Leaders cheered, booed by students

Labour supporters dominated a lively University debate between the three political leaders yesterday in a reversal of what happened at the same event during the 2008 electoral campaign. Students thronged outside Sir Temi Zammit Hall from 9am to make sure they had a seat by noon. At first it seemed the Nationalist-leaning had got there quicker because PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil was welcomed into the hall to loud applause. But they were outnumbered by those who then welcomed Labour leader Joseph Muscat on stage to coordinated cheers of Labour’s slogan: “(Malta) Tagħna Lkoll” (Malta for All). Labour supporters also came armed with Maltese flags but these were confiscated on entry. Their presence in large numbers created a contrast with the leaders’ debate in the same forum five years ago, when then Labour leader Alfred Sant was constantly booed by a large majority of Nationalist supporters. This time, although not as disproportionately, the majority of students in the hall clearly belonged to Labour, who punctuated the proceedings with regular chants of “Joseph”. Though yesterday’s debate was more civil than the last time – also organised by student media organisation Insite –...