Government whip Godfrey Farrugia said he will not be attending the Labour Party’s mass meeting to celebrate Workers’ Day in Valletta on Sunday.

Writing on Facebook this evening, Dr Farrugia said he will be celebrating Workers’ Day privately in his home.

“Every worker knows how much I respect and work for him/her. Maybe I decided (not to go) because I respect (workers) so much).”

Dr Farrugia may have been influenced by this decision after his partner, independent MP Marlene Farrugia, was asked not to attend the event by President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

Marlene Farrugia had expressed her intention that she would have attended the PL event, but Dr Coleiro Preca called her by phone and asked her not to go because of the current political climate.