Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday played down his party’s internal problems and said his focus was on national issues.
We will continue as long as we have a majority in Parliament
In a pre-recorded interview on Radio 101, Dr Gonzi said the resignation of an MP from the PN was not his priority last week.
“My priority was a report by the International Labour Organisation showing how employment continued to grow,” he said when asked about the resignation of Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who now sits as an independent in Parliament.
Dr Gonzi said as Prime Minister he did not have the luxury to concentrate only on internal party matters.
“It is my duty to address the internal matters but the more urgent issues are job creation and reforms to prevent the country from being humiliated internationally.”
Aware of the widespread speculation about the election date, the Prime Minister said it would be held when he felt it was in the country’s best interest.
“The PN is trailing in the polls but when the time comes people will have to choose between a party that is making empty promises and a PN that has delivered results,” he added.
Dr Gonzi said Dr Pullicino Orlando’s resignation from the PN was not surprising. He noted that this legislature was a difficult one and he had to deal with a number of problems as a result of a one-seat majority.
“We will continue as long as we have a majority in Parliament,” Dr Gonzi said, adding the country was “distracted” by the resignation of an MP from the PN.
He then shifted gear and criticised what he called Labour leader Joseph Muscat’s “wild pledges” to various sectors of society that risk Malta’s economic wellbeing.
Reacting to European Commissioner and former leadership contender John Dalli’s claims that his e-mail was hacked by people in the PN, Dr Gonzi said he was looking into the matter.
On Thursday, in a private meeting, Mr Dalli gave Dr Gonzi a list of PN activists and officials whom he suspects have been militating against him.
Dr Gonzi yesterday said he had to meet the identified individuals but noted that Mr Dalli also took the case to the police. “I trust the police will investigate the matter and I hope the outcome of the investigation will be made public,” he said.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com