Nationalist Party Leader Simon Busuttil said that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was putting pressure on the independence of the judiciary and that he condemns it.

Dr Busuttil was referring to Dr Muscat's comment yesterday evening that inquiring magistrate of the Egrant situation Aaron Bugeja, should shoulder responsibility if Dr Muscat is cleared after a loss in the election.

On the programme Xtra which aired last night,The Prime Minister was asked what he would do if he lost the election and resigned, and then the Egrant magisterial inquiry finds him innocent. Dr Muscat said that that responsibility would be in the hands of the magistrate.

Replying to questions by the media this morning in Msida Marina, Dr Busuttil stated that if there is one institution which is still independent, it is the judiciary. "I condemn the pressure," he said, "he should respect that magistrate and his decisions". 

He said that it is not the first time that "attacks on the independence of the judiciary system have been made," he said.

He questioned as to how he could appear before someone who "spent a long time calling him names and expect him to be independent," referring to the appointment of former deputy leader of the Labour Party Toni Abela, who was appointed as judge. 

Farrugia was fired by Dr Muscat for comments about an alleged bias with regards to a magistrate.