Updated, adds PL reaction - The Nationalist Party said today that the prime minister was increasingly showing he lacked the commitment and credibility to fight corruption.
This, it said,was shown by his silence despite various scandals having come to light.
Dr Muscat has not even replied to a series of questions made last Sunday by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil on the Gaffarena case, including Mr Gaffarena's attempt to buy a second Valletta palazzo to then sell to the government.
The shadow minister for justice, Jason Azzopardi, said that while Dr Muscat on Sunday said he would not let anyone blemish the government's reputation by with corruption, his record was such that he could not be believed.
Ever since the Gaffarena scandal surfaced, the version of events given by the prime minister and Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon had changed radically. Dr Muscat initially defended Dr Falzon but then resorted to silence.
In contrast, Dr Muscat was more vocal in his defence of Economy Minister Chris Cardona following recent allegations.
Dr Azzopardi and PN spokesman Ryan Callus, said Dr Muscat’s credibility has been going downhill ever since the Premier Caffe' scandal, in which he was directly involved.
Had Dr Muscat really been determined to fight corruption, he would have resigned by now, Dr Azzopardi said.
Mr Callus said the revelation that Mr Gaffarena had planned to buy a second palazzo in the knowledge that the government would acquire it from him underlined that this whole issue was being planned by by Mr Gaffarena and somebody within the government.
Mr Callus asked Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela to say whether or not the government wanted to buy Valletta police station, which is housed in within the second palazzo which Mr Gaffarena had wanted to buy.
Mr Callus said the longer Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon – responsible for lands – remained in saddle – the greater the erosion of Dr Muscat’s own credibility.
LABOUR PARTY: BUSUTTIL DID NOT ACT
In a reaction, the Labour Party said it was the present government which introduced laws for greater transparency, after 25 years of foot-dragging by the previous administration.
The present government lifted prescription on corruption cases involving politicians and legislated on party funding and protection for whistleblowers.
It was the leader of the opposition who did not fight corruption. He was part of the government which left the status quo and had not acted with regard to the allegations against Giovanna Debono's husband.
r Busuttil had no credentials to speak about this area, the Labour Party said.