[LIVE] Follow our live blog of Xarabank's leaders debate

Welcome to MaltaToday's live-blog which will be following Xarabank's leaders debate.

11:17pm Thanks for following...good night to all! Keep following us on maltatoday.com.mt

11:13pm It ain't over till the fat lady sings...Peppi, although not a lady and not very fat, brings the debate to an end. Let us know what you thought of tonight's debate. At a glance, Labour leader Joseph Muscat fared better then usual in televised debates while PN leader Lawrence Gonzi played it safe and did not risk much. Pretty much a draw. Pity Michael Briguglio was not given more time, on apar with the other leaders. Might have made it a livelier affair.

11:10pm Gonzi stresses the question he repeated throughout the whole debate...Where will Labour take the country....what is the new direction Labour will give the country? He adds that the PN administration weathered the storm while other countries did not and insists that the country will only remain on track if the PN is confirmed at the helm of the country.

11:08pm Muscat says his aims are to create a country which will be inclusive, uniting persons of all political creeds and making a success of the challenges ahead.

11:05pm Briguglio argues in favour of full-time MPs. "You know where you stand with us," he says as he stresses that AD stands for civil rights, environmental protection and social justice.

10:59pm Muscat's concluding remarks focus on the need for our MPs to earn their wages and work harder. He adds thata Labour government will remove protection enjoyed by MPs on corruption charges, introduce the whistleblower act and introduce free child care centres.

10:57pm Briguglio is granted a moment for his concluding remarks in which he makes a pitch for the progressive electorate. Peppi breaks the rules and encourages the crowd to clap.

10:49pm Ad break. So what do you think of the debate so far? Who is wearing the smartest suit?

10:46pm Briguglio says AD is the only person in favour of gay marriage, a minimum wage increase, genuine disabled rights, decriminalisation of drugs and environmental justice. Who the heck is Briguglio's make-up artist?

10:43pm Gonzi shies away from answering Muscat's question on succession duty...the PN's proposals will be announced shortly, Gonzi insists.

10:40pm The two leaders engage in a shouting match on proposed benefits on property tax while a calm Michael Briguglio watches on in awe from his vantage point on the white couch.

10:38pm "You have no energy plan" Muscat tells Gonzi.

10:36pm The show goes on...Gonzi says the PN will announce its energy proposals when it publishes its electoral programme which will focus on jobs, eduication and health. He adds that the PN will promise the cheapest possible energy prices and focus on alternative energy.

10:23pm Muscat says a Labour government will implement what it promises. Finally time for ads. You can take your time and go make yourself a cup of coffee, especially if you are struggling to keep your eyes open. Will we be served similar debates on energy for another six weeks? Please...no!

10:18pm Break put on hold. Muscat says the governmenet is hiding reports on Enemalta's energy generation. Interesting remark. Gonzi says Enemalta has nothing to hide, while he repeatedly asks Muscat to publish its reports, including power purchasing agreements similar to the ones proposed bt Labour.

10:15pm Ad break. Oh wait...a generous Peppi grants Michael Briguglio a couple of minutes of equality. While expressing satisfaction at the consensus on the gas conversion, the AD chairperson sheds doubt on Labour's claims that the energy project will be completed in two years because of the lengthy environmental and social studies that need to be carried out. He also calls on Labour to publish its reports in the sake of transperancy.

10:12pm A bellicose Muscat challenges Gonzi to explain his administration's inertia in the energy sector. Gonzi retorts by asking where will Labour take the country.

10:08pm In what is turning into a battle of consultants and experts, Muscat says that experts had confirmed that the country needs to convert to gas as soon as possible and quoting oncologist Stephen Brincat, Muscat says that given Malta's size the whole country is likely to suffer the affects of power plants in terms of cancer.

10:05pm An assured Muscat says that Malta needs an energy mix because it cannot depend on a foreign country for its energy supply and the country cannot wait any longer for a solution.

10:01pm This is turning out to be a pretty dull encounter...judging from his facial expressions, Michael Briguglio (and most of us) are unimpressed by the outcome of the debate.

9:59pm Gonzi's brief tonight seems that of driving home the point that Labour wants to change the country's direction when the country is already on the right track.

9:55pm Gonzi dispels Labour's claims that Delimara power station is a 'cancer factory'. He adds that Labour's plan would increase the utility bills, insisting that the solution lays in the gas pipeline between Malta and Sicily.

9:53pm Gonzi says Labour's proposal to build new power plant, regassification plant and a gas terminal cannot be completed in two years. He lists a number of experts who claim that while the project is possible, it cannot be built in two years.

9:50pm Without giving too much away on Labour's energy plan, Muscat accuses Gonzi of falsely claiming to be for a gas conversion and says the Prime Minister could have proved this by choosing gas over heavy fuel oil at BWSC Delimara power plant extension.

9:49pm Back to business...Azzopardi asks Muscat why Labour has not published its studies backing up it's energy proposal. Muscat says Labour will only publish them if the Prime Minister publishes his reports...although Muscat himself is not sure what the PN's plans are. Back to I'll show you mine if you show me yours....

9:45pm Here we go again...Joe Azopardi aka Peppi protests over Broadcasting Authority's decision to ban clapping. If you're happy and you know it clap your...

9:44pm Looping ads sound like leaders' looping soundbites. Don't go away...the show will recommence in a minute.

9:36pm Briguglio sheds doubt on the wisdom of reducing income tax in next budget. He says this is unsustainable and new taxes would need to be introduced to balance out the books. Briguglio's three minutes of equality are over. Ad break.

9:33pm Green Party chairperson Michael Briguglio says he is on programme under protest, insisting all political party leaders should be treated equally, as in fact the Broadcasting Authority rules stipulated. However it seems that all animals are equal but some are more equal then others.

9:29pm Muscat asks a cliche but legitimate question: "Are you better off then you were five years ago?" Gonzi reacts and goes on the offensive, asking Muscat what will Muscat change and in which direction he will take the country.

9:26pm Both leaders playing it safe so far. Although both attempted to deliver a few jabs, no damage was done. With Gonzi and the PN trailing in the polls by 11 points, the Prime Minister needs to land a couple of haymakers. On the other hand Muscat can afford to play it safe. As long as he strays away from any gaffes, the Opposition leader will be satisfied.

9:24pm For Muscat's Cyprus there is Gonzi's Ireland. Muscat says Prime Minister failed to live up to the expectations created in 2008. "The people will not forget the failed 2008 promises, which you had ample time to deliver but never did so."

9:22pm Leaders trade first blows. Gonzi throws first punch...saying Muscat shied away from 1 March Xarabank debate and reminds him of the advise he had given the government to model Maltese economy on Cyprus, which went on to ask for a bailout last year.

9:18pm Gonzi insists the country is in the right track and warns against changing direction. He boasts of 20,000 new jobns created in last five years. "I do not blame all our woes on the Opposition leader. We weathered the storm while other countries did not, Gonzi insists.

9:16pm Muscat says "This Prime Minister suffered two downgarades because of the situation he created and which he cannot resolve."

9:12pm Muscat does not like Gonzi's reply. He says S&P did not mention Labour or its vote against the budget. Muscat says that the downgrade is down to Malta's growing debt, Enemalta poor financial standing and the low participation of women in the labour market.

9:09pm Unsurprisingly Gonzi blames downgrade on Labour's decision to vote against 2013 Budget.He says PN would vote in favour of budget if it is in Opposition as long as the budget is not tampered with or includes Labour's much-talked about energy plan.  

9:07pm No time for an opening message from Alternattiva Demokratika's Michael Briguglio, seated on the big comfortable white couch. Azzopardi asks first real question. He asks the PN leader on Standard and Poor's downgrade of Malta.

9:06pm Gonzi replies by saying that 9 March decision will shape next five years.

9:05pm Off we go...Muscat kicks off debate with a signatory message calling for calm and unity.

8:58pm Phew...Xarabank anchor Joe Azzopardi puts viewers' minds at rest....the Broadcasting Authority rules issued today will not in any way ruin the normally exiting encounters. However, he warns that sadly there will be no applause and only dignified silence as Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition leader Joseph Muscat battle it out on Xarabank.