Joseph Muscat and Michael Falzon on the day the latter resigned as a parliamentary secretary. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Michael Falzon was exercising his right to defend himself, the Office of the Prime Minister said in reaction to the former parliamentary secretary’s verbal attack on the Auditor General.

Dr Falzon used an interview on Xarabank last Friday to accuse the National Audit Office of “vindictive and politically motivated” action in its investigation of the Gaffarena scandal.

Asked whether the Prime Minister endorsed this criticism from one of his backbenchers, a spokesman insisted the government had no intention of attacking the NAO.

“The Prime Minister acted on the NAO report, while a parliamentary secretary shouldered the ultimate responsibility and resigned his post. That shows respect for the institution,” the spokesman said.

He insisted that Dr Falzon did what Nationalist ministers always failed to do and shoulder responsibility. “He is entitled to express his views and defend his position.”

The spokesman said it was the PN in the past that attacked the institution by tabling a parliamentary motion for an investigation of the NAO and ignoring its reports.

“Had the government wanted to attack the institution it would have done as the Nationalist Party did in the past,” the spokesman said, adding that the Opposition leader had repeatedly attacked the judiciary and other constitutional bodies whenever they did not follow his line.

Dr Falzon resigned two weeks ago after the NAO concluded that he had colluded with officials of the Government Property Department and businessman Mark Gaffarena in the expropriation of half a building in Valletta.

He is entitled to express his views and defend his position

Asked for his reaction to the accusations levelled towards his office, Auditor General Anthony Mifsud preferred not to comment. “For the time being we will not comment.”

On Friday, Dr Falzon also asked whether the NAO had colluded with architect Joseph Spiteri who had carried out the valuations of the property and lands involved in the Gaffarena deal.

The tirade included a specific reference to NAO chief investigator Keith Mercieca, who Dr Falzon accused of having a political motivation.

Ironically, Mr Mercieca is the same NAO officer who stood his ground in August 2013 when explaining his findings on Enemalta’s oil procurement to Parliament’s public accounts committee.

At the time Mr Mercieca received flak from PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami after pinpointing failings in the way former energy minister Austin Gatt dealt with Enemalta. Dr Falzon said he would be a candidate with the Labour Party, four square behind Joseph Muscat, in the next election. “I promise absolute loyalty to the Prime Minister and the people.”