The Nationalist Party will not take any action against MP Toni Bezzina until his appeals against two libel cases he lost on Monday are heard, PN leader Simon Busuttil said today.

Mr Bezzina lost two libel cases he filed against l-orizzont editor Josef Caruana and former PL Deputy Leader Toni Abela, over articles relating to works that occurred at the Zurrieq PN party club, by government workers in the last administration.

Speaking to journalists following a visit to the Inspire complex in Marsascala, Dr Busuttil said everyone had a right to appeal a court judgement and Toni Bezzina should also be given that chance. The government, he said, has appealed a recent ruling that granted the PN two extra parliamentary seats and expected that no one commented until the appeal is decided. He expected the same treatment for Mr Bezzina.

Asked what would happen if the appeal confirmed the original sentence, the PN Leader said one first had to wait for the court’s decision.

Dr Busuttil said there was no need for Toni Bezzina to suspend himself from the party until the appeal is heard.

The PN Leader said changes to declarations made in the court case were decided at the Labour Party headquarters, and the “Axe Minister” should say why did had happened. He was referring to newly-elected Deputy Leader Chris Cardona who had said that if anyone attacked the Labour Party with a sword, it would fight back using an axe.

Asked if he was, in principle, against making public workers carry out works for political parties, Dr Busuttil said a departmental inquiry some years had found that this was not the case with Mr Bezzina. 

In a statement, the Labour Party said Simon Busuttil continues to defend Mr Bezzina, and this shows the PN leader's weakness. Busuttil has double standards with the people surrounding him, and also with the public in general.