Labour rallies the masses in Rabat [SLIDESHOW]

The excitement was palpable at times with both Joseph Muscat’s speech and the crowds’ applause reaching many a joint crescendo.

Robert Abela opened proceedings by blasting the government for placing the Standard and Poor’s downgrade at the PL’s feet. Abela pointed out the contradiction in the PN’s war cry of sound financial management and the situation at Enemalta, which is crippled by over €800 million in debt.

Hot on Abela’s heels was PL leader Joseph Muscat, who came out armed with MaltaToday’s exclusive revelation of kickbacks in the oil procurement process at Enemalta.

"Now we know why our plan was criticised. Now we know why they did not want to turn to a gas powered plant. This is our money that has been taken away from us. This is why we need change. Malta must not remain the domain of the few. Malta should be for all. What we have learnt today is a perfect example of why the statute of limitation on political corruption needs to be removed,” said Muscat.

According to Muscat, the government has passed up on two opportunities to move to a gas powered plant.

"Years of bad leadership have resulted in families suffering unnecessarily. This government had at least two opportunities to switch to natural gas but instead chose heavy fuel oil. Italy had offered to build a free gas pipeline, but for some reason this offer was turned down. The government now wants to embark on a gas pipeline that will cost €700 million.

The call for inclusiveness is fast becoming a Muscat trademark, and was ever present in his speech today.

"It is time for a change in direction. This cannot be done alone. This requires a movement. A grouping of people joined by common values. We should be proud of our history. Even when Malta formed part of a colony it did not lose its identity."

Muscat has clearly taken inspiration from the many movements that emerged during the Arab Spring, instigating something similar in Malta albeit on a naturally more peaceful scale.

"People will look back on this moment and say, yes, I was a part of that movement. Join us. Your place is with us,” Muscat implored.

Another prominent theme was the need to increase the female participation rate in Malta, which is one of the lowest in Europe.

The proposal has been fully costed according to Muscat, and will result in a net contribution to the country’s tax coffers after a few years time.

"We recognise that more women need to join the workforce. We do not want to raise the pension age again. We want to let people who want to work after retirement do so because they want to, not because they have to. We shall be providing free childcare services, a big project with huge economic and social implications.500 new jobs will be created for child carers alone,” said Muscat.

The next PL mass meeting will take place in Zabbar next Sunday.