Independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said today that MEP Simon Busuttil had been humiliated by the Nationalist Party in the way it reacted to comments he made on radio regarding possible reconciliation with rebel MP Franco Debono and others (See here)

Writing on Facebook, Dr Pullicino Orlando, who resigned from the PN earlier this year, said:

"Simon is a well-meaning individual but he was obviously overruled by Austin Gatt and RCC, yet again. They are the ones who are running the show. They are the ones who have brought the once proud, strong and united party to its knees.

"It is obvious that if, as Simon rightly said, everyone should assume their responsibilities Austin would be booted out. Fairmount, BWSC, SeaMalta, Arriva, car park fiasco...one expensive failure after another.

"I wish Simon well but it is obvious that he has undertaken a task akin to cleaning the Augean stables."

Meanwhile, Dr Debono this morning said on his blog that he appreciated Dr Busuttil’s reconciliatory stand with Nationalists who left the party in recent years.

However, he added, there could be no real reconciliation as long as Austin Gatt was around and ‘dictating’ PN statements.

He said yesterday’s PN statement was not in the party’s interest and it could have had ulterior motives. It was out of point and out of context.

He said Dr Busuttil had spoken about reconciliation in generic terms.

“Simon did not mention election bans and details. He just said that everyone must acknowledge hhis responsibilities but this can be done in unity.”