The leader of the PN Lawrence Gonzi, inspired the large crowd at the rally which took place at the PN Headquartres in Pieta this evening, with the phrase ‘Lets Go For It’!!! This rally was the unofficial opening of the political season for the PN. This happened regardless of the barrage of statements made over the past few days, where the PN explained that the reason they postponed the dissolution of government to January 7, was to let the people enjoy Christmas without politics.

Dr. Gonzi told the frenzied crowd; “We are the Party for which politics is a beautiful instrument. We aren’t a party going into this election for a political fight, we see it as a means to an end. We are the party which opened its doors wide open, the party that gave the people a voice, a party to help the people,  we are ready for this race!”.

The PN Leader reminded the people of the harsh realities the other EU countries face and how Malta has remained headstrong and is financially stable.

Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil also spoke, alleviating the crowd by saying; “If our politics are built on truth and Justice, then yes we can win this upcoming election. We have a race against time; we need to show the people that we deserve their trust. To earn back the people’s trust, We must be an example of honesty and integrity. It will be a hard battle but we can do it. We must be an open party, an inclusive party, a party for good, a party for the people, a just party and above all, we must win this election with reason. I believe we can win this election and I need you all to believe that we can win!!!"

'Labour lied', was a main theme throughout the speeches. The PM and the Deputy PM pointed out that Labour have made many contradictory statements over the past year. "We have been honest with you and with PN you know what you are getting," explained Dr. Busuttil.

Live Coverage:

PN Leader, Lawrence Gonzi:

19:59h: We don’t have a problem getting investors to this country. We are the Party which politics is a beautiful instrument. We aren’t a party going into this election for a political fight, we are the party which opened the doors wide open, the party that gave the people a voice, a party to help the people, so tonight lets close by saying we are ready for this race. LET’S GO FOR IT!! Lets go for it with the students, the pensioners, LETS GO FOR IT!!!

19:55h: In these countries there are families who not only lost their jobs, but lost their houses, their benefits, they lost everything. You need to explain this to everyone you meet . We need to persuade the voters to listen to our message, they need to be ready to make a choice. I believe, like I believed in 2008, that the people know how to choose, who is best for the country. The people have always made a good choice. And with these arguments, we will win the next General Election

19:50h: We have achieved positive results these last five years, when the world turned upside down. We still received the best results for your families. In this storm, We know that the countries around us, countries we thought of as ‘strong’ countries which we used to want to be more like, today, these countries are begging for money and who is paying? The children and families.

19:47h :What an honour it is to know that the people have put their trust in us. 5 years is a long time, an important time, when a child might go to school for the first time, or enter university. Today, we have 20,000 new graduates, and the largest amount of people working than we’ve ever had in our countries history. Today, 5 years later, we have the largest amount of women and pensioners working and taking pensions. Today,  we have the largest number of young people continuing in higher education

19:45h: Five years ago you told us to take care of our environment and countryside and we told you yes we would. And now were getting 1bn euro to help keep this country clean and do all that is possible for our environment

19:42h: Five years ago, you remember, like I do, that a few days leading to the election, people came to see the opening of Mater Dei. That day, the people turned to this party and said. “The health of our families is a treasure”. Five years ago, you told us to take this country and make it stronger. And our answer 5 years ago was ‘we will do our best to provide a service, with the best doctors and nurses to help keep the people healthy.” Now we have built the best facilities to help cancer patients and we get the best possible medicine to help patients with cancer.

19:40h: Yesterday I went to the President and told him that we have upheld all of our duties, to everyone. Five years ago, the people told us ‘we will put the fate of the country in ourhands, the future of our children in your hands’.  You asked us to help our children get to university

19:38h: Tonight this party has, once again gone outside and yelled, we are ready to keep serving our families, our pensioner, and we are ready to serve all of you. We have come to another moment of truth and you know, whenever this party has to show the world what it’s made of, all you will find is good.

Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil:

19:30h It's my priviledge to present the PN Leader, Lawrence Gonzi

19:30h: If our politics are built on good and on truth, then yes we can win this upcoming election. We have a race against time; we need to show the people that we deserve their trust. To earn back the people’s trust, We must be an example of honesty and integrity. It will be a hard battle but we can do it. We must be an open party, an inclusive party, a party for good, a party for the people, a just party and above all, we must win this election with reason. I believe we can win this election and I need you all to believe that we can win this upcoming election.

19:25h: They lied about the PN raising the retirement age. You want us to believe that they will keep the promises they’ve made so far? They want us to change our direction? What direction? Our direction in the EU? Our direction, which has solidified our finances? What direction?

19:23h: I’ve always said, The PN shouldn’t win because the PL are bad, but because we are better than them. The PL doesn’t know what it wants; it has yet to tell you what it plans to do. It’s a party full of contradictions, a party which is inconsistent and lastly, a partly that doesn’t base its politics on the truth, but on lies.

19:20h: I have no doubt that the voters will realise that the party with vision, the party to take this country forward is the PN. The question I will ask, who will you trust to run Malta, when in this next electoral term, Malta will see Valletta become the capital city of culture and Malta will lead the European Council. Who do you trust to lead this country through these historical times?

19:17h: The election date is nearly 10 years since the EU referendum vote, and the choice in front of us is not different from the referendum vote so many years ago.  Look around you, you see people with jobs, healthy people. We take these things for granted, but after the election, what guarantee do you have that things will remain the same? Your only assurance is if PN wins the election!

19:16h: It is important that the PN wins the next election. It is important for the country. We are determined to help the country move forward. Unlike the opposition, this election isn’t an end, it’s a means to an end. It’s a way for us to help move the country forward

19:15h: Thankyou gonzi, for your integrity and your honesty19:15h: Thankyou gonzi, for your integrity and your honesty

Secretary General of the Nationalist Party Paul Borg Olivier:

19:13h: I now invite The Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil onto the stage

19:11h:  In these 10 and a half years we have worked on the peoples economy. We have never taken any choices based on populist views. Everyone knows where we are and where we want to go, everyone knows where the PN leader stands and where he wants to go

19:10h We now have a new decision to make. Every time this country has made a decision, we have made the right one.  This choice is built on those who are ready to work to better this country. In the next few weeks we will show you how determined we are and that we are the right choice

19:00h: Last January we held general council where the leader of the PN put himself forward in a vote of confidence,  from that general council to now, in that moment of choice, our country kept growing stronger. When the labour was letting down the people, this party always kept our eye on our jobs and improving the quality of life for the people.

18:57h: The Secretary General of the PN Paul Borg Olivier welcomes PN Leader Lawrence Gonzi and the Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil into the building