Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil addressed the issue of a potential Euro-skeptic mentality rising in Malta by appealing to the public to consider all benefits Malta has gained through being members of the EU for the last 12 years. He also continued his appeal to look out for National Interest, which means being part of a strong and united European Union.

Dr Busuttil was speaking during an interview on Radio 101 earlier this morning addressing the issues related to the Brexit result which rocked the world last Friday with 52% of the UK voting to leave the Union.

He once more extended the PN's hand of cooperation to the government offering experience and a good reputation in Brussels to help deal with any local issues which may arise due to the Brexit referendum result. "Our credibility is being offered in the name of national interest."

The Opposition Leader said that it is time to ask, "Why did it come to this point?" He explained that the UK has always had a strong Euro-skeptic presence both in the media and in the European institutitons. "Let's remember that, until 50 years ago, the UK was an Empire and that changed into being a member along with 27 other countries." Dr Busuttil reasoned that, with such an aggressive anti-EU campaign in the UK, no wonder the people voted to leave in the end.

Dr Busuttil then remembered the fight which the PN had to lead 13 years ago with an anti-EU campaign going strong in Maltese media for five years leading to our joining. He criticized UKIP leader, Nigel Farage saying that you should never put your own political interest before national interest.

The decision will have huge implications both on a European Scale and on a local Maltese scale, however we can only begin to fully understand these implications throughout the next two years while negotiations between the UK and the EU will be ongoing. "What we can be sure of is that there is no way the UK will have the same conditions and benefits from the EU while being full members."

Part of the responsibility for this result also falls on the EU itself, Dr Busuttil said, likening the Union to the PN prior to the last General Election. "I sometimes compare the EU to the PN who never spoke about the good it was doing, and look where we are now," Dr Busuttil quipped.

Reacting to news that the top Google search in the UK post-referendum was 'What is the EU,' Dr Busuttil said that the Union has failed in giving the citizens enough information to make an informed decision. He also mentioned the EU's shortfalls in terms of dealing with the immigration crisis.

Regarding immigration, Dr Busuttil said that the Maltese have clearly founded worries about the issue considering that Germany, the largest country in terms of EU representation, couldn't handle the influx of one million irregular migrants, let alone how Malta can. Yes there are open internal borders, but why wasn't there anything done regarding external borders between Germany and Turkey and Malta and Northern Africa?

Moving towards the local scene, Dr Busuttil said that the strong economy which Prime Minister Joseph Muscat regularly talks of is fruit of a tree which was planted well before 2013. Further criticizing Dr Muscat, Dr Busuttil raised the question of trust considering the same man who called leaving the EU 'suicide' was the one who campaigned so harshly against joining.

The Opposition Leader reminded listeners that this is the same man who is leading the government in negotiations of privatization of Gozo General Hospital, St Luke's Hospital and Karen Grech Hospital, as well as being responsible for the privatization of Enemalta. "He betrayed the values of meritocracy, accountability and transparency and I call this populism;" the same populism which, according to Dr Busuttil, led to Brexit.

Dr Busuttil then spoke of the Central Bank's Deputy Governor, Mr Alfred Mifsud's role being untenable until allegations of bribery and fraud, initially exposed by blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia, are fully investigated and ruled out. "If you aren't good enough for Governor, then how are you good enough for Deputy Governor? Even a young child can see that this doesn't make sense."

He accused the government of defending people in the heart of the PL while swiftly doing away with anyone that was deemed a 'spy'. Dr Busuttil once more pushed for the new nominee for the role of Central Bank Governor to undergo a parliamentary hearing before being nominated to guarantee that the person is fit for purpose.

Dr Busuttil continued by saying that the Panama Papers scandal, when No-Portfolio Minister Konrad Mizzi and OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri were exposed as having opened secret companies in Panama; as well as MFSA Chairman Joe Bannister being attacked and defended at the same time by members of the same cabinet were enough to hurt Malta's reputation in Europe.

The Opposition Leader added on to his harsh critique of the government by saying that "corruption has become an integral part of the PL government." He mentioned how local media have just reported that the lease on Gozo General Hospital may be extended from 30 years, as was initially thought, to 99 years under the discretion of the lease-holders.

Concluding with yet another call for the publication of the contracts negotiated by Minister Mizzi regarding the privatization of hospitals in the name of National Interest, Dr Busuttil said that these public properties have potentially been stolen from the public to be handed out for up to a century.

"We will fight for National Interest like we did for our Independence, like we did when we fought to join the EU and how we are doing now. When people ask which party is really looking out for National Interest, then the answer will clearly be the Nationalist Party."

In a reaction to the interview, the PL issued a statement accusing Dr Busuttil of being untrustworthy due to repeatedly criticizing the privatization projects within the Health Sector while stating that he is proud to have led the MIC. The statement pointed out that Dr Busuttil's paycheque was 80 percent higher than the Attorney General and Head of the Civil Service at the time.

The PL also criticized Dr Busuttl for being proud of his contracts with the Europa Research and Consultancy Services of which he was a director. According to the statement, "This goes against all he speaks about, even in issues of persons of trust, since he has 17 persons of trust outside the Civil Service."