One of the opposition’s political slogans that really sticks is the now infamous hbieb tal-hbieb (friends of friends). It sticks because this government, to whom it is directed, makes it stick like super glue. It simply does not wear off, no matter how time flies and no matter who is at the helm of the Nationalist Party. The slogan is ageless, perfected by a Nationalist administration that makes it perpetually real and true by its own actions and omissions.

The “new” Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi promised the nation “a new way of doing politics”. But two years into his way of doing politics, one gets the distinct feeling of deja vu. Lawrence Gonzi is little, if at all, different from his predecessor. They both stand lock, stock and barrel behind their friends and “their friends of friends”, irrespective of their misdemeanours.

What has Lawrence Gonzi to say about his friend Richard Muscat? I have noticed that to date he has said absolutely nothing on the findings of the Auditor General and on the outcome of this saga at the Permanent Committee on Public Accounts. And this is a man who everyone thought would be breaking away from the past and leading the nation with transparency, fairness and accountability.

Most probably, Lawrence Gonzi is waiting for Cabinet companion Austin Gatt to make a meal out of the Auditor General at an inquiry for daring to do his job. In all probability, the Prime Minister, confronted by the media, would say that he would prefer to refrain from making any comments about Richard Muscat at this stage before the inquiry on the Auditor General is concluded. (Incidentally, where are the reporters, cameramen and newscasters hiding?)

Ignore for a while the fact, that according to the Constitution, no authority can interfere with the functions of the Auditor General, let alone the executive. But since this government is unrepentant, you had better start believing that the Prime Minister will not bat an eyelid to confirm His Excellency the Ambassador in his post.

A little bit more silence from Lawrence Gonzi and you will have His Excellency retaining his position by tacit consent. After all, the Prime Minister might be seduced by the politics of his IT minister who considers that it is safe to take, or refrain from taking, decisions once the government enjoys a comfortable five-seat majority. With such a comfortable lead in Parliament, who cares two hoots about transparency and accountability!

This government stands for friendship before accountability. For a Prime Minister who has targeted the deficit as the prime goal of his administration, I really wonder how he can have the audacity to look the other way unperturbed by the gross mismanagement and abuse of public funds that reigned supreme at the Voice of the Mediterranean radio station under Richard Muscat’s presidency.

The Prime Minister has been utterly resolute in taxing the nation through the noses of its citizens for too long. He has also tried to address the steep rise in international oil prices by passing on the bill to the consumer instead of finding ways and means of pegging oil prices at more sustainable levels by strategically hedging them. And all this on top of systematically enforcing existing taxes – with arrears!

The Prime Minister’s flippant attitude regarding the loss of hundreds of thousands of liri in taxpayers’ money at that ill-fated radio station makes all his concerns and efforts at reducing the deficit to European Union requirements devoid of all credibility.

The Prime Minister has his own political responsibilities in this very serious issue.

Will he not repay the sacrifices of his citizens with the resignation of Richard Muscat? Or does he want to insult and hurt his citizens further by retaining Richard Muscat in his ambassadorial post?

Dr Gulia is opposition main spokesman on Home Affairs.