The Partit Demokratiku today challenged the Prime Minister to act in the same way he said he would have done when he was Opposition Leader.

The declining trust in politicians is worrying, PD said in a statement. Public standards are constantly falling. Nonchalant Members of Parliament are a bad influence. Politics and crime undoubtedly do not mix. Neither does the revolving door between government and big business, or the reckless outsourcing of taxpayer’s money to appease the ever-hungry mouths with the second or third appointment.

Is it right that an alleged fuel smuggler has a direct line to a cabinet minister? Is it not alarming that the same minister is seen partying with known criminals? Minister Chris Cardona is consistently being shown as keeping bad company and using public allowances capriciously and often without producing receipts, the PD said

It seems that the present government has gone overboard and does not even bother deploring what is patently wrong. This attitude is jeopardizing Malta’s credibility and worse still, has resulted in a rapid decline of society’s moral standards. 

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has a political responsibility not only to condemn such behaviour, but the duty to fire a minister who dishonours and damages the reputation of Cabinet. Partit Demokratiku noted that there is a sharp contrast between PM’s line of action in 2013 and 2014 from that being taken since. Public obligations and duties have diminished to an all-time low.

Joseph Muscat, as Leader of the Opposition, very rightly held the Nationalist government to account for its misdemeanours. Why has he not upheld those standards? What has changed?

Partit Demokratiku believes that politicians should be held accountable for their mistakes and conduct. PD is for an educated, outward looking, open society, where the rule of law and social justice are guaranteed.