[WATCH] Labour MPs turn tables on PN during no confidence motion debate

Parliamentary marathon: what does the public think?

Labour MPs are focusing on the government’s successes and criticising the PN’s political strategy during a debate on a no-confidence motion presented by the Opposition.

The no-confidence motion against the government was tabled on the back of the Panama Papers revelations that show that energy minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Keith Schebri possess offshore companies in Panama.

However, ministers and Labour MPs are by and large avoiding the scandal, instead focusing on their specific portfolios and the Opposition’s “aggressive” tactics and lack of concrete policy proposals.

Justice minister Owen Bonnici mocked PN leader Simon Busuttil as the “politically weakest leader in his party’s history”. 

“He has been PN leader for around 1,000 days and you can count his policy proposals on one hand,” he said. “He lacks any policy ideas and has decided to go down a politically easier route – acting the bully, attacking people on a personal level and humiliating their families.

“While this tactic appeals to the PN hardcore, it frustrates the silent majority who have had enough of such divisive tactics. Busuttil may enjoy the false comfort of the grassroots, but he has gone down a route that will damage both his party and the country.”

Health parliamentary secretary Chris Fearne warned that the Opposition’s tactics could pave the way for political violence and parliamentary secretary for competitiveness Jose Herrera said that it risks damaging the financial services sector.

Foreign minister George Vella, who has internally called for Mizzi’s resignation, drew comparisons with “economy destabilization” tactics used by previous Nationalist Oppositions.

Several Labour MPs referred to a recent article in ‘The Economist’ that had sung praise for Joseph Muscat’s social-democrat policies.

However, Opposition MP Francis Zammit Dimech argued that Labour MPs are intentionally avoiding speaking about Mizzi’s and Schembri’s offshore companies.

“No economic success can justify Mizzi and Schembri opening secret companies in Panama. ‘The Economist’ had described Muscat as a rarity in the European Union. They were right – it is truly a rarity for a European Prime Minister not to take any action against a minister and chief of staff embroiled in the Panama Papers scandal.”

The debate was opened by PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami, who dismissed Mizzi’s and Schembri’s explanations for opening their companies as “heresies and lies”.

“Mizzi first said that he opened the company because he married a Chinese woman, a lie that was repeated by Muscat. He then said that he opened the company to manage his two properties – a flat in London and a flat in Sliema. Later, he said that he opened it to manage the rent of his London flat.

“These explanations don’t make sense, and nobody believes them.”

Opposition MP and former finance minister Tonio Fenech delivered a strong speech, claiming that Muscat can hardly afford to kick out Mizzi and Schembri.

He said that Schembri is the de facto Prime Minister and that all major government decisions have to first earn his stamp of approval.

“Schembri was the brains behind Labour’s election campaign, who Muscat himself had described as his right-hand man. He had also said that his business experience would help increase government transparency…”

He added that Konrad Mizzi has been elated into a super-minister with large energy and health projects under his direct watch, and with the position of PL deputy leader recently added to his portfolio.

“Mizzi and Schembri are Muscat’s two closest aides, and if he were to cut off his own right and left hands, then not much will remain…”