearing this, the crowd chants, "Shame on you."

4:38pm He accuses Labour of lacking ideas while the PN had sent its electoral programme to all households. "Labour was and remains a party with no ideas."

4:36pm The country will be celebrating the 50^th anniversary as an Independent country and in four years time we will hold the EU presidency, Busuttil says, asking whether the country wants to trust Labour to run  the country at such a vital time.

4:32pm "Do not take anything for granted. If the country changes direction we could lose all we have achieved. No wonder Labour never speaks about jobs because they would be singing our praises."

"This week we had another reason to celebrate when the European Commission confirmed that while other countries are facing extreme difficulties we are riding the waves. This was only possible because we had a government which was capable of leading the economy."

"There are a number of reasons why I am convinced of this. The PN achieved results for all in job creation, education and health. We have strengthened the country's economy. If we had not done so we would have faces unrest and protests as other countries experienced. Here we have students celebrating in our streets."

4:30pm "When I was elected deputy leader, I had said that I was convinced the PN can win the election. Today I repeat forcefully, yes we can win the election."

4:26pm Here we go. Busuttil utters the customary "Huti Maltin u Ghawdxin, Huti Ewropej, Huti Nazzjonalisti."

4:22pm Gonzi and Busuttil wave to the adoring crowd. It seems the crowd does not want this moment to end.

4:15pm Despite lagging behind Labour by 11 points in the latest MaltaToday poll, the PN crowd's resolve seems to be growing stronger as the campaign rolls on. A sea of smiling faces clad in EU and PN flags are singing along to PN theme songs and cheering their leaders Lawrence Gonzi and Simon Busuttil, now on stage basking in the crowd's adulation and the glorious sunshine.

4:11pm Prime Minister Lawerence Gonzi has appeared out of nowhere beneath the stage...he is shaking hands and hugging the people, among them kids and disabled persons who are eagerly expecting his speech. Nice touch.

4:02pm The crowd is once again treated to a mixture of house music and Deborah C...PN diehards of all ages are really ready to go to great lengths for their own party.

3:55pm PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil and leader Lawrence Gonzi are expected to address the crowd in minutes. For the time being the PN's own pop star Deborah C is treating the crowd to one of her classics. Once again the internet connection is pretty slow...

3:49pm The crowd keeps growing. The master of ceremonies at the PN mass meeting is urging the crowd to move back...the young people partying hard just beneath the stage oblige...I wonder how many of these are of legal age.

3:44pm Good afternoon! The party in Naxxar is underway as the sizeable crowd is warming up for the PN mass meeting. The crowd is currently bouncing to the tune of the Beastie Boys' 'You've got to fight for your right to party."