With his exclusion from Robert Abela’s news cabinet, Silvio Parnis said that with his decision, the Prime Minister had hurt him, his family, his friends, and all those around him.

Speaking to iNewsMalta, Parnis said that with what happened on Saturday, his political career was over. “How can I contest when I cannot help people?  How can I contest an election when I have horses with me who can help people?”, he questioned.

Parnis was the only casualty of Robert Abela’s reshuffle over the weekend, going from being Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly to the back-benches. His portfolio was elevated to a full-ministry, however it was given to Michael Farrugia instead.

Parnis said that he had been offered the local councils portfolio, but added that he did not accept this offer as he felt that he had done nothing wrong during the pandemic, and that what he had done was following the advice of health authorities.

“If there was anyone else, he would have worked in the same manner as that was the advice of the health authorities. I told the Prime Minister that I was not ready to go down a step.  All this after I always worked.”

“With what he did, the Prime Minister hurt me.  He hurt my family, my friends, and those around me”, he said.

“Despite all that happened between me and the Prime Minister, who I used to consider as the biggest friend, I won’t damage the party. I will keep respecting Robert Abela even though he hurt me”, Parnis added.

Parnis emphasised that he had surveys in hand which indicated that he would have been elected comfortably in his district, but that after a knock like this, he would be unable to work and has no choice.

“I will not damage the party of the Prime Minister. I’m hurt. But I must look forward. 23 years of happily serving the people.  I will remain in Parliament. I will not damage the PL.  I never had any thoughts of stopping.  I was prepared to contest the election – I made the decision to not contest on Saturday”, he concluded.