The Labour Party has adopted a back-seat approach following Thursday’s decision by the Nationalist Party to ban three MPs from standing on its ticket.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat’s first reaction to the events that unfolded at PN headquarters was restricted to a YouTube clip of less than two minutes.

Dr Muscat’s only reference to the Prime Minister’s political troubles was a passing statement: “... while GonziPN was more concerned with itself, interested in the games played in the corridors of power and adopting yesterday’s politics”.

Dr Muscat extolled his party’s endeavours to draw up an economic road map that ensured wealth was reated and distributed fairly.

When asked to elaborate, a party spokesman insisted Labour’s “first interest” was to restore stability.

“The party will take decisions based on the national interest. We are not interested in GonziPN’s internal fighting or in creating obstacles.”

Strongly hinting at the need for an election, the spokesman said the sooner important decisions were taken, the better for the country to bring back serenity.

“This is not a case of a chapter in a book of political turmoil but a case of failed leadership of a Prime Minister who lost control of his party and the country,” the spokesman said. On Thursday, the PN executive committee punished Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Franco Debono and Jesmond Mugliett for disobeying the party Whip on various occasions.