Gay partners were not siblings and their rights as a couple had to be safeguarded, Joseph Muscat said tonight.

Reiterating his party's stand in favour of civil unions for gay couples, the Labour leader insisted he did not want to see second class people.

"I am saying this before the election so that nobody will come up to us afterwards to tell us we did not know. It is time for another breakthrough in gay rights," Dr Muscat said.

He said while speaking at Ta' Giorni that the country had "a confessional government" that imposed its values on everyone else.

"I do not know whether this will win us or lose us votes but we have to do this also for our children, who may be gay," he said, adding the Labour Party was being clear about its position.
Dr Muscat was being interviewed  by Simone Cini and Robert Musumeci.