It is possibly the first time that huge cracks are appearing in the Labour Party fold, as two separate factions exist on the way forward following the arrest of Yorgen Fenech as part of investigations into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

There were occasions in the past when there were calls for action to be taken against Minister Konrad Mizzi and OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri, especially at the time when the Panama Papers were revealed.

But what has happened in the past few days has exposed a kind of friction that now exists within the Labour ranks, with reports of splits within the Labour parliamentary group.

We have at least one minister who is openly saying that Schembri and Mizzi should go, with other government MPs also sharing their views, perhaps more timidly, on what should be done, including Aaron Farrugia and Anton Refalo.

This morning, after Evarist Bartolo publicly said that Schembri and Mizzi should choose to leave to save the Labour Party - and Mizzi replied that all this is only helping the PN - some Labour exponents have reacted on the social media, some in support, others to disassociate themselves.

Among them were MEP candidate Cyrus Engerer and Identity Malta chairman Ian Castaldi Paris – incidentally, two former Nationalist officials who shifted to Labour - who were involved in a public spat on what should be done.

Engerer re-posted Bartolo’s opinion on Facebook, saying that the Labour Party has worked incessantly to give a voice to people who did not have one and a job to unemployed people. “This cannot be lost. The legacy of Joseph Muscat cannot be overshadowed by the selfishness of the few,” he wrote, expressing his support to Muscat.

Castaldi Paris was quick to reply, saying that the greatest support Engerer can show to Muscat is by staying silent.