(Updated from earlier story on AD statement)

The Office of the Prime Minister has put on hold an ultimatum given by the Management and Personnel Office to Victor Galea, general secretary of Alternattiva Demokratika, where he was told that in terms of regulations, his teaching post in a government school was incompatible with his political position and he had to choose between the two.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister told timesofmalta.com that the letter to Mr Galea, and two officials of Azzjoni Nazzjonali, was issued without the knowledge of the Prime Minister or his secretariat. They first learnt about it when they received questions from a newspaper.

The two AN officials, Tonio Mercieca and Mary Gauci, a senior principal and a principal respectively in the public service, have since resigned their political posts while Mr Galea, a teacher, protested, claiming discrimination.

“Somebody decided to go by the book and issued the letter to Mr Galea and the others, without questioning whether this made sense in this day and age. The Office of the Prime Minister has issued instructions for the letter to be suspended and for the position to be reviewed. There are several other people who hold positions in the public service and also occupy political positions,” the spokesman said.

Earlier today, AD said the government's attempt to put pressure on Mr Galea to renounce his job as a teacher because of his role with AD smacked of intimidation and political discrimination.