The Labour Party said that Opposition Leader Bernard Grech boycotted official Freedom Day celebrations, an accusation that the Nationalist Party denied.
In a statement, the PL said this undermines the long time practice whereby successive Prime Ministers’ and Opposition Leaders, together with the President of the Republic of Malta saluted Malta’s main historical achievements – including Independence and Freedom Day.
It is clear that Bernard Grech does not understand the importance of his constitutional role, and through his actions, he is pulling down his party with him, the PL said.
Bernard Grech’s shameful behaviour is symptomatic of someone who has publicly stated he is ashamed to be Maltese, the PL said.
The PL said that the PN media referred to today’s public holiday as the “31st March feast”, censoring the word ‘Ħelsien’ (Freedom).
The PN was represented at the ceremony by what the Department of Information said was a representative of the Opposition Leader, David Agius.
A spokesman for the party said there was no boycott by the Leader of the Opposition as alleged by the Labour Party.
Bernard Grech could not attend today due to another commitment, but the PN was represented by an MP who was present on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, as happens whenever the Leader of the Opposition cannot make it to such events.
“It is also fake news that the PN or its media ignored or in any way censored the commemoration of today’s national feast, and a look at the Partit Nazzjonalista’s socials would have put the Labour Party’s mind at rest about this.”
The PN said the PL statement exposed the Prime Minister’s hypocrisy. Abela missed the ceremony in 2022, so does this mean that he was boycotting the event?, the PN said.