Updated 7.56pm - Added video

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this evening dismissed claims that any of his family members have companies in Panama, insisting any such rumours were untrue.

Dr Muscat was addressing delegates during the Labour Party Annual General Conference which is currently underway at the party’s headquarters in Ħamrun.

“In the past I might not have not reacted immediately but this time around I am putting rumours to rest – I do not have any offshore companies and neither do my wife or my children,” the Prime Minister said.

As the election looms closer, Dr Muscat went on, it was crucial that politicians’ family members were not dragged through the mud.

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He called on the Opposition not to resort to intimidation tactics that involved family members, insisting that the Labour Party would not be going down that road.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

“We are now heading towards a time when there will be more tension, but I urge you to approach this time with a sense of serenity,” Dr Muscat said.

Now that the party had amended its statute, it could initiate its registration process as a political party, Dr Muscat said, adding that the party’s “strong ideas” would speak for themselves.