Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has justified the planning authority's decision to grant a temporary permit to a petrol station in Qormi that was shut down by Mepa twice because of illegal construction.

The Prime Minister told Times of Malta he believed the decision had not dented Mepa's credibility. 

“The most important thing in this case is that we don’t leave anything pending. This case has been dragging on for a long time and it is important that a decision has been taken.”

Asked whether he agreed with Mepa’s decision, Dr Muscat said the government did not interfere in the authority's work.

Asked about comments made this morning by Giovanni Bonello, who as a former Mepa board member slammed the decision, Dr Muscat said that the former European Court of Human Rights judge had every right to his opinion and he respected it.

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