Labour leader Joseph Muscat this morning avoided giving a direct answer as to whether Jason Micallef and other Labour election candidates such as Evarist Bartolo should step down from their posts in the party's media because of conflict of interest as the general election approaches.

Questioned during a press conference held to launch the forthcoming Labour Congress, Dr Muscat said it was always his policy to use the party's best resources in the best possible way.

This issue, he said, boiled down to prudence. For him, it was not an issue whether Mr Micallef should step down at One Productions and he was confident that good sense would prevail.

Dr Muscat described the Congress as a first of its nature for a local political party. It will be held in several sessions between September 14 and 23 and will be open to all party members, who will discuss policies and guidelines for the approval of the party electoral manifesto. 

The Congress will be held at Ta Qali national park.