‘We want clean politics, not dirty politics’ – Busuttil

Just days after Labour candidate Cyrus Engerer withdrew his candidacy bid after being convicted for a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years, PN leader Simon Busuttil has accused the Labour Party’s civil liberties spokesman of carrying out a “homophobic” crime.

On Thursday, a court of appeal convicted Cyrus Engerer for circulating pornography and computer misuse. A day later, Engerer, a former PN deputy mayor for the Sliema local council, withdrew his MEP candidature, insisting that he did not want to cast any shadows on the Labour Party or the prime minister.

Engerer, who defected to the PL in 2011, will now still be canvassing for the Labour Party – a move which garnered the support of Joseph Muscat who said Engerer’s decision “baptised him as a soldier of steel.”

But the PN, fresh from demanding the expulsion of Engerer from the Labour Party and from the LGBT council, has accused Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of lacking the courage to make the right choice.

Addressing a political rally in Rabat, Simon Busuttil argued that Engerer should have never been allowed to contest the European elections on the PL ticket because he had an ongoing case.

“Allowing Engerer to contest the elections was already a mistake in itself and one which highlighted Joseph Muscat’s immaturity, but to add salt to the wound, Engerer has now been convicted of a crime, and the prime minister is championing him and calling him a soldier of steel.”

“On the other hand, under the PN, any person awaiting trial, were asked to take a step back until proceedings end,” Busutil argued.

While accusing the prime minister of turning an “aggressor and a criminal into a victim and a hero,” the PN leader accused Joseph Muscat of shedding a bad light on politics and politicians.

“Is this the kind of politics that Joseph Muscat promised? Joseph Muscat’s handling of the Cyrus Engerer case is shedding a bad light on politics and undermining people’s trust in politicians. The PN wants clean politics, not dirty politics,” Busuttil said.

In addition, Busuttil argued that the person who is supposed to be the Labour Party’s spokesman on gay rights has been accused of committing a homophobic crime.

“The Labour Party’s spokesman for gay rights and civil liberties has been convicted of a homophobic crime. This is the exact opposite of what the prime minister and the labour party is trying to depict,” Busuttil said.

“Joseph Muscat lacks the courage to make the right choice. The Labour party is being kept hostage by morally corrupt individuals,” Busuttil underlined.

Busuttil also accused Muscat of “hypocrisy” and “double standards”, arguing that when then-PL Deputy Leader Anglu Farrugia spoke against a magistrate, Joseph Muscat took Farrugia - now Speaker of the House of the Representatives  - to task. On the other hand, Busuttil said, Muscat is now welcoming a person who has been convicted of a crime and calling him a hero.

Turning his attention on the MPs declaration of assets, Busuttil argued that four minister have yet to submit their declarations – even though these were due for the end of April. Another person who failed to submit his financial declarations, Busuttil said, was the prime minister.

“The prime minister is setting a bad example and a dangerous precedent. Perhaps it is now time for Joseph Muscat to shoulder his political responsibility or has hit forgotten his promise of responsibility,” Busuttil said.

One of the minister who has yet to submit his declaration of assets is energy and health minister Konrad Mizzi – a bone of contention for Simon Busuttil who argued that this might be because he is afraid of admitting his wife’s salary.

Meanwhile, in a clear attempt to angle voters, Busuttil called on the party faithful to urge others into voting for the Nationalist Party candidates, and in a clear attempt to angle voters, appealed on those who intend on abstaining.

The PN leader, who has insisted that these elections are the perfect platform for the electorate to show the government the "yellow card," insisted that the only way for the government to listen is through the people's votes.