The Nationalist Party said this afternoon that Joseph Muscat was bowing to extremists within his party and seeking a general election even though this was not in the national interest.

Reacting to a press conference by the Labour leader, the PN said the people were clearly showing that an immediate general election was not in the national interest.

But Dr Muscat was bent on becoming prime minister, to the extent that he was ready to sacrifice the national interest. He was taking advantage of Franco Debono and surrendering to the extremists within his party, led by a number of politicians of the past.

Dr Muscat knew well enough that the Constitution laid down that the government was elected by the people for five years and no one selected the ministers other than the prime minister.

Dr Muscat was taking advantage of Dr Debono even though the people knew that Dr Debono was not right, the PN said. Instability was therefore being created by Dr Muscat, through Dr Debono.