PN denounces Labour after Busuttil is accused of double standards

The latest battle between the Labour and Nationalist Parties is over two cases involving a piece of land in Gudja and a property in Rabat.

Both cases have been the subject of an investigation by the Ombudsman and the Permanent Commission Against Corruption and both have been cleared of any allegations of corruption. In one case, the Ombudsman said “devious methods” were applied whilst in another a decision taken by the Lands Department was reversed.

The political fight between the two parties is on: the Labour Party has accused Simon Busuttil of “double standards” while the PN has accused the PL of “insulting people’s intelligence”.

“The opposition leader is once again choosing to defend Jason Azzopardi who kept quiet about the PCAC's inquiry,” the Labour Party said in reference to the PCAC’s inquiry over the Gudja case.

“Busuttil, if he wants to talk about honest politics, standards and transparency,should stop alienating people and provide answers.”

The PL questioned how it was acceptable for Busuttil that Azzopardi kept quiet for four years over the corruption watchdog’s inquiry. It added that the PN had immediately attacked parliamentary secretary Ian Borg as soon as it emerged that the PCAC had cleared Borg of any illegality.

It is evident, Labour added, that the Opposition leader used different yardsticks for Labour and PN MPs. It went on to accuse Busuttil of attacking any individuals who expressed a different opinion to his.

On the other hand, the Nationalist Party has argued that the Prime Minister and the Labour Party were “insulting people’s intelligence".

“The PCAC may not have found any illegalities but the Ombudsman still said that Ian Borg got the MEPA permit by employing devious methods. The Ombudsman also said that the permit should have never been issued and the PCAC agreed with these conclusions,” the PN said.

“The opposition will keep on insisting that Ian Borg must shoulder political responsibility and resign as parliamentary secretary and as MP. These are the standards Joseph Muscat expects from the Opposition and he should employ them himself.”