The Prime Minister yesterday accused the Opposition Leader of manoeuvring, together with his predecessor Alfred Sant, to make Malta look weak during the ratification of the European bailout fund.

Dr Gonzi said all eyes had been on eurozone member states approving a Bill to ratify the European Financial Stability Facility. The government had agreed with the opposition that there would be unanimous approval. However, Labour seemed to have had a hidden agenda and Dr Sant lengthened the debate.

Speaking in Swieqi, Dr Gonzi said: “What happened in the past 10 days was greatly irresponsible and the Labour leader should have shouldered the responsibility the national interest required.

“This was an opportunity for the country to send a message of stability but instead the PL continued to cast doubts on Malta’s European policy,” Dr Gonzi said.

He said that what had happened was not acceptable and had been very damaging to Malta and its reputation.

International news reports had put Malta in the same basket as Slovakia, whose indecision had panicked European countries, the Prime Minister said, pointing out that he felt embarrassed when “important ambassadors” called him asking about the delay in the vote. ­Dr Sant had raised doubts over a number of technical issues during the parliamentary debate. This caused the vote on Malta’s guarantee to the European bailout fund, which was meant to have been taken on October 5, to be postponed for five days. Parliament approved the ratification bill following a five-hour session last Monday.

“The PL’s stand on Malta’s accession to the EU is still unclear. Alfred Sant has questioned our accession to the EU and he continuously criticises the euro but the Labour Party has not disputed his assertions,” Dr Gonzi said, arguing that economic and European policy in Dr Muscat’s party was being run by Dr Sant.

On a separate note, the Prime Minister said although Eurostat figures showed a fall in employment around Europe last year, Malta had registered a rise of 2.2 per cent. Another 4.4 per cent increase was registered in female employment, he said, adding this was a result of the incentives being provided by the government.