PN holds rally in unofficial campaign opener

The Nationalist Party held a rally for its activists this evening in what can be viewed as the unofficial opening of its electoral campaign, two days after the Budget was defeated, precipitating the collapse of the government. The official electoral campaign starts on January 7 and the political parties have agreed to cease political activities over Christmas, starting on Monday. The main hall of Nationalist Party headquarters was packed with supporters, some of them singing Gonzi jerga jkun fil-gvern as the prime minister arrived accompanied by Mrs Gonzi. The rally was addressed by PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier, Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil and Dr Gonzi, who stood on stage in front of a group of young people wearing t-shirts in different colours - possibly an attempt by the party to project unity in diversity. It was a contrast to the all-white GonziPN t-shirts worn in the last electoral campaign. Dr Busuttil said the election was a challenge which the PN could, should, and must win for the good of the country. He said that being in government was a means to an end, the end being to move the country forward. Like the EU referendum of exactly 10 years ago, this was an...