Prime Minister Robert Abela asked on Monday why the Opposition seemed so “enthusiastic” to see criminals walk free instead of paying for their actions.

Abela was closing a debate that was supposed to be on the budget measures but which the Opposition turned into one on corruption and the latest political developments, which included the arraignment and bail denial of former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri.

He referred to comments by PN Leader Bernard Grech on Sunday, who said he would give Vince Muscat a second pardon he has requested in return for information about a homicide and failed robberies.

“You said you have no doubt there is another mastermind. If you are so sure about it, when we finish here go to the police commissioner and tell him what you know,” he told Grech.

“With what you said, you essentially invited the mastermind to ask for a pardon. Why do you want the criminals to walk free rather than pay for their crimes? Why this enthusiasm to see pardons given? I do things differently.”

Under PN governments, pardons used to be agreed upon in “meetings held under bridges in the middle of the night,” and cocaine traffickers were let out of prison, Abela said.

About claims that a sitting minister was involved in a “big job”, Abela again challenged PN MP Jason Azzopardi to name him. “Stand up and tell us who it is. Of course you wont!”

During the at-times rowdy sitting, characterised by shouts of “mafia” from the Opposition benches, the PM told Grech that, “while you were pointing a finger at us, you had four fingers pointed at you. Tax avoidance is a crime.”

“You say you are not ashamed to mention Simon Busuttil, but we are. Because you are conspiring to drag Malta’s name through the mud at the European Parliament,” he said, referring to Thursday’s EP debate on the rule of law in Malta.

He accused the PN of intensifying these attacks ahead of the Moneyval assessment.

The PN forgot all about the pandemic because it is now politically convenient for it to speak about other matters, Abela said. “Mark my words, when 11 April approaches, and it is time for us to review the measures, they will start to beat their chests and speak about the pandemic again. This shows that you are hungry for power, but hungry you will remain.”

“The Opposition spent three days ignoring what is relevant to the people – you did come uo with a single proposal on how you would improve this country’s future. This was your chance to show if you can be an alternative government – this is how immature you are, riding on the day’s wave and trying to get pollical mileage out of it.”

Abela said that past PN administrations had left public finances in a disastrous state, and this in times when the country was not going through crises. PN governments believed in austerity measures, he said. On the other hand, this government believes in sustaining the economy and protecting jobs while incentivising investment. He said that, despite the pandemic, unemployment remains low, and the country’s finances remain stable.