Labour leader Joseph Muscat had denied that he asked Toni Abela to resign over the Safi Club drugs case and that Dr Abela had refused.

Replying to questions after he toured SR Technics at the Aviation Park this morning, Dr Muscat said he he had discussed the interview he gave to The Sunday Times about the case. He had also told him beforehand what he would tell the interviewer.

Dr Muscat told The Sunday Times that mistakes had been been made in the handling of the case, by him, Dr Abela and the administration and had Dr Abela been an election candidate, he would have had to withdraw his candidature. 

IMMIGRATION

Asked to comment on his position regarding the push-back policy on migrants following the conditional agreement he expressed at The Big Debate on Tuesday, Dr Muscat said that if a country was considered as a safe port, migrants could be sent back to it.  He insisted that victims of human trafficking need to be treated humanely but a Labour government would be very firm with Brussels because, for example, the immigration pact did not result in any positive and concrete developments for Malta.  

"If a vessel comes in, we have to rescue people. What as I said, we have to protect the national interest."