Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi this afternoon continued to defend the appointment of his wife by Malta Enterprise, accusing the Nationalist Party of payback for his good performance as a minister.

“Many Nationalists have told me that this attack on my wife’s appointment is because I am doing a good job in the energy sector,” he said.

Dr Mizzi denied that his wife, who has been appointed as investment promotion envoy, is on a €100,000 a year contract, as quoted by PN leader Simon Busuttil, but he declined to state how much Ms Sai Mizzi Liang will receive in total for her three-year contract.

He reiterated that his wife was contacted by Malta Enterprise for the post, and that he didn’t lobby for her.

Asked whether he spoke to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat about the appointment, Dr Mizzi said that he did not feel the need to do so. He said that  Dr Muscat never spoke to him about his wife’s appointment.

Dr Mizzi made his comments in reply to questions at a press conference where he spoke of how his ministry had held talks to ensure that gas prices would be stable for the rest of the year.