Update 2 | Former Labour prime minister says Mizzi should go

Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi should do the “honourable thing” and resign, former Labour leader Alfred Sant said today.

Whilst praising Prime Minister Joseph Muscat for showing “an admirable sense of fair play and prudence” in how he handled news of Mizzi’s Panamanian company and offshore trust, Sant criticised Mizzi for placing the onus on Muscat.

On Thursday, the embattled energy minister that he was “serene and happy,” and refuted suggestions that he had committed anything wrong by opening an offshore company in Panama. Although he was expected to resign, Mizzi passed the buck on to Muscat and said that he would “consider any decision he feels fit”.

Sant argued that what should have been a clear and inevitable decision should have never been placed on Muscat.

“In his personal and political interest, in the interest of his family, of the Labour Party and the government and in the national interest, Mizzi’s honourable decision is to resign as soon as possible,” the former Labour prime minister said.

Sant went on to add that Mizzi would then be in a better position to defend his name and his honour.

On his part, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici would not entertain questions by the media on whether he thought Sant was right in calling on Mizzi to resign.

“I have nothing to add to what Muscat said yesterday,” Bonnici told journalists after a press conference, referring to statements by Muscat which suggest that he has already made up his mind on what course of action to take.

“The Prime Minister never shies away from taking decisions and I fully agree with his approach. He wants to take a decision after having all facts in hand and weighing that out with the public sentiment.”

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Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Arnold Cassola praised Sant for having had the courage to state the obvious.

"Finally, after over seven weeks, Alfred Sant has had the courage to state the obvious, that Konrad Mizzi is a liability not only for the PL but, even worse, for the whole country and therefore Mizzi must go!" Cassola said.

"We look forward to similar public declarations by Ministers like George Vella, Louis Grech, Varist Bartolo, Leo Brincat and Edward Scicluna, who have already expressed their views internally.  They need to speak up openly for the good of our country".