Since the general election, we have rightly heard both the President and the Prime Minister make strong pleas for national unity in the wake of one of the most divisive and bitter general election campaigns in most people’s memories.

It ill befits the head of government communications, therefore, to indulge himself in a spasm of political rage aimed at one of the most senior political figures in our parliamentary democracy. The attack in this newspaper (‘A great week for politics’, July 21) on the leaderof the Opposition by Kurt Farrugia, who is a civil servant, wasa disgraceful abuse ofhis position.

The leader of the Opposition holds a very special place under our Constitution and it ill befits any civil servant, no matter the political complexion of the administration that employs him, to write about him in the intemperate, vindictive and personal terms expressed in his article.

As a public officer, Farrugia has committed a clear case of misconduct which brings the civil service into disrepute.

I hope the Public Service Commission and the head of the public service (the Principal Permanent Secretary) will have the conviction and confidence to take the necessary disciplinary action – as they are induty bound to do under public service regulations.