Former judge Philip Sciberras lambasted the MEPs who came to Malta last week to follow up on the rule of law in the country.

Foreigners were “always welcome”, Dr Sciberras said but those who came with the “flimsy excuse of lack of rule of law” did not deserve to be welcomed at all.

He accused the MEPs of “spreading the bitterness in their stomachs and fanning the flames of division and hatred”.

Dr Sciberras said the MEPs were “full of themselves” and that they should “carry their own cross”.

“Their threats are despised by a crowd that understands what is right,” the former Labour MP said.

Portuguese MEP Ana Gomes and German MEP Sven Giegold were on a one-day visit to discuss their report on the rule of law.

Hauled out to circulate Labour spin

After their visit, Ms Gomes said she had “even stronger” concerns on the rule of law in malta than when they had first visited.

She also insisted that an election “does not clean up the record of corruption”, adding that questions of criminality needed to be addressed by the judiciary.

Ms Gomes highlighted other concerns about the investigation into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, most notably its rate of progress and rumours that Magistrate Anthony Vella, who is leading an inquiry into the assassination, would soon be appointed judge. 

Ms Gomes feared the inquiry would end up going back to square one.

Dr Sciberras’s comments drew harsh criticism from Nationalist MEP David Casa and former Opposition leader Simon Busuttil.

“The former Labour MP, who has been handed numerous government appointments over the past few years, was hauled out to circulate Labour Party spin,” Mr Casa said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Dr Busuttil described the comments on Ms Gomes and Mr Giegold as “inappropriate”.