Updated - adds comment by government spokesman - Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil said today that under his watch he would not have tolerated his spokesman offend the Opposition.

Asked by journalists for a reaction to Kurt Farrugia’s tweet calling the leader of the Opposition “chicken” after a PN delegation meeting in China with Malta’s trade envoy Sai Mizzi, Dr Busuttil said that he would not be replying to what the Prime Minister’s spokesman said.

“However, what I can tell you is that we have very different standards. Under my watch as Prime Minister, I would have called Mr Farrugia and sacked him within minutes.”

Dr Busuttil said Mr Farrugia had every right for his opinion but it was not tolerable for the chief government spokesman to use his position, paid from the people’s taxes, to pass disparaging comments on the Opposition.

GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN REPLIES

In a reaction, Mr Farrugia in the evening shared on Facebook a photo of a tweet issued by Dr Busutil in December 2012 with the comment that instead of being expelled, Dr Busuttil had been promoted.

CHINA VISIT

In an informal briefing with the press about his visit to China, Dr Busuttil said many important things came out of the visit including the need for more transparency in relations between the two countries.

The Opposition leader said the PN was all for boosting relations with Beijing and praised the Chinese for the treatment given to the Opposition.

“This shows that China really respects Malta.”

He said that during his meeting with Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife, it was evident that she had no office for the past two years and that she was not up to her job.

He said that Ms Mizzi Liang was not even aware of the potential that Malta had for Chinese businesses as an EU gateway.