MEP independent candidate Arnold Cassola has taken aim at Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition Leader Adrian Delia, accusing them of shedding 'crocodile tears' after two soldiers were accused with the murder of a migrant.

He issued his statement right after polling booths for the 2019 MEP and local council elections closed.

"Now that voting is over, I must express my disgust at the hypocrisy of Muscat and Delia, who have shed crocodile tears on discovering that representatives of the state, two soldiers entrusted with the security of our country, are the alleged authors of a cold blooded racial murder."

He said that the two leaders are partly responsible for creating a "racist climate in our country since they are harbouring racists within their ranks, and even presenting them as candidates in yesterday's elections."

"A few years ago, one man had augured that a Somali migrant would kidnap EU Commisisoner Cecilia Malmstroem because of her support for migrants."

"And what does Joseph Muscat do?  He now presents him as star PL candidate for the St Paul's Bay local council. Will we now have a Labour racist mayor in multi-ethnic locality?"

"A few years ago, a  Labour MP had suggested in parliament that a separate bus service for migrants ought to be introduced on the Birzebbuga route. Pre-Martin Luther King days at their best. And what does Joseph Muscat do? He now presents this man as his MEP candidate."

"Another guy, this time PN, has been ranting that migrants are taking over shops in Marsa and Hamrun and that this is affecting the Hamrun and Marsa community. And what does Adrian Delia do? He now presents him as an MEP candidate."

"Last weekend, instead, Muscat and Delia were presenting themselves as the paladins of anti-racism. What shameless hypocrites: If you were really anti racist, you would have by now long kicked out of your political parties the three persons mentioned above. Instead, you present them as candidates. To quote the famous Konrad Mizzi: Shame on both of you".

"And Mr Prime Minister, no amount of posing for photos and selfies with non-Caucasian adolescents is going to absolve you of your historical responsibility in fomenting racism in Malta."