Updated, adds Pl reaction - Former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono referred briefly in parliament today to the charges made in court against her husband.

Speaking during the Budget debate on Gozo, Mrs Debono thanked all those, including, she said, some members of the government, who had shown solidarity with her and had family and had condemned the arraignment.

“We devoted our lives in service to the people, to everyone, within our limitations but always with sincerity and in a genuine manner,” Mrs Debono said.

Mrs Debono’s husband, Tony, is accused of misappropriation of public funds, fraud, falsification of documents, abuse of power and committing a crime he was duty bound to prevent.

In her speech Mrs Debono said the government should stop trying to give the impression that the former government did nothing and everything started under the present one.

Gozo never saw as much infrastructural work as under the former government, including the rebuilding of roads and the launching of the Cittadella restoration project.

In a reaction, the Labour Party said that the fact that the Opposition had given some of its time to Mrs Debono showed how her resignation from the PN parliamentary group was 'artificial'. 

It noted that despite the arraignment of Mr Debono and the evidence by a whistleblower, Simon Busuttil had never condemned the scandal and expressed displeasure for what had happened to Mrs Debono. What happened in parliament today, including applause by Nationalist MPs,  showed how  Giovanna Debono was still an integral part of the PN.

It also showed how Dr Busuttil was weak when faced by abuse within his ranks, despite speaking about political honesty and political responsibility.