The EPP Group condemned in the strongest terms possible the recent decision to arraign the Maltese shadow Minister of Justice Jason Azzopardi for comments he had made on former Commissioner of Police Peter Paul Zammit.
The EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber said; "This is simply not on. As an EU Member State, there are limits as to how far this Maltese Labour government can go in its insatiable quest for power with complete disregard to human rights. In a fully fledged democracy dragging the Shadow Minister of Justice to court for something he had said in his capacity as Shadow Minister is unheard of.
Lines will be drawn and Malta will not be allowed to continue sliding down the authoritarian route. We will stand up for the Maltese citizens against this increasingly erratic government. Since when has a Shadow Justice Minister been tried in Europe for something he had said with a jail term of up to three months hanging over his head? And let's not fool ourselves, this is indeed the Maltese government acting behind its henchman. We will not be fooled and we will not surrender.
Against the backdrop of the looming Maltese Presidency of the EU Council, we take note of how the Labour Prime Minister has dealt with his Chief of Staff and his Deputy Leader in the aftermath of the revelations of the secrete companies and bank accounts in blacklisted Panama. We are deeply concerned and we will not stand by."
The government reacted in their own statement saying that "It seems that the EPP Chairman is suggesting a Government intervention in the course of justice which would be unbecoming in a normal functioning democracy."
In the statement the PL bashes the PN saying that the Nationalist Party is "stooping to new lows in trying to tarnish our country's reputation abroad by misreporting a case instituted by a private citizen against Jason Azzopardi to EPP Chairman."
It was said in the statement that Malta enjoys a complete separation of powers between the executive, the legislative and the judiciary as in any other democracy in Europe and full respect to the rule of law.
The government went on to say that the case that Mr Weber refered to was instituted upon a complaint by a private citizen who does not form part of Government in any form or way. Secondly, a member of Parliament like any other citizen, is equal in the eyes of the law and is expected to act with responsibility when commenting publicly.
The statement concluded by reiterating that Malta is a top economic performer with a 6.3% economic growth, and has met its as well its financial targets. More importantly Malta has legislated for some of the most advanced social reforms in Europe. The Government is also legislating for more media freedoms, minority rights and political transperency such as the law regulating party financing which the PN is trying to flout through a scheme which promises anonimity and secrecy in party donations.
Ending with, "One would expect the chairman of the largest group in the European Parliament to check facts and not rely on Partisan briefs that are aimed soley to tarnish the reputation nation state."
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/1MHr2rw
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