Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday warned the PN against underestimating the Government.

“I don’t mind. I like being underestimated by my political opponents,” he told TV presenter Lou Bondi, whose appointment to a public committee has enraged hardcore Labourites.

Asked about a drop in approval ratings, Dr Muscat stressed that his trust ratings had remained constant but many people, himself included, were not yet satisfied with the Government’s work.

“Some people got annoyed because of a position given to [former Labour general secretary] Jason Micallef and some get annoyed because of Lou Bondi,” quipped Dr Muscat.

Dr Muscat said the Government was listening to criticism and had already divided the justice and home affairs portfolio.

Asked about how the appointment of former EU Commissioner John Dalli to reform Mater Dei would be received in the EU, Dr Muscat said: “This country is run by its Government, not by the EU.”

He said Mr Dalli resigned on the understanding that there was a case against him. However, after doing their work, the police and the Attorney General found otherwise.

“[Olaf prosecutor Giovanni Kessler] cannot expect me not to use the experience of Mr Dalli just because of what he says... Being European does not mean saying yes to everything,” said Dr Muscat.

Dr Muscat said the health sector was a “monster”, with no inventory or audit trail, meaning medicines were going missing without any-one held accountable. He said good management practices would help make the system sustainable.