PN hits out at ‘more appointments for Labour core’

The Nationalist Party has hit out at the government following Lino Bianco’s appointment as ambassador-designate to Romania. Bianco, who is also contesting the European Parliament elections with the Labour Party, says the appointment was made “months ago”.

Yesterday he was presented with the letter of credence by the President of Malta.

The Nationalist Opposition accused Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of isolating himself in an “ivory tower, refusing to listen to what the people are saying”.

“On the same day that our country fell one place in the EU’s unemployment index, Muscat chose to appoint another person who is close to the Labour’s core,” the PN said in a statement.

The party went on to add that that while “the close friends are doing well”, the citizens had to make do with a 2c decrease in petrol prices.

The PN also hit out at Labour MP Silvio Schembri, who has now been appointed as chairman for the Responsible Gaming Foundation. Schembri said he will not receive remuneration for this post.

“Between themselves, Schembri and his wife have eight jobs with the government,” the PN said, referring to Schembri’s role as MP, chairman of a parliamentary committee, consultant to the economy ministry, part-time lecturer at the University and chairman of the Responsible Gaming Foundation.

“The Prime Minister has set out to please the colonels and sideline his own soldiers,” the PN added, in a jibe at Muscat’s call for the “soldiers of steel” to come out and vote for Labour in the EP elections.