European People’s Party (EPP) parliamentary group chairman Manfred Weber this evening slammed the government over charges being pressed against Shadow Justice Minister Jason Azzopardi for comments he had made about former police commissioner Peter Paul Zammit.
Malta’s Labour Party, however, was quick to hit back at the European Parliament’s Christian Democrats, and took exception to the suggestion that the government was intervening in the course of justice.
In the latest exchange in the growing saga, EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber said in a statement this evening of the Jason Azzopardi case: "This is simply not on. As an EU Member State, there are limits as to how far this Maltese Labour government can go in its insatiable quest for power with complete disregard to human rights. In a fully fledged democracy dragging the Shadow Minister of Justice to court for something he had said in his capacity as Shadow Minister is unheard of.
“Lines will be drawn and Malta will not be allowed to continue sliding down the authoritarian route. We will stand up for the Maltese citizens against this increasingly erratic government. Since when has a Shadow Justice Minister been tried in Europe for something he had said with a jail term of up to three months hanging over his head? And let's not fool ourselves, this is indeed the Maltese government acting behind its henchman. We will not be fooled and we will not surrender.
“Against the backdrop of the looming Maltese Presidency of the EU Council, we take note of how the Labour Prime Minister has dealt with his Chief of Staff and his Deputy Leader in the aftermath of the revelations of the secrete companies and bank accounts in blacklisted Panama. We are deeply concerned and we will not stand by."
Labour accuses PN of “stooping to new lows” to tarnish country’s reputation
In a reaction shortly after the EPP statement, the Labour Party came out swinging, accusing the EPP-affiliated Nationalist party of having "stooped to new lows in trying to tarnish our country's reputation abroad by misreporting a case instituted by a private citizen against Jason Azzopardi to EPP Chairman.
"It seems that the EPP Chairman is suggesting a Government intervention in the course of justice which would be unbecoming in a normal functioning democracy. One would expect the chairman of the largest group in the European Parliament to check facts and to not rely on partisan briefs that are aimed solely at tarnishing a country’s reputation. "
The LP stressed that Malta enjoys a complete separation of powers between the executive, the legislative and the judiciary branches of government, as in any other democracy in Europe and full respect to the rule of law.
The Labour Party observed how the case against Dr Azzopardi was instituted upon a complaint by a private citizen who does not form part of government in any way, shape of form. Secondly, the LP reminded, a Member of Parliament, like any other citizen, is equal in the eyes of the law and is expected to act with responsibility when commenting publicly.
Muscat, Schembri and Mizzi are tarnishing our country’s reputation - PN
In a one-line reply to the dispute, the PN said: “The only three people who are stooping to new lows and tarnishing our country’s reputation are Joseph Muscat, Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi - all embroiled in the Panama scandal.”