A newly-formed pressure group called Repubblika has called on the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to resign along with Minister Konrad Mizzi and OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri.

Seven members of the group were at Castille Square this morning, with one of them, Marion Pace Asciak, reading a statement.

The group said the Prime Minister promised that Schembri would resign if an investigation was launched against him, but this had not happened when it became known that an inquiry was taking place on 17 Black.

17 Black was listed as the 'Main Clients' and 'Possible Payers/Senders' of Tillgate and Hearnville, the offshore Panamanian companies owned by OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, leaked emails obtained by German paper Süddeutsche Zeitung, showed. In reaction to the news story, Schembri had said that 17 Black never became clients of his business group.  Mizzi has also said that there is no connection, direct or otherwise, between him, his company or trust, and any entity called 17 Black.

Accusing the Prime Minister of abusing power, Repubblika said Joseph Muscat’s behaviour “raises enormous doubts not only within civil society or persons that are openly critical of the government”.

The group than called for the resignation of Muscat, Mizzi and Schembri, and said the country’s institutions should overcome fear and fulfil all duties assigned to them.

In a separate statement, another pressure group, Occupy Justice, said it endorsed Repubblika's calls for resignation.