Opposition leader Simon Busuttil this morning lashed out at the government saying that last Monday’s 13-hour parliamentary debate over the PN’s no-confidence motion showed that it was “in denial” over the harm being done to Malta’s reputation by the Panama Papers scandal.

Addressing a political activity at the PN club in Żebbuġ, Dr Busuttil said Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had lost all moral authority by his dogged defence of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi and his top aide Keith Schembri. Both were mentioned in this scandal because of their secret Panama companies. They are denying wrongdoing.

“Our reality is people’s reality, but the Prime Minister is living in a different world where everything goes. Three years after his election, Dr Muscat is completely detached from reality,” Dr Busuttil said.

He said the Opposition would keep on harping until action was taken and responsibility shouldered.

“How is it that in Iceland and Spain politicians resigned, and in Panama itself the police raided the offices of Mossack Fonseca [the firm that opened these secret companies] but nothing of the sort happened in Malta,” he asked.

The PN leader expressed concern that this issue was eroding Malta’s standing as a reputable financial services sector.

“Unfortunately, the Panama Papers scandal is beginning to bite as professionals are very angry that the sector is being jeopardised by the actions of Konrad Mizzi and Joseph Muscat,” he said.

The crisis was being accentuated by the Education Minister's attacks on Malta Financial Services Authority chief Joe Bannister.

I hope that the ministers who called for his resignation will walk the talk- Simon Busuttil

“Haven’t you [government] done enough harm already?” This is creating a split and confusion within government that is fuelling uncertainty,” Dr Busuttil said.

Dr Busuttil said the Opposition would keep piling pressure to reveal details of a third secret Panama company, and whoever was responsible would have to be held accountable.

He also referred the no-confidence motion filed by Marlene Farrugia against Konrad Mizzi, saying the Opposition would support it.

“I hope that the ministers who called for his resignation will walk the talk.”

He lashed out at the Prime Minister for not giving a free vote, saying this was an issue of conscience, unlike what Dr Muscat said.

The PN leader remarked that in the past two months the government had resorted to acts of desperation. “The fact that the Justice Minister said that Dr Mizzi did not try to conceal anything says it all.”

In his address, the Opposition leader also called for the resignation of Gozo Minister Anton Refalo in the wake of a newspaper story which said that he had been caught driving a vehicle without an insurance policy and without a driving licence.

“While Victoria mayor Samuel Azzopardi this week resigned from the PN as he is expected to face charges over a road accident, Dr Refalo kept the matter concealed for a month,” Dr Busuttil said.

He added that this issue was clear testament to the different standards adopted by the PN and the PL.

“We cannot remain in such uncertainty, and need to resort to a sense of normality,” he said.

The PN is on the right track and is the beacon of hope for those wanting honest politics. 

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.