The Labour Party said that Edward Scicluna’s decision to step aside from his functions as governor of the Central Bank of Malta was supported by the Cabinet, with the Nationalist Party replying that it was divided on the issue and exposed the internal struggles within the PL.

Scicluna has passed on his functions as governor to the second in command after enough evidence was found, prima facie, for him to stand trial on criminal charges brought up following the conclusion of a magisterial inquiry into the three hospitals’ deal.

In a statement, the PL said Scicluna’s decision was supported by the Cabinet, and any other version is a “lie and a spin” by the Nationalist Party. The people had given the PL the mandate to take the best decisions for the country, and this is what the government will continue to do, the PL said.

In reply, the PN said that it is interesting to note that the PL issued a statement that contradicts what Scicluna had said in an interview with The Times while at the same time trying to pin the blame on the PN.

This shows the division inside the party and that Prime Minister Robert Abela had lost control, the PN said.