George Pullcino: ‘Opposition humiliating Mifsud Bonnici’

Rural affairs minister George Pullicino did not mince his words during his speech against the justice and home affairs motion.

In a spirited speech, Pullicino insisted that the Opposition would stop at nothing to satisfy its "thirst for power".

"It didn't stop itself from committing character assassination for political gains. The physical violence which reigned in the 80s has been momentarily put aside and replaced by psychological violence through the Labour media," Pullicino said.

The statement sparked angry reactions from both the Opposition and backbencher Franco Debono who at one pointed shouted that he as well had suffered psychological violence.

Debono has previously remarked that "if anyone suffered from psychological violence, it was me as I still have police officials guarding my family's house."

Pullicino said it was ironic that Labour leader Joseph Muscat was calling for a Freedom of Information Act when it had been a Labour government which had wanted to stop the Nationalist Party to stop it from setting up its own TV station.

On minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici, Pullicino said he was convinced that Mifsud Bonnici's principles were built on conviction and not out of convenience.

"He has gone through difficult times which have made him the person he is today," Pullicino said. "He acts with the best intentions to help the defenceless, and yet, the Opposition is humiliating him. It doesn't put forward proposals to what it criticises ... its ultimate aim is to win."

Pullicino said no other word other than "immoral" could describe the motion:

"I will vote against not only because of my political conviction of what he carried out, but because the motion is immoral. No one is perfect."

At one point, while Pullicino was commenting on the statement issued by the North Korea in which it reported that Muscat had supported its missile, Muscat interjected and told Pullicino that he had already denied it.

"I have already denied it and if Pullicino repeats it against I will sue him for libel," Muscat said.

"Whenever he wants he can file it: I have already written what I have just said," came Pullicino's quick reply, to which Muscat challenged him to "repeat it again".

Pullicino retorted that he wasn't his "puppet".

The exchange also led to a reaction by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. He told Muscat that just like he was denying a statement made by North Korea and wanted the government's side to accept it, he [Muscat] should do the same and accept government's statement on the Wikileaks cable.

Gonzi was referring to the Opposition motion calling for the resignation of Malta's permanent representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana after the implied that Cachia Caruana was working with US government officials to take Malta back in Partnership for Peace behind parliament's back.

But Muscat rubbished Gonzi's call and said: "If there are those who choose to believe the North Koreans, I choose to believe the Americans."