The 12th anniversary of Malta's accession to the EU today was a reminder of Joseph Muscat's most serious error of judgement, and it also showed how he was continuing to make such errors even today, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this morning.
Speaking in Mosta he also again hit out at the police for not investigating Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri over the Panama scandal, pointing out that the police had found enough time and resources to drive his car for 520km to test its fuel consumption.
Dr Busuttil said the way how the Panama scandal was not investigated by the police showed how the government was misusing the state's institutions.
Referring to Workers' Day, he said the government was discriminating not only between Nationalists and Labourites, but even between those in the clique and those Labourites who were not.
Blatant and widespread political discrimination was taking place at the ETC, the Planning Authority and Transport Malta, among others. Last week a worker at the Water Services Corporation told him how he was in line for promotion, but was told it would only happen if he joined the Labour Party.
His advice to this worker, Dr Busuttil said, was not to lose his dignity because that was what counted most.
The Nationalist Party, he said, would stand up for these workers. It was promising justice, for both the victims and those who carried out such vindictive acts.
"I will tell those responsible to immediately stop these vindictive acts, as otherwise justice will catch up with you," Dr Busuttil said.
EU ACCESSION ANNIVERSARY
Dr Busuttil recalled that today is the 12th anniversary of Malta's accession to the European Union.
That, he said, had also been the time when Joseph Muscat had worked hard to keep Malta out of the EU. He had not grasped such a basic necessity for Malta's wellbeing.
Today everyone acknowledged how right the PN had been and how wrong Dr Muscat was.
But Malta was continuing to suffer from Dr Muscat's errors of judgement. The prime minister was unable to distinguish between right and wrong, between what was in the national interest and what was not.
Evidence of this was the so-called ministerial reshuffle which was a politically fatal mistake. as serious as the way how Alfred Sant had wanted to ignore the EU referendum.
Dr Muscat had forever betrayed the confidence given to him by the people.
This afternoon, Dr Busuttil said, Dr Muscat expected to be applauded for his decision-making. He was sure a crowd would oblige. Indeed, it was easier to deceive people instead of convincing them that they had been deceived.
But as The Sunday Times of Malta had pointed out, the Emperor has no clothes, and that emperor too was applauded until a boy pointed out the truth. The PN was now that boy pointing out the truth.
Dr Busuttil said that on Monday, Dr Muscat had spoken to his MPs individually and sought their advice. They told him to dismiss Health and Energy Minister Dr Mizzi, but he decided otherwise. He retained him and chief of staff Keith Schembri.
For Mr Schembri, the prime minister acted as if nothing had happened, even though he had a secret company in Panama, set up after taking up his government post. Dr Muscat told Mr Schembri he still enjoyed his 'trust'. But did this mean confidence, the trust in New Zealand, or both, Dr Busuttil asked?
Furthermore, Konrad Mizzi was actually promoted by being made a minister in the Office of the prime minister, which is responsible for all ministries.
It was wrong of the prime minister to say the two had not done anything illegal. For starters, they had not immediately declared their New Zealand trusts for the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
And there was a strong suspicion of corruption when one set up a secret company in Panama with the claim that it would handle funds from brokerage, Dr Busuttil said. Were could such funds come from if not corruption?
It was also wrong for the prime minister to claim that Dr Mizzi delivered. One only needed to ask those waiting at the hospital emergency department, those in hospital corridors or those on the hospital waiting lists.
Dr Mizzi had also promised a power station in two years, and yet it was continuing to be delayed.
Dr Muscat had also said Konrad Mizzi would resign his post as Labour deputy leader. If he was not good enough to be PL deputy leader, was he good to serve as a minister? Certainly not.
Dr Busuttil said the prime minister's decisions on Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri were a farce and an insult to the people. Put simply, Dr Muscat had ignored the people's sentiment and acted for his personal interest. Dr Muscat was an accomplice with Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri either because he was participating in their activities, or because he wanted to cover them up. It was about time he shouldered his political responsibilities.
Dr Busuttil said the PN would stand up for the truth and honest politics, and it was the only viable alternative for Malta. Truth ultimately triumphed.