A Labour Government, first led by Joseph Muscat and now by Robert Abela, never intended to improve people's lives through the Electrogas powerstation project, the Nationalist Party said Tuesday. The only plan the Labour Government had - and still has - is to profit and steal from the public, defending those who have stolen at all costs, it said.

That is precisely why Robert Abela has done, and continues to do, everything possible to ensure the truth does not come out. It is also why Robert Abela wants to keep legislating in a way that shields those who steal from the public and conceals the facts, the PN said.

Now that the truth is emerging from the 17 Black Inquiry, the Maltese people have, in black and white, the names of all those who defrauded the public with the power station that they had boasted about before the 2013 election. This is why the Nationalist Party insists that the Magisterial Inquiry be published in full.

During a press conference addressed by the Chairperson of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Darren Carabott and Shadow Minister Beppe Fenech Adami, the speakers recalled how, at the request of Opposition Leader Bernard Grech for the PAC to investigate the powerstation and Electrogas, at least 40 sessions were held. Among those who testified were individuals from the Labour Government's leadership and former Ministers.

The Partit Nazzjonalista has always carried out its duty on behalf of the people by scrutinising and asking pertinent questions about public expenditure, including during PAC meetings.

During these sessions, which focused on the findings of the Auditor General regarding the Electrogas powerstation, none of those who testified wished to take credit for this project, even though, until a few years ago, it had been portrayed as the country's salvation.

Over the course of these sessions, Opposition members on the Committee asked hundreds of questions that remained unanswered by the witnesses, including questions posed to Keith Schembri, Karl Cini, and Brian Tonna.

Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was even caught reading out answers prepared by his secretary during a session in which he was meant to testify about this fraud, the PN said.

Many were evidently uncomfortable speaking about what was done in connection with the powerstation. In fact, there was a Minister who was caught passing on the questions he intended to ask the witness, prior to their appearance before the Parliamentary Committee.

This Committee - which is tasked with holding the Government to account for its expenditure - features Government members who, during meetings, focus more on acting as lawyers for the witnesses and covering up the truth, rather than ensuring that the entire truth is revealed.

It is crystal clear that this case has now gone beyond the squandering of public funds and has become a criminal case involving high-profile figures within the Labour Government, the PN speakers said.

Whatever Robert Abela may say, the powerstation project was nothing but a roadmap to line the pockets of Labour Ministers and top officials, and the public has understood this very well. And no matter how much Abela tries to deny it, Labour is an integral part of the Electrogas scandal, the gas tanker, and the 17 Black company, from which high-profile Labour figures such as Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri were set to receive millions. Over the years, through its MPs, the Labour Party has defended these scandals and those behind them in every possible way, including by voting against parliamentary motions calling for their removal.

As long as Robert Abela continues to defend individuals who stand accused of criminal activity, he is choosing those who robbed the people over the very people he claims to represent.

There's a vast difference between what Robert Abela says and what he actually does, and the public is well aware who deserves their trust, the PN said.