Prime Minister Robert Abela has once again launched an attack on the independent media after it exposed yet another case of abuse by someone close to him, the PN said in a statement.
“We are living in a country where each day brings a new scandal, with the main protagonists almost always being individuals close to Robert Abela, who have seized and abused positions of authority to which they were appointed by him or by others in Government.”
“Whenever the independent media does its job and uncovers wrongdoing by figures within Abela’s Government or their associates, and knowing he has no credible defence, Robert Abela lashes out at journalists. Abela has now launched another disgraceful attack on the media after it revealed how former Labour Party CEO James Piscopo received several consultancy payments related to the bus service concession granted to a Spanish operator, as well as from the construction of the Kappara junction, also by a Spanish company. At the time, Piscopo was CEO of Transport Malta, and therefore directly responsible for these very projects,” the PN said.
“Today, Robert Abela is a hostage to the same corruption he allowed to flourish. If Robert Abela truly respects the rule of law, he should submit himself to justice and to any magisterial inquiry that may investigate such obscene cases, including that of James Piscopo. Justice and journalism are the pillars upon which democracy is built. Since 2013, Robert Abela and the Labour Government have repeatedly brought shame upon our country through attacks on journalists.”
The PN said that it will not allow Robert Abela to “continue undermining the pillars of democracy in order to turn Malta into an autocracy.”