The woman murdered in an apartment in St Paul's Bay on Thursday had sought protection from domestic violence but society failed her, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this morning.
Speaking during a political activity in Bugibba held as part of the party's campaign for the April 11 council elections, Dr Busuttil said the woman had not been given adequate protection and "as a society we have failed in her regard as we did not give her the support she needed," he said.
"We should be here to make a difference to our community, to people who live with us, among us. And for us to make a difference we have to be there for these people when they need our help.
"If we really want to be a caring society, we have to help those who need help when they need it," he said.
Touching on the political debate, he referred to the closure of the Marsa power station on the same day that the new gas fired plant was supposed to be inaugurated.
The Prime Minister "insulted people's intelligence" by switching off a power plant rather than switching on a new one.
Moreover, the closure was the result of investment made by Nationalist governments on the interconnector link with Sicily.
The PN leader said the PL had conned Enemalta employees by the partial privatisation, in spite of pre-election pledges that no such plans were in the offing.
This had impacted negatively on their take-home pay. Dr Busuttil also accused the government of political discrimination in the transfers being handed out at Enemalta.
He noted that as the pressure was mounting on the Cafe Premier deal and the new power station, the National Audit Office had also flagged the unclear extent of ministerial direction exercised by Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi in a hedging agreement signed last year and which had led to a loss of €14 million.
The lack of documentation on this deal fuelled suspicions and the fact that the Prime Minister's visit to Azerbaijan last year was not covered by the media also raised questions.
The Prime Minister was again expected to visit Azerbaijan next month. "What is all this interest in Azerbaijan," he asked.
But rather than clarify matters, the Prime Minister made allegations about former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono's husband to deflect attention.
Although these claims should be investigated, it was not right to keep them hidden only to nleash then in the run up to the local council campaign, he remarked.
The Opposition leader called for the police to investigate even what happened after the last general election, as the police does not belong to the Prime Minsiter only but "to us all".
He reiterated that he would take the expected decisions once the probe was concluded.
But the Prime Minister, he said, should shoulder responsibility for the Cafe Premier deal and lead by example.