The Nationalist Party this afternoon welcomed Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's call for national unity as Malta celebrates the 50th anniversary of Independence next week but urged him to “walk the talk”.

In a statement, it urged the Prime Minister to find the political courage to put his words into action by reversing his unilateral decision to cancel local elections, giving back to the people the public property that “the Labour Party seized, unashamedly, over the years, most recently the multi-million Australia Hall” and by reversing the “discriminatory transfers” meted out to talented people who did not vote Labour.

The Nationalist Party also reiterated that its MEPs would be voting in favour of Karmenu Vella's nomination as a member of the European Commission and expressed surprised at the Prime Minister’s negative reaction.

“Rather than welcoming the Nationalist Party’s public statement of support for Karmenu Vella, the Prime Minister is casting doubt on it. Surely this is not a good way to rally national unity,” it said.