Criticism towards the government is part of politics, but attacking the country is not something which we should encourage, said Owen Bonnici, Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government.

Speaking during a news conference at the Labour headquarters in Hamrun, Bonnici said that the government will continue to work for the people and to continue aiming for a stable growth on the island through investments in culture, infrastructure and politics.

Bonnici said that the opposition leader, Adrian Delia is leading a group of European MPs who attack their own country.

“These members of the Nationalist Party, Roberta Metsola, David Casa and Francis Zammit Demech, do not realise the damage they are doing to their country and the population.”

He said that the population trust the Government’s solutions much more than the Opposition's. He also said that the discussion of tax and economy is not just for lawyers, but is just as important discussion of the layman; as such topics affect their daily lives. The Labour Government always had a sense of consensus and a system which gives a form of competition of investments which will strengthen the country.

“To criticise the government is one thing, but to attack the country is uncalled for.”

He said that David Casa had, before the European Parliament's Tax committee, attacked Malta and its institutions. 

“We have a situation where three Maltese representatives spent a week instead of working towards the Maltese families, attacked our country. As a word of encouragement, we have a Maltese Government which will continue to work to move the country forward.”

Cyrus Engerer, who is contesting the EP election, said that such criticism from MEP’s and attacking their country brings no benefit, but only hurts Malta’s workers, students and pensioners who deserve much more from their politicians.

He said that the Nationalist MEP’s are attacking their own country and not helping in the process of moving forward.

Nationalist Party statement

In a statement, the Nationalist Party said that frustrated by his own mediocre performance, Bonnici has decided to try to shift focus on PN MEPs.

During the debate that took place at the European Parliament that focused on the corruption and money laundering in Malta, none of the MEPs that were present believed any of the statements made by Minister Owen Bonnici. This is because rather than admitting that the highest level of the Maltese government is riddled with cases of corruption and money laundering Owen Bonnici unsuccessfully attempted to give the impression that no problems exist. Everyone - the MEPs, the journalists and the people of Malta and Gozo know that the Minister was playing fast and loose with the truth. 

MEPs do not need us to tell them that investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated. 

Neither do they need us to tell them that Minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Keith Schembri were caught with secret companies in Panama and that the owner of the company 17 Black is also the director and shareholder of the power station. It is no secret that the passports-for-cash scheme is raising serious questions due to lack of transparency or that the inquiry conducted by Aaron Bugeja was not published in full. 

These are facts that are now well established and well known to all. This is why Owen Bonnici was not believed. The few corrupt politicians that are operating to the detriment of the Maltese people are not Malta. We represent the honest, hard-working people of Malta and Gozo who are proud of their identity and their country. 

After failing to come across as credible Owen Bonnici decided to attack and insult us. This is not new. We remind the minister that there is a stark difference between reality and the claims he has made. While Owen Bonnici has decided to continue to state misleading half-truths we have the facts on our side.

 

Adrian Delia

Reacting, PN Leader Adrian Delia said Owen Bonnici should have said when judges and magistrates would start being appointed in an independent way. He should also have said when the double role of the Attorney General would be removed, and when the Prime Minister’s powers of appointment would be reduced.

Instead, Owen Bonnici told us to remain silent in the Maltese and European Parliaments.

 

 Delia said the PN would not stop defending the interests of the Maltese. Owen Bonnici should roll his sleeves up and start implementing necessary reforms.