[LIVE] Follow the Insite leaders’ debate here

Welcome to our live-blog from the University of Malta's Temi Zammit Hall, where student media organisation Insite is hosting Lawrence Gonzi, Joseph Muscat, and Michael Briguglio for its debate.

13.48 Insite debate ends here. Thank you for following us.

13.43 Closing comments:

Briguglio urges students to be on the right side of history and fight against the status quo.

Muscat says he hoped that after the elections, both sides would continue working together

Gonzi joins Muscat but warns that the most important thing was that jobs are created for students.

13.37 Gonzi faces a tough one: a student asks whether her face looks like that of a Nationalist; what did he do with the 500 euro increase; how could she trust him after he voted against the divorce legislation?

"This was not the question sent to us and vetted by us," Insite comments.

In his reply, Gonzi recounts that he was the Prime Minister that saw an increase in students furthering their studies and the one that safeguarded jobs despite the economic turbulence. He also says that he was definitely "not the Prime Minister who went and found a Labourite police to ask for a favour".

13.30 A criminology student asks why students studying criminology cannot join the Police Force because of their short stature. Gonzi says this has been discussed with Police Commissioner John Rizzo and has decided to see how other countries tackle this issue before taking steps . 

Briguglio says it's time for the disciplined corps to form part of unions; Muscat says the system must be modernised.

13.28 Briguglio asked about homophobic bullying: "We are the only party who endorsed all proposals made by the MGRM". AD is also proposing including a clause in the Constitution against homophobic bullying.

Muscat also says a Labour government would be committed to fight homophobic bullying; Gonzi says it should be tackled from two fronts: education and enforcement.

13.23 Question time: leaders answer questions by students from the audience. First question made to Gonzi is how will a PN government ensure the creation of jobs... question for Muscat is about criticism levelled by the PL against KSU in its awarding of contracts for Students' House. Muscat reassures the students that a Labour government would work hand in hand with KSU.

"You may not agree with us, but you can work with us," he adds.

13.10 Last question for the leaders: what will they do to guarantee jobs for students?

Gonzi: to continue bolstering sectors of tourism, manufacturing, research and innovation.

Briguglio: green jobs are the jobs for the future.

Muscat: to support those who work hard; open up further sectors other than the financial: maritime, IT - including Smart City - and tourism; high investment in Gozo.

13.04 Tough question for Gonzi on the much abhored problem of parking at Uni. The problem, Gonzi says, will not be solved by increasing parking spaces but by making more use of public transport - and yes Arriva. Needless to say that his comment was met with booing.

"Forgive me. You may not agree with me but in this country we have to incentivise the culture of using public transport," Gonzi replies to the disgruntled students.

13.02 Historic moment: Muscat "completely agrees with the Prime Minister". Although on second thoughts it's not a shock given that Muscat and Gonzi have agreed to disagree with Michael Briguglio.

12.55 Muscat: "If someone reduced stipends that was Gonzi in 2005." As Muscat explained how more students furthering their studies would also help in making pensions more sustainable, the other interviewers comments that "the question was about pensions Dr Muscat".

Another faux pas by the interviewers. Briguglio, who wasn't asked for his view on pensions, requested to answer. Allowing him to speak, the interviewers warned him to "please be concise" - even though he was the one to speak the least (as the timer indicates).

12.41 Gonzi goes on the offensive about stipends. Amid much booing, sneers and shouts of 'Smart City', Gonzi recounts a pledge the PL made in 1996, before it went on to turn stipends in loans. "A Labour government failed to keep its promise then and it will not keep it today," Gonzi warned the students. His warning appeared to fall on deaf ears: "This was a question about research and innovation and not stipends," one of the two interviewees comments.

12.35 Briguglio: "I once again congratulate Dr Muscat for adding yet another proposal which was pushed by us... but I'm sincerely pleased about this because it shows that we are influencing the parties despite not being in government."

Needless to say, the Prime Minister fought hard not to make it obvious he was smiling.

Briguglio ended his intervention on education by accusing the parties of resorting to "the war of tablets - electoral gimmicks which do not address the sincere problem afflicting our education". Briguglio says it isn't how much you build schools that counts but the quality of education you give and that it reaches everyone.

12.32 Muscat is now speaking about the MPs' salary rise, the government's decision to opt for a heavy fuel oil power station and the Prime Minister's decision to vote against the divorce legislation. "These definitely didn't show you on the right side of history," he says, playing to the gallery.

Muscat takes the opportunity to reiterate that a Labour government will retain stipends, and more.

12.30 Leaders have the shock of their lives as they are reminded that they have only 20 minutes in total to answer all questions.

12.18 On gay marriages, Briguglio says love should not be punished but celebrated. Asked whether the Maltese society was ready for marriages between same sex couples, Briguglio said the same questions were raised during the divorce referendum, yet "no earthquakes" took place.

Briguglio takes the PN and PL to task over failing to be on the right side of history twice: "AD was the only party to be on the right side of history twice: during the EU and divorce referendum". He makes his case for a coalition government, saying that all the AD needed were 2,000 votes from one district to get elected to parliament.

Joseph Muscat says PL's proposal for civil unions was a much needed step forward; Asked what difference existed between civil unions and civil partnerships, Lawrence Gonzi says both parties are saying essentially the same thing. Playing to his young crowd, Gonzi says that being on the right side of history - among others - means "coming to University and now gets beat up". Although his comment did generate both applause and booing.

Gonzi warns that if someone thinks that the coming five years will not be easy in financial terms. "The storm has not yet passed," he says, generating booing from the audience. But when Gonzi commented that at the end of the day, what graduating students looked forward to was to find work, his comment attracted applause.

12.10 First question is about civil rights: Gonzi "we believe that everyone should have the right to live their own lives the way they want"

Michael Briguglio: "I'm really proud standing here for this debate... I remember coming here with my father fighting for students' rights." Briguglio says Alternattiva Demokratika was the first party to fight for civil liberties for all.

"Next Thursday it's Valentine's Day but the political parties are telling them you cannot get married," he says adding that AD supports gay marriage. In his reply, Briguglio also refers to the decriminalisation of drugs personal use. His comments get an applause, and the occasional whistle, but Briguglio explains that it doesn't make sense to send someone to jail for smoking a joint and leave drug barons roam the streets.

On his part, Muscat reminds that the PL had supported the introduction of divorce. On drug decriminilastion, Muscat said that Labour agreed that a person caught smoking a joint should not be sent to prison.

12.06 Yeap, someone actually screamed when they said 'Joseph Muscat'... a standing ovation amid chants of 'Malta taghna lkoll'. Michael Briguglio receives a decent welcome and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi got a couple of boos, albeit drowned by more cheers of 'Gonzi! Gonzi!'

Meanwhile, discontent students took it to slamming against a side door shouting 'Gonzi! Gonzi!'

12.05 Students suggest leaders they should stick to two minutes to answer each question... urge students to do nothing but clap.

12.00 Students expectantly wait for the leaders of the political parties to make their appearance...

11.59 A quick photo-op for the three leaders behind the stage as PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil enters the hall to sit among the students. Much cheers and clapping.

11.46 20 minutes have been allocated to each leader. The hall is now almost packed as more students are still waiting outside. According to Insite, doors will be closed after 800 people are admitted.

11.45 Good morning and welcome to our live-blog from the University of Malta. As expected - and despite the regulations announced by Insite - students from Junior College have made their way here. Expect disappointment as debate is only open to those aged over 18. More 'stringent' regulations from Insite: 'Students are reminded that this is not a mass meeting or political rally. Banners, scarves, flags, horns, whistles or any other political merchandise will not be allowed in the hall'. And, sounding more like the Broadcasting Authority, students are asked 'to remain seated during the debate and to refrain from shouting, chanting, cheering, booing etc'.

Long queues started forming even before 11am with chants of 'Malta taghna lkoll' echoing through the University grounds. I really don't know whether they are considered as 'political merchandise', but Maltese flags were being distributed to the students.