Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici yesterday received a standing ovation from the PN general council as he shrugged off “personal attacks” and said they would only make the party stronger.
“Thank you for the solidarity you have shown me. Thank you for giving me strength. This is the party of my grandfather, my father and me,” he said forcefully.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he was prepared and determined to continue serving the country with all his energy.
He then turned to the defence of Malta’s EU ambassador Richard Cachia Caruana, who like him is also facing a motion of censure by the Opposition.
“There is nothing worse than accusing someone innocent of a serious charge,” he said.
At this point he invoked Pietru Pawl Busuttil, a PN local councillor and party hero who was unjustly framed for murder in 1980s. Like Dr Mifsud Bonnici, Mr Busuttil recently also came under fire by Nationalist MP Franco Debono.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the Labour Party had not changed in the past 25 years and continued to use the poor strategy in Parliament of attacking individuals.
“Open your eyes. [Labour] is ready to stoop to such a low level to accuse someone who only served his country.”
While thanking the party members for filling him with courage, he said he wanted to return this confidence by assuring them that Labour’s attacks would only “galvanise” the party further.
“These attacks make us stronger and unite our party, the party of Christian and democratic values, to keep on working.”
Describing Dr Gonzi as a “man above other men”, he said the PN could rest assured that under his guidance it could prepare for another win.
Dr Gonzi had served the country well in the face of problems that no other leader before him had had to deal with, he said. Dr Mifsud Bonnici faces a vote tomorrow which might force him to resign from his Cabinet position.
But MEP David Casa, who is known to be one of the PN’s negotiators with Dr Debono, said he was confident that Dr Mifsud Bonnici would remain a minister.
“I believe each of us will use our good sense and responsibility given to us by the Maltese people at the election,” he said.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier also praised Dr Mifsud Bonnici during their speeches.
Dr Borg Olivier said that the applause Dr Mifsud Bonnici received was one of solidarity for the “immoral” and “psychologically violent” attack being aimed at him.
“The party has faith in your integrity and the work you are doing,” Dr Borg Olivier said, adding that under Joseph Muscat Labour had also launched personal attacks against Mr Cachia Caruana, Transport Minister Austin Gatt, MP Francis Zammit Dimech and MEP candidate Alex Perici Calascione.
“With Joseph Muscat, tomorrow it could be any of you,” he warned.