Simon Busuttil insisted that once corrupt, Joseph Muscat will always be corrupt. Addressing a crowd which gathered at a mass rally at the PN Headquarters, the first in this election campaign, Dr Busuttil lashed out at the Prime Minister for not resigning and instead, choosing to bring the whole government down with him by having the public face a snap election.
Dr Busuttil said that the Prime Minister is trying to blame the Opposition for creating instability, "but when you look read the international media, you don't read that Simon Busuttil is causing instability. You read how a Prime Minister was forced to call a snap election after corruption allegations." He said this gives him courage as he knows he is telling the truth.
"We have a moral and political crises. Joseph Muscat is starting to believe his own lies, but rest assured that the public does not believe him."
He said the problem is very clear - corruption. "Joseph Muscat thinks that an election is a washing machine. You put a dirty labour party in, hoping it would get cleaner after." But this is not the case.
Dr Busuttil said that Dr Muscat was the first Prime Minister to announce a general election during a party mass meeting, instead of his office in Castille.
"Everyone is asking why did Muscat call for an election a year earlier than predicted? How did a government of such a majority fail to complete its five years?" He said that the reason is that Dr Muscat is in the middle of a criminal investigation.
"But one should ask, what would happen if he wins an election while the inquiry finds him connected to the third company in Panama? Would he be willing to resign?" Dr Busuttil said that the reason is that the Prime Minister is drowning in his own corruption.
He said the PN is not afraid to face an election.
"This is the first time that we have a Prime Minister who is in the middle of a criminal investigation. In other European countries, such politicians would resign."
Dr Busuttil said that Keith Schembri and Joseph Muscat are intrinsically linked, because if one falls, the other has to follow. He said that there are undeniable proof surrounding the PM's Chief of Staff, including the kickback taken from the IIP citizenship scheme.
"Behind these three insignificant companies there are the names of Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi and Michelle Muscat," the PN leader said while referring to the Panama Papers scandal.
The crowd which gathered at the PN Headquarters interrupted the leader's speech with the chants of "ghax ghandna l-Simon maghna" while Busuttil milked the crowd by thanking them for their presence. "I called upon you tonight because I knew you would come," he added.
He said that the Prime Minister had every chance to kick Schembri and Mizzi out, but failed to do so. "Common sense dictates that he did not act because he is an accomplice."
Dr Busuttil said that the PN will fight this election with one simple call - "I choose Malta."
Muscat did not promise meritocracy because he knows he cannot deliver - Fenech Adami
"The Prime Minister's announcement is a proof that the clique in Castille is in panic mode, that caretaker Joseph Muscat is giving up, calling for a general election," Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami said as the crowd booed at the mention of the Muscat's name.
Dr Fenech Adami started his speech by calling on the public for a minute of silence in memory of Joe Cassar, former PN Parliamentary Secretary, who died today.
He said that Joseph Muscat knows his days are counted. "That is why he woke up this morning firing promises. But he did not promise meritocracy, as he already did so four years ago but failed miserably."
"He did not promise the end of corruption, becaue he knows he leads the most corrupt government in Maltese history."
Dr Fenech Adami said that pensioners would not believe Joseph Muscat's lies as they know that when the government had the chance, opened companies in Panama in an attempt to get richer while the workers struggle.
The public booed as he mentioned the promise related to the reconstruction of all Maltese roads. "How can you make such a promise when you failed to at least finish the project in Regional Road?" He said the government was finished before this particular road was complete.
"In a couple of days, you will be handed the voting documents. We need to make sure that this process will be free of any abuse. Careful how to deal with the police. We cannot trust anyone. Let's make sure no one steals this election."
He urged the government to release the flights information for those Maltese living abroad as soon as possible so that those who have the right to vote, do so. "We need an army of volunteers," he added.
"It's happening," Beppe Fenech Adami concluded. "This is not an election of Labour versus PN, but of the Nationalists and the genuine Labourites against the corrupt clique."
Photos: Michael Camilleri and Paul Jones
Video: Paul Jones