Labour defends Attorney General after PN demands resignation over Fenech acquittal
Labour has accused the Nationalist Party of attacking Malta's institutions after PN called for AG Victoria Buttigieg to resign following Yorgen Fenech's acquittal.
Labour hits back at PN over calls to oust Attorney General
The Labour Party has rejected calls by the Nationalist Party for Attorney General Victoria Buttigieg to resign, accusing the Opposition of launching attacks against Malta's institutions at a moment that demands restraint, Lovin Malta reports.
In a statement released in response to the PN's Saturday morning press conference, Labour argued that the aftermath of the Yorgen Fenech verdict calls for "seriousness and prudence" rather than insults directed at the country's judicial bodies.
PN MP Mark Anthony Sammut had demanded Buttigieg's immediate removal, declaring that "the Attorney General needs to go today" and levelling a series of accusations against her following the jury's verdict in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case.
Labour dismissed that position outright, stating that the verdict should not be exploited for "political convenience" and that "this is not the time for partisan attacks."
The party said it fully backs the government's "measured and responsible" stance following the court's judgment, and urged Opposition leader Alex Borg to publicly distance himself from the remarks made by members of his parliamentary group if he wishes to be taken seriously on matters of national interest.
Labour also trained its fire directly on Borg, alleging that the PN had prepared "two scripts" for the possible outcomes of the trial. "The Opposition Leader, Alex Borg, appeared so caught between two versions that, at one point, he seemed to be reading from one script, only to contradict himself by quoting from another, moments later," the party charged.
Labour concluded by reaffirming its stated commitment to supporting the government in pursuing the truth whilst respecting the independence of Malta's judicial process.
"Truth, justice and strong institutions do not belong to any political party. They belong to Malta and serve the interests of the entire Maltese and Gozitan people," the party said.
Source: Lovin Malta