The Prime Minister is changing stances with regards to the Panama Papers case.
From an out and out defence of Konrad Mizzi, his stance is now more nuanced.
In a long interview he gave on One TV this evening, Dr Muscat reiterated that an audit by an international firm is being carried out on Dr Mizzi's accounts.
But more importantly, he said that he shares the worry being expressed by the party grassroots that this issue is taking away attention from what the government is doing.
The government is watching what is emerging and in due time will take action.
Dr Muscat was even clearer: he compared the situation in Malta to that in Iceland and said that had Dr Mizzi been found to have hidden away sums of money before he was made minister, he would have sacked him. He also compared Dr Mizzi's situation to that of Austin Gatt under the preceding administration.
Dr Muscat even said he is not happy with the whole Panama affair.
He agreed with those who want a speedy closure of the whole thing but insisted the audit must be completed first. This will take a few more weeks, he said,.
Besides Dr Mizzi there are some 470 Maltese companies registered in Panama: their details will be revealed in May.
Dr Muscat also agreed that these Panama Papers, like Swissleaks before them and Luxleaks, put more and more pressure on financial centres by EU institutions. Malta must not lose its advantageous tax regime.
He was critical of the incident-filled event at the Law Courts earlier today and said it is not right that journalists covering the event get assaulted. He even blamed Simon Busuttil and said he always stops and listens to the journalists who want to ask him questions.
Later on, he weighed in on the PN Cedoli scheme (called a Ponzi scheme by Minister Edward Scicluna yesterday) and said it is ironic that the party which insists on transparency comes up with a scheme where people can lend big sums of money and yet remain unidentified. Banks ask all sorts of questions to people bringing money to deposit but this will be skipped in this scheme. The government may amend the law to stop all abuse in this regard.
The prime minister also spoke about the Mater Dei concrete issue and said it is difficult to find the perpetrartors; about the coming Kappara Junction roadworks; about the Montekriosto zoo accident that happened on Sunday and about the hotels investing €300 million in then past three years.
In a reply via Twitter, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said that after seven weeks of doing nothing, the PM now says he is listening.
In a statement, the PN said that instead of sacking Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri, Muscat went on his party's TV station to defend the companies they opened in Panama.
He hid the fact that they opened them secretly and that they wanted to open secret accounts in Dubai and Panama, and that they wanted these accounts for consultancy and brokerage services.
The people of Malta do no want speeches on Super One, but that the two people closest to the PM are dismissed. If not, then Muscat must go.
Malta will be protesting in front of the PM's office on Sunday because of the scandal, the PN said.