Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has called on the Attorney General not to allow his office to be used for political ends by the government.
He made the unusual appeal to the State prosecutor while addressing supporters at the Balzan Nationalist Party club.
Dr Busuttil was reacting to news that prosecuting 1,000 consumers who paid Enemalta officials to acquire tampered smart meters was at the AG’s discretion.
The government has decided to waive criminal proceedings against the consumers on condition they provide information about the scam’s masterminds and pay back they owe, plus a penalty and interest.
But the PN is arguing that a legal notice, which empowers the Enemalta chairman to waive criminal action against consumers who steal electricity, does not cover bribery.
Dr Busuttil criticised the lack of police action to prosecute the consumers and reiterated there was political interference in the police force.
He then said: “I appeal to you [the Attorney General] to retain the dignity, independence and seriousness of the office and don’t do like the Police Commissioner.”
In a tit-for-tat the Labour Party defended the government’s actions to collect money owed to the State while ensuring that consumers passed on relevant information to lead to those behind the racket.
Dr Busuttil was not credible when he “tried to lecture” the government on what to do to fight corruption, the Labour Party added, saying he was part of the previous administration that did nothing to uncover the smart meter scam.
The PN leader said people who believed the Prime Minister’s pre-electoral pledges were disappointed by his lack of honesty.
Dr Busuttil also referred to the government’s lack of appetite to continue with the impeachment motion against Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco pending a constitutional court case filed by the judge.
“The Prime Minister had promised to act on the recommendation of the Commission for the Administration of Justice before the election but has rescinded on this... it is wrong,” he said
The Opposition leader said the government was more interested in taking care of its own and cited the case of the business partner of the Prime Minister’s wife who was given a tourism promotion job in the US.
This case was highlighted by The Sunday Times of Malta.
Within this context, Dr Busuttil said, the PN had to serve as a beacon of hope for an “honest and clean way” of doing politics.
“We have to serve people and not use them... we have to show there is a correct way of doing politics.”
Referring to international affairs, Dr Busuttil expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people in the face of a military threat by Russia and urged the Maltese government to take a strong stand in favour of the people.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com