PN insists on public apology after phone incident

The Nationalist Party has insisted that Gozitan Labour MP Anton Refalo make a public apology over comments he is alleged to have made in a phone call to former MLP activist Joe Camilleri.

In a statement, PN secretary general Joe Saliba said it was not enough for Dr Refalo to claim that what he had told Mr Camilleri was said in the heat of the moment. Mr Camilleri had claimed that Dr Refalo told him: "Pray to God the Labour Party is not elected to government" in addition to uttering a series of expletives.

Dr Refalo has denied threatening Mr Camilleri. He has told The Times he was moved to phone Mr Camilleri after other Nationalists told him of allegations the latter made against him. The Labour MP said that what he told Mr Camilleri was to ask himself whether he wanted a Labour government to resort to the sort of vindictiveness he was exercising over his colleagues at the hospital where he worked.

Mr Saliba said yesterday that, by trying to justify himself, Dr Refalo was showing irresponsibility as a politician.

A politician should weigh his actions, be correct and put emotion aside.

The MLP should condemn Dr Refalo's actions, Mr Saliba said.