PN calls on Muscat to expel Tua from Labour

The communications office of the Nationalist Party is demanding Labour leader Joseph Muscat to expel PL candidate Rachel Tua from the party.

Two days ago, the PN released a screen-grab of a spoof image of Lawrence Gonzi's face, pasted on the ceremonial uniform former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi sported on his visit to Italy.

The Facebook screen-grab captured a conversation between Labour candidate Rachel Tua and other Facebook friends posting comments on the photo.

"With his silence, Muscat is defending Tua's base and vulgar attacks. Her decision to defend her actions instead of making an apology is not acceptable. Muscat must expel Rachel Tua from the MLP," PN communications director Frank Psaila said.

Psaila said that while Muscat chose to defend Tua, he had forced former One TV presenter Joe Grima to resign.

Grima's resignation came hours after Muscat disassociated himself from comments the former Labour minister made on Facebook in reaction to a critical obituary of Dom Mintoff penned by a Catholic priest.

"In Tua's case, Muscat has turned a blind eye. Why is she privileged by Muscat?" Psaila said.

In a reaction, PL communications director Kurt Farrugia suggested that "GonziPN takes a good look at itself and the people around it".  

"GonziPN is becoming even more ridiculous by the minute," Farrugia said, adding that the PL and its leader were focused on the economy, family's standard of living, jobs, education and healthcare.

"We are focused on the issues that really matter to people," he said.

In its statement, the PN went on to say that it was "obvious" there was no comparison between Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and the former dictator.

Psaila argued that Tua's action were aggravated by the fact that she saw nothing wrong in what she did.

"Tua's mentality shows how an MLP in government would stop at nothing to carry personal, base and vulgar attacks on who they don't like," he said.

Referring to the latest billboards unveiled by Labour, Psaila added that "the MLP can never provide a 'future that unites'."