Richard Cachia Caruana has resigned from his post as Malta's permanent representative to the European Union after an Opposition motion calling for his resignation was approved in Parliament.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said he was surprised by the vote as he had expected the PN parliamentary group to be united. He was surprised when Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando voted with the Opposition motion and Jesmond Mugliett abstained.

He said that soon after the vote, Mr Cachia Caruana submitted his resignation and he accepted it with regret. He asked Mr Cachia Caruana to stay on until he is substituted in the near future.

Dr Gonzi regretted that Maltese politics had sunk to such lows, saying that within a short span of time Malta had witnessed a second example of the Opposition's lust for power. He said a fierce, personal and unjustified attack had been launched at a public officer.

This, he said, was detrimental to the national interest, especially at a time when Malta was involved in delicate negotiations with the EU on matters which affected every Maltese.

But obviously, Dr Gonzi said, such matters did not even occur to the Opposition which was involved in issues which, clearly also involved personal matters.

Dr Gonzi said the government would stay in office for as long as it enjoyed the confidence of the House.