PN leader Simon Busuttil said this evening that the point is not if security personnel accompanying persons in government positions should be armed with a weapon but how the weapon is used.
"We had a person who used excessive use and for what? Dr Busuttil asked.
"Six days have passed and he has not been arraigned but if someone else fired shots towards a car he would have been arraigned immediately," he said. This is the culture brought about by this government, to let certain individuals do as they deem fit," he continued.
He was asked by this newsroom for a comment during a press conference held after his speech in parliament this evening, regarding the fact that Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia claimed in parliament this evening that security personnel who accompanied Guido de Marco and Eddie Fenech Adami, were armed in the same way his driver was.
"We did not ask for Mallia to resign but for the prime minister to remove him as Home Affairs Minister. He is the Police Minister who is meant to ensure that peace and order is restored," Dr Busuttil said, in response to questions made by journalists who asked him if the PN will be satisfied to see the chief of staff, Silvio Scerri, resigns instead of the minister.
He said that the shooting incident involving the driver of Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia is not only unacceptable but there was a cover-up attempt.
Dr Busuttil said it is not the work of former judges to decide whether one is politically responsible for such actions.
Budget aftermath
He said that the Opposition welcomes the fact that the economy is doing well however pointed out that the government is not being truthful about certain facts such as the rise in public debt, which has risen drastically, and the increase in public sector jobs.
Dr Busuttil also said that the public transport service sector had worsened and "we still do not know whether we will have a new service since the issue is currently in court". He said that the government is morally corrupt, referring to a number of problematic issues which cropped up recently and involve government MPs.