Nationalist MEP David Casa said today that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat lied when he said that he (Dr Muscat) had secured support for the nomination of Tonio Borg as EU Commissioner.

Reacting to comments made by Dr Muscat on Dissett, where he claimed that he had played a role in securing Tonio Borg’s nomination to the European Commission, the Head of the PN Delegation David Casa stated: “It has become common knowledge that our Prime Minister has a loose relationship with the truth but the assertion that he somehow secured Socialist support for Tonio Borg’s nomination to the European Commission is a heinous lie.

The Labour Party attempted to undermine Tonio Borg’s candidacy at every turn, Mr Casa said. The official Socialist position was to vote against Tonio Borg and in fact, the majority of them did. Tonio Borg was approved because he was able to demonstrate competence and integrity. He was approved despite the underhanded, albeit amateur, maneuvers of the labour party. 

"It is a lie that it is merely the EPP Group that takes issue with the Prime Minister’s Panama Papers scandal. Leo Brincat, for instance, was rejected by MEPs from across the political spectrum, including a number of Socialists, because any connection to the Prime Minister’s Panama Papers scandal is toxic. Toxic in relation to the individuals involved and more importantly toxic to Malta. The damage that is being done is immeasurable," Mr Casa said.

PL responds

In response, the PL said that PN MEP David Casa lied. They quoted Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil as having said, back in 2012: “Malta’s national unity won the day, all six (Maltese MEPs) worked in favour (of Tonio Borg) and did our utmost to bring everyone in favour... I salute and publicly thank Louis Grech who worked a lot to achieve the result we have today.” 

They also said that Former Commissioner Tonio Borg had said that both political parties, and their leaders, had supported his nomination.