Tonio Borg’s showing in Brussels should make all the Maltese proud, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said last night.

We have shown that when the national interest is at stake, the country can unite and rise above partisan politics- Joseph Muscat

Dr Gonzi, who is in Brussels for a meeting of the Friends of Cohesion, told The Times he had tried to follow the Commissioner-designate’s hearing as much as possible, despite his own engagements.

“He faced tough questions but Tonio’s answers testified clearly to his competence and integrity. We should all be proud,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party applauded Dr Borg for the way he responded to the direct and difficult questions he faced from a large number of MEPs.

“Dr Borg showed he is competent, prepared, aware of the challenges and determined to address them,” the PN said.

It added that Dr Borg was also sincere and did not discard his principles to please Brussels. But because he is “serious and mature” he realised that he had no right to impose his values on others.

“Above all, Dr Borg showed his credentials as an avid defender of human rights,” the party said, adding that he made the country and the party proud.

Opposition leader Joseph Muscat praised Dr Borg’s “confident performance” in a hearing that he described as tough but fair.

“We have shown that when the national interest is at stake, the country can unite and rise above partisan politics, and we have delivered,” he told The Times, indicating that the lobbying by Labour MEPs had a positive effect.

“We wish Dr Borg success in his role as Commissioner.”