[WATCH] ‘Prime Minister held hostage by Mizzi and Schembri’ – Opposition leader

‘Prime Minister held hostage by Mizzi and Schembri’ – Opposition leader

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has said Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is blackmailed by his minister Konrad Mizzi and chief of staff Keith Schembri, the two officials revealed to have opened two offshore companies in Panama during their time in office.

“Today we have a confirmation that Muscat is personally involved with Schembri and Mizzi,” Busuttil alluded to the offshore companies the two close officials have opened. “Muscat is complicit with Schembri and Mizzi. We have been asking for a police investigation in this matter… we insist that the police investigate the fact that a minister has opened a secret Panama company, because the only implication here is simple: corruption.”

[WATCH] PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES CABINET RESHUFFLE, MIZZI TO STAY ON

“We know where Muscat stands and everyone can pass judgement on this. This is an insult to people’s intelligence,” Busuttil said. “They are farcical decisions: even Labour voters expected him to take a decision [to sack his minister]. Muscat has shown us he did not take a decision.”

Joseph Muscat has retained Mizzi as a minister without portfolio within his own political purview, with the prime minister taking responsibility for energy. He has also reintroduced former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia to his Cabinet, after he was sacked back in December 2014.

“The day started with Mizzi and Keith Schembri together with Muscat in Castille. Nothing has changed… the Opposition will not let this matter die down, and we will keep expressing the public’s sentiment.

“We will keep on insisting that Mizzi, Schembri and Muscat shoulder their political responsibility and leave public office, now more than ever. We will take any lawful action not to allow Muscat damage our country any more.” 

Busuttil said he will do what he can in parliament to ensure the prime minister shoulders responsibility. “He will try and sling mud at us, but the people are not stupid.”

The PN leader said he had not been informed with the nomination of Leo Brincat to the European Court of Auditors, and said he would pledge support for the nomination only if the government requests this support form the Opposition.

He said the reintroduction of Manuel Mallia to the Cabinet had “made the present situation even more ridiculous” referring to the fact that Mallia was sacked after his security driver was involved in a shooting incident in December 2014.