Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this morning referred to the case involving Nationalist MP Franco Debono and said that the government and the party were fully focused on the needs of the country.
He was speaking in a radio interview at the same time as Opposition leader Joseph Muscat was accusing the government of being distracted by its internal problems, and the uncertainty was impacting on the country.
Dr Gonzi said the Franco Debono case was a clear example of spin by the Labour media.
He noted that the Nationalist MP had explained his absence from part of the parliamentary sitting on Monday and he had publicly declared his loyalty to the government and the party. Indeed, Dr Gonzi said, Dr Debono had not needed to do so because on Monday he had voted with the government when the vote was taken on the motion before the House.
Labour's spin did not matter because the whole government, the party and the parliamentary group were fully focused on the country's future in a time of challenges and opportunities, Dr Gonzi said.
Turning to the climate change conference, Dr Gonzi said he was disappointed at the outcome and had expected much better. The EU countries had been ready to raise their commitment to an emissions cut of 30 percent from 20 percent, as long as other countries also cut their emissions, Dr Gonzi said. But that had not come about.
He said that Malta would reduce its emissions once it commissioned the power cable linking it to Sicily and once new equipment was installed as part of the power station extension.
Dr Gonzi said 2010 would be year of promise and challenges which could include the reforms of Mepa and of public transport. This was the year when Malta could turn the recession into opportunity, he said, and the people should therefore take courage and not be disheartened by certain stories placed in the media.
The Prime Minister also referred to the new water and electricity tariffs, and said that the high international oil price was a reality ad local prices had to flucuate in the same way as the oil price fluctuated.
Dr Gonzi expressed his best wishes to President Abela.