‘Muscat giving the public toys to deflect Panamagate’ – Marlene Farrugia

Independent Marlene Farrugia has lashed out at the Labour government’s tactics and accused it of handing out “toys” to the public to deviate its attention from the ‘Panamagate’ scandal.

She claimed that the government had timed its announcement of a deal with Alitalia to purchase 49% of Air Malta and an initial investment by Ablecare into the maritime hub, so as to fend off the pressure from the Panama Papers, which confirmed the offshore interests held by energy minister Konrad Mizzi and the PM’s chief of staff Keith Schembri.

She delivered her adjournment speech with her partner and government whip Godfrey Farrugia watching on.

“Everything else the government does appears ridiculous, as long as Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri stay where they are,” she said. “I personally feel uncomfortable with Mizzi and Schembri negotiating deals in my name.”

She described Muscat’s close aides as an albatross around his neck and that everybody was expecting the Prime Minister to sack them.

She said many of the youths at tonight’s Q&A organised by the Labour Youth Forum had asked Muscat what happened to his promises of good governance.

She described Muscat’s mass meeting planned for the 1st of May as a “show of force” that the Prime Minister will use to show the public that might is right. “Muscat should use Workers’ Day to admit to his mistakes and promise to stick to his pre-electoral promises of good governance, and not use it as a show of force,” she said.