Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil has said that if the Prime Minister really made a mistake with Café Premier, then he should stop making payments.

"We know that €3 million, out of the €4.2 million has been paid thus far. If it is true that he made a mistake then he should stop payments to the Café Premier representatives, otherwise the decision was intentional," he said speaking at the PN General Council meeting.

"The Prime Minister was caught in a number of lies this week regarding Café Premier. He is personally and directly involved in this. He paid €4.2 million, of your taxes, your money, to a private company which had a high amount of debt. Instead of taking the building back though a court case, in a situation where no rent was being paid, he chose to pay their debts".

"The €2 million debt with the bank was also paid through this deal. The whole thing stinks. Everything points towards someone or a body pocketing money”.  

"The AG also made clear that this payment should never have been made and that there should not have been any commissions paid. The Prime Minister then described this as a mistake. Amateurs. Now these are meant to be running the best cabinet Malta has ever seen, as Joseph Muscat has described it".

"If something is premeditated, then there cannot be a mistake. This was done intentionally and now we know that there were three meetings between the Prime Minister and the Café Premier Representative prior to the elections. We also know meetings occurred after the elections. After 25 years in opposition, the first thing they felt they needed to do was give €4.2 million away. Disgraceful."

He reminded people that the café closed just after the election. "This means that Mario Camilleri's mind was at ease and was able to close when the PL came to power, yet if the PN had won, he would have needed to return to work. The Prime Minister is lying when he says he was not involved. He was involved through meetings and also in the negotiations".

He turned to the Commissioner of lands, who said that this agreement was one of the reasons for his resignation. "If this was only one of the reasons, imagine what other reasons were involved". 

"Dr Muscat also said that Café Premier used gas thus it was a danger, however it turns out that the café used electricity". He questioned the Prime Minister about the gas tanker off the coast of Marsaxlokk.

He said schools could have been built with the money given to Café Premier, or improved schools and roads. "This government has abandoned road maintenance. There are roads, in Gozo, which are in a disastrous state. He spoke of Valley Road Balzan, which is "also in a disastrous state with drainage overflows".

On the Swiss Leaks scandal, he said that the PN was rebuilding itself on values and honesty. He said there were at least two people who are former PN Ministers involved. "Put yourself in my shoes. What would you have done if persons around you were not up to ethical standards.  I suspended the two former PN members immediately. Seriousness and honesty demand this. It took me five seconds to make this decision".

"Joseph Muscat defended both former Ministers that I have suspended.  He must now answer for former minister Ninu Zammit's amnesty".

The PN is running a marathon

Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil described the Nationalist Party as running a marathon, "and it can reach the finish line."

Dr Busuttil gave this description when comparing his own experience with running the marathon recently. "My aim wasn't to finish it quickly, but it was to complete it. It was cold, raining however I made it. Through the marathon I really enjoyed myself. It filled me with enthusiasm and determination".

The Opposition leader also took a moment to remember Victor Galea Pace, who passed away earlier this week and former Minister Michael Refalo.

"Tomorrow, the PL will achieve two years in government. I assume you've all received the invitation for the opening ceremony of the power station," he quipped. The PL promised it would be complete within two years and the Prime Minister said he would resign if it wasn't up and running by then. "The construction of the power station has not even begun. Dr Muscat tied his political career to the power station. If he promised to build it in order to reduce electricity bills, then since it is not complete, how will he pay for the reduction? By keeping fuel prices high? If this is the case then he is reducing tax from one side while increasing from the other".

"The Prime Minister had given his word and up until a year ago he said he was convinced it would be done. He himself promised he would resign if it is not complete, however he is still there. Our question is, how much can you trust the Prime Minister's word?"

A party changing in opposition

He spoke about the recent reshuffle, stating that he has brought in new people. If the party doesn't change when in opposition, when would it change? he asked. We are all here for the PN, this is why we are here. The message that the PN is changing is spreading. He thanked woman for all their work in society on the occasion of Women's Day. He stated that women's day should be celebrated everyday. For the first time in Maltese history, we have a shadow cabinet which is half female and half male.

"We are opening up our party to persons who are LGBTI, and some of them are local council candidates. All those part of a minority will find the PN's doors open".

"I don't care for those who say we are negative, as it is our job to criticise. We made a difference criticising in café premier, in the citizenship scheme etc."

He said that if it were for the Prime Minister, then the local council elections would not take place. "The Prime Minister called the elections a waste of money, but of course its not a waste for Café Premier".

He said that the PN managed to get rid of the strongest Minister (Manuel Mallia) the PL had, "this with 9 less seats".

The local council elections will take place in a number of localities around Malta and Gozo. The Prime Minister calls himself the underdog for this election. "Everyone knows the Prime Minister is not the underdog… in fact he should google it to discover the definition of ;underdog'. The reality is these councils have a labour majority and will likely remain a PL majority. There are elections, yes we are in a minority and they will be hard, but we will step up to the challenge and fight”.