Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today insisted that Labour MP Michael Falzon had a right to defend himself when asked about the former parliamentary secretary’s allegations that the Auditor General’s Marco Gaffarena investigation was a political witch-hunt.

Back in February, Dr Muscat had said Dr Falzon’s resignation was a sign of respect to the Auditor General.

Despite this assertion, Dr Falzon on Monday used a public accounts committee hearing to again accuse people within the Auditor General’s office of carrying out a politically motivated investigation.

Addressing a press conference, Dr Muscat said that he had always refrained from attacking independent institutions, even if these same institutions were critical of him.

“I will never shoot the messenger,” Dr Muscat said.

He said the Opposition leader had not lived up to these same standards, and just yesterday was critical of the Attorney General.

Asked about the GWU’s leasing of property to ARMS Limited which was deemed to be irregular by the Auditor General, Dr Muscat said the government had received different advice from the Attorney General.

Questioned why he had not waited for an independent audit to be concluded before taken action against minister Konrad Mizzi, Dr Muscat said the indication was that no funds were held by Dr Mizzi through his company in Panama.

Asked if former PL deputy leader was to be coopted to Parliament to replace Leo Brincat, Dr Muscat said there was a process in which he was not going to interfere.

Dr Muscat said the government had taken action on the Auditor General 2014 report on public accounts.

A report was published today detailing the action taken.

He said the majority of the NAO’s recommendations had been taken on board, and where the recommendation were not followed an explanation as given.