Former General Workers Union secretary general Tony Zarb said the deletion of his Facebook account is “an orchestrated attempt to silence me”.

Zarb’s account was removed after several complaints were lodged to Facebook following a series of posts in which the government’s consultant attacked Nationalist MEPs and the PANA committee after the European Parliament session involving Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and the Panama Papers scandal. Zarb later also attacked the archbishop. His profile was deleted for 'promoting graphic violence.'

In a statement, Zarb said that he attributed the closure of his account as an attempt by people who do not like it that he is defending the country against people who are causing so much harm to Malta.

This is pure hypocrisy, he said, because this attempt was made by people who spoke in favour of freedom of expression.

He said he will do his utmost to remain in contact with his followers.