The Nationalist Party has called on Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to publish the trade envoy contract of Sai Mizzi, the wife of Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi.

“After many months of silence from the prime minister’s end, Dr Muscat had no choice but to admit that the appointment of the wife of the Energy Minister was a mistake," the PN said in a statement issued today.

Referring to Dr Muscat’s comments in a section of the media, where Dr Muscat admitted that the case of Ms Mizzi could have been handled better, the PN said that Dr Muscat also admitted that the criticism made by the PN in this regard was justifiable.

The PN said that through the appointment of Ms Mizzi, and other political appointments, the Labour Party in government had breached its meritocracy pledge.

 “The government is concealing Ms Mizzi’s contract for the simple reason that the financial package of Ms Mizzi is costing taxpayers no less than €13,000 a month," the PN insisted.

The Malta Independent had submitted a Freedom of Information request for Ms Mizzi's contract to be made public, but was turned down by the government.