The Labour Party continues to show that it is incapable of governing even at a local level, failing to keep its own councillors united where it had won a majority, the Nationalist Party said Thursday.

Instead of supporting its councillors, Labour is turning against them, the PN said after a PL councillor, Ryan Douglas Tanti, resigned from the party citing "disillusionment".

This means the Labour Party lost its majority, the PN said.

Tanti, who will now serve as an independent councillor, explained that he resigned from Labour due to the path the country is taking. He stated that he cannot see the Government leading the country in the right direction, with young people like him struggling to afford even a two-room dwelling to call home, the PN said.

Another reason Tanti gave for his resignation was Labour's attempts to introduce abortion "through the back door."

What happened yesterday clearly shows that Labour is solely interested in clinging to power, more focused on attacking its own people than working in the best interests of the residents of Tal-Pietà and Gwardamanġa.

This is further evidence of the chaos within the Labour Party in the local councils sector, adding to what is already happening in other localities where Labour has a majority, such as Fgura, Imqabba, and Qala in Gozo.

The residents of Tal-Pietà and Gwardamanġa deserve better. They deserve serious leadership, as they had when Tal-Pietà had a Nationalist majority and the residents truly benefitted, the PN said.

It expressed its solidarity with Tanti for the way he was treated by the Labour Party, and reiterated that his actions reflect how more and more people - including Labour supporters themselves - are realising that under Robert Abela and his circle, the country is heading in the wrong direction.

PL responds

The Pietà Councillor's decision has nothing to do with the Council's operation in Pietà, "contrary to the impression that the Nationalist Party is trying to give, because he has publicly stated that the issues deal with his personal views," the PL said in response.

"The Labour Party notes that councillors, like all politicians, should have the freedom to take decisions according to their feelings, with responsibility in line with their duties and respecting those who have trusted them with their vote."

What is certain is that this is not a case of alleged misappropriation of funds "amounting to around €2.4 million by a Siġġiewi councillor," the PL said. "Nor is it a case of suspicious and potentially irregular expenditure by the former Mayor of Għargħur," the PL said.

"Instead of pointing its fingers towards others, the Nationalist Party should address its chaos and internal rift, that led to the election of the 5th leader in 12 years. Even if the leader changes, nothing will change in the Nationalist Party.