Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi last night again took aim at rival Joseph Muscat over Labour’s ties with business, saying the PL leader had an obligation to explain whether his meetings with contractors played a role in the party’s electoral proposals.
Who are they? What role did they have in drawing up the Labour Party’s policies?
In an interview with The Sunday Times, former PL deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia had spoken about being unfairly sacked by Dr Muscat and said building contractors were getting uncomfortably close to Labour.
Dr Muscat yesterday replied with a “no comment” to questions about this but, in a statement, the PL said it met “disappointed” businessmen and contractors, Dr Gonzi said.
Speaking during a Nationalist Party activity in Għaxaq, he said this was the first step in admitting that Dr Farrugia’s claims were true.
“What happened over the past 24 hours is very serious and should be important when the electorate considers their options,” Dr Gonzi said.
The people should vote PN not only for its electoral programme but because the internal problems within the PL had now been revealed.
“The fourth floor where they (the PL) are meeting with businessmen and contractors has been exposed.
“Who are they? What role did they have in drawing up the Labour Party’s policies?” Dr Gonzi questioned. Dr Muscat had an obligation to answer these questions so that the electorate would know who they were deal-ing with.
He added that Dr Muscat dealt Dr Farrugia “another blow” by contesting the election on the fourth district – where Dr Farrugia had planned to run.
Earlier, former Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said that, within the political world, it was essential to be guided by strong Catholic values.
“Even when you are attacked unjustly you remain loyal to politics. I passed through a lot… but I remain a positive man who works for the good sort of politics,” he said.
The former Justice and Home Affairs Minister resigned in May after he lost a vote of no confidence when former Nationalist MP Franco Debono – who had contested the 2008 general election in Għaxaq – voted with the Opposition.
Within the Nationalist Party, he said, there were many people of principle. However, the Labour Party did not think twice before it “unjustly” kicked out Dr Farrugia “without a fair trial”.
“After spending four years with Joseph Muscat he (Dr Farrugia) wrote a letter saying he no longer trusts the Labour Party led by Dr Muscat. So how can we trust in the party?” he said.