The Socialist and Democrats group in the European Parliament yesterday reprimanded the European People’s Party for entering the Maltese political fray, as it lauded Malta’s “progressive government”.
S&D president Gianni Pittella criticised a harshly-worded statement issued on Friday by EPP chairman Manfred Weber, who said Maltese democracy was under threat in the wake of criminal proceedings taken against Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi.
Mr Weber had said: “This is simply not on. As an EU member state, there are limits as to how far this Maltese Labour government can go in its insatiable quest for power with complete disregard to human rights.”
He accused the Maltese government of being behind the move, adding that the EPP took note of how the Prime Minister had dealt with his chief of staff and his deputy leader in the aftermath of the Panama revelations.
Mr Pittella countered yesterday that the position taken by the EPP was unacceptable.
It is a partisan tactic which tries to undermine a country for some political gain
“It is simply based on exploiting a case instituted by a private citizen against a Nationalist MP to the detriment of Malta and the Maltese government. It is a partisan tactic which tries to undermine a country for some political gain.
“The Socialists and Democrats will not accept this kind of tactics, particularly since it is amply clear that the PN’s intent – which is a member of EPP – is to sabotage Malta’s position, moreover as the Maltese presidency of the EU Council is approaching.”
He said Mr Weber should not be part of the biased partisan games that his Nationalist colleagues in Malta were trying to play.
“The S&D is proud of the achievements of the Labour government which is putting into practice the principles of social equality, new civil liberties and progressive politics, and it will not let the EPP damage Malta’s reputation,” he said.
Reacting, the Nationalist Party said it was evident from the statement signed by the S&D president that Joseph Muscat’s “friends” were not comfortable defending the Panama scandal.
“Muscat should explain to his colleagues within the S&P the whole truth about the Panama scandal, and say whether his lack of action is the result of his involvement in this biggest political scandal in Maltese history,” the PN said.
In a counter-statement of its own, the Labour Party said the S&D had seen through the Nationalist Party’s attempt to use its political network in Europe to unsuccessfully try tarnishing Malta’s reputation for partisan gain.