The Nationalist Party said today it would defend the national interest in the new power station issue both before the Maltese Parliament and the European Parliament.

It said that the prime minister had put his personal political interest before the national interest when the government issued a €360m guarantee to the private consortium building the new power station.

The government has said the guarantee is temporary pending a security of supply agreement - which will guarantee that Enemalta buys power from the consortium. The EU still has to approve the agreement.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has accused Dr Muscat of putting his political interest first, because he would have to resign if the new power station is not built.

In a statement, the PN said that once Dr Muscat had put his interest first, it would defend the national interest itself.

Going against the prime minister did not mean going against the national interest, more so as Dr Muscat was burdening each family with a burden of  €2,500 to get the power station built. 

Earlier, the Labour Party accused the PN of incitement about the power station at the European Commission in an attempt to harm the country.

This, it said, was a repeat of what happened in the case of the Citizenship by Investment scheme. It showed how the PN was against investment.

The PL said Nationalist MEP David Casa has been trying to raise doubts within the Commission about the state guarantee, even though credit ratings agency Fitch said the risks from state guarantees was decreasing.

The present government was giving guarantees for investment, whereas the former government gave guarantees to cover debts, the PL said.