‘Simon Busuttil overreacted’ – Prime Minister over Speaker's ruling

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat categorically denied any political interference over the Dalli charges. "Simon Busuttil's claims are false," Joseph Muscat said. As a result, in such circumstances he was compelled to ask the Speaker for a Ruling on the matter.

Replying to questions by journalists at the University of Malta Campus, Muscat stated that the body language of some Nationalist MPs displayed disapproval with yesterday's decision to walk out of parliament.

The prime minister added that he would retain former European Commissioner John Dalli in his governmental post. At the moment, there are no charges against Dalli.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil asserted allegations that Commissioner of Police Peter Paul Zammit had not pressed charges of bribery against former EU commissioner John Dalli, because of political influence.

His refusal to retract his statement led to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat demanding a ruling from the Speaker, after asking Busuttil to substantiate his comments.

Yesterday, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil accused the government of trying to "muzzle" the Opposition's freedom of expression. The Opposition MPs walked out of Chamber after the Speaker's ruling.

Simon Busuttil said that the Opposition will contest the ruling and is ready to take case to Court and, if needs be, the European Court of Human Rights.

Yesterday evening, speaker Anglu Farrugia ruled that Busuttil's allegation of "political interference" in the John Dalli case constituted a breach of privilege because the leader of the opposition failed to substantiate the allegation.

On his part, Busuttil insisted he was basing his argument on the testimony given by former police commissioner John Rizzo, who told the Court the Attorney General had given his go-ahead to arraign John Dalli. The arraignment however never occurred, and after Rizzo's resignation and the appointment of Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit, it was declared there was "no case" against Dalli.

Busuttil concluded that there had been political interference.