Updated| Labour hit out at PN MEP campaigning, PN rebut accusations

The Labour Party has lambasted the PN for campaigning on the day when two popes were officially canonised at the Vatican, claiming that the PN’s latest campaigning “continues to confirm that it cannot be taken seriously.”

On Sunday, the PN unveiled the party candidates for May elections in several small villages and hamlets around Malta  - a bone of contention for the Labour Party who has claimed that two parties had agreed that no party would campaign on Popes' Canonisation Day.

The PL has claimed that due to the canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II, an agreement was struck between the two parties, an agreement, which according to the PL, was confirmed on Friday.

“Until Friday, the two parties had agreed that on Sunday, no campaigning would be done by either party. However, by going back on its word, the PN continues to confirm that it cannot be taken seriously,” it said.

“It is no surprise that the Nationalist Party went back from its word, just as it did on many other issues,” the PL said.

However, in a reaction, the Nationalist Party has denied the accusation, and insisted that the agreement between the PN and the PL was for Sunday dialogues not be held.

“The agreement between the two parties stated that no public dialogues or political activities were to be held on Sunday.”

“The PN observed this agreement, because this morning’s presentation of candidates was only open to the media,” the PN argued.

In addition, the Nationalist Party said it had to note the “hypocrisy” of a political party which at one point was lobbying the separation between the state and the church, but at the same time wanted to stop political events due a religious activity.