The former Nationalist mayor of Lija, Ian Castaldi Paris, speaking during a live programme on One TV, was highly critical of PN leader Simon Busuttil's budget speech.

Dr Castaldi Paris is not exactly a 'Tagħna Lkoll' endorsee like former PN Minister Jesmond Mugliett and former PN journalist Karl Stagno Navarra who were also on the show criticising the PN leader. Dr Castaldi Paris fell out with the PN only a few months ago and resigned soon after.

In his comments to One TV presenter Charlon Gouder, Castaldi Paris said that Busuttil's speech was childish and negative.

Yesterday, Dr Busuttil hit out at the government continuously for its shortcomings, outlining each minister's failures, and highlighting that the budget is an anti-social one.

Dr Busuttil's speech attracted many positive comments on the social media with people congratulating him for a strong and convincing performance. Among these was Labour MP Marlene Farrugia, who posted a comment on her Facebook page congratulating Dr Busuttil while citing slogans dear to the PN.

Contacted for a comment following yesterday's programme, and asked if the reason he was so harsh towards Dr Busuttil was due to past personal issues he had with the PN, Dr Castaldi Paris said that such issues are past and forgotten and that he was simply commenting on Dr Busuttil's speech during a "normal" budget-focused debate.

He said that he does not form part of the PN any longer and does not feel he needs to answer for his actions in this case.