Labour Party activist Manuel Cuschieri has called on supporters to “stand in solidarity” with former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat outside the law courts if he were to be charged, saying that this is the “moment of truth.”
In a live broadcast to followers on his Facebook page, Cuschieri described claims that Muscat had €30 million of assets frozen after charges were filed against him as a “lie double that of Egrant” and warned “anybody who identifies themselves” with this story “to be very careful” because it is totally false.
The €30 million asset freezing claim was made in a NET News report, but has not been verified.
Cuschieri is known to be close to Muscat, and it was he who encouraged Muscat to throw his hat into the ring as a candidate for the Labour Party in the upcoming European Parliament elections – something which didn’t transpire.
He said that had Muscat had €30 million he would “be more than ready to distribute them to those who are most in need in the country, like he did when he was Prime Minister.”
Speaking to supporters, Cuschieri said that it was now time for them to transfer their words of encouragement to Muscat to facts. “This is the moment of truth,” he said.
He said that when he has an “indication” of the date and time that Muscat is to be charged in court “for this political vendetta, you need to be ready – I will be there with you – to stand in solidarity with Joseph Muscat and the many others who are going to be charged in front of the courts.”
“No more words and talk on Facebook: now is the moment of truth,” he said.
“We will give you the date and time where we will meet, present physically in a civil and calm manner but determined to show solidarity to Joseph Muscat and others in front of the court building,” he said.
“We are going to test you and see if what you have been saying in appreciation and support to Joseph Muscat will be transferred into facts,” he told supporters.
“I will be with you in these important moments for justice, when it is being undermined by the supposed institutions. We want good order in the country, a normal country, where justice works and is effective, and is justice not political persecution on people who were politically successful,” he said.
He said that protesting in a “civil and orderly manner” is normal and “nothing special” in a civilised and democratic country.
“We will leave things which aren’t acceptable to the professors – you all remember what happened in 2019, when they besieged police officers and threw coins and eggs. We aren’t people of that low level. When we take to the streets, we go there civilly and in an orderly manner but to not allow anyone to carry out a political persecution against the Labour Party,” he concluded.
