Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said this afternoon that he had no regrets over language he used on Sunday when he described how the Nationalist Party was trying to restore its virginity.

Speaking in Parliament after criticism from some quarters, Mr Bartolo said he had a sense of humour and he frequently used metaphors related to both men and women.

Last Sunday he used a term used in plastic surgery (restoring the hymen) to show how the PN was trying to restore its virginity after the 'orgy of the past'.

The usual orchestrated choir of angels then claimed he had shown contempt of women, which was not the case, Mr Bartolo said.

“St Francis” Zammit Dimech had even described him as a ħamallu.

Mr Bartolo said he would not deny that he was a sinner, but he was not a Pharisee who acted like he never made mistakes and all mistakes were made by other people.

Mr Bartolo said he knew a thing or two on communication and had no regrets over the language used.