The Labour Party’s new deputy leader Konrad Mizzi this morning insisted that all his earnings were legitimate and earned though his work and that he had nothing to hide.

He was referring to the criticism regarding a company he owns in blacklisted Panama and a trust in New Zealand.

Speaking at a Labour Party activity in Żejtun, he said he was convinced he would be attacked since before he cast his nomination. He had already suffered other unfounded attacks related to his marriage and last week the Opposition leader made false allegations in Parliament and failed to accept his challenge to repeat the claims outside.

He reiterated that he did not have anything to hide and said he explained everything to the media yesterday, made a full disclosure and invited them to go through all documents.

He went a step further and also asked the Inland Revenue Commissioner to investigate him on everything.

“All I earned was legitimate… I have always worked as is my right,” he said.

He called on Dr Busuttil to do the same as him and ask for a similar audit from the time he became an MEP.

Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat also spoke on the issue during the same activity, continuing to stand behind his deputy.

“In spite of the PN’s dirty tricks, delegates have voted for Dr Mizzi wholeheartedly, showing that such tricks do not work,” he said.

The number of Nationalists, including MPs, who got into a frenzy in the past days was unprecedented, he said, adding that the problem was that Nationalists believed Labourites would do what they used to do.

He then praised Dr Mizzi’s “unprecedented step” of going to the Inland Revenue Commissioner.

“The Opposition has a problem… Konrad called Simon’s bluff and the ball is now in the Opposition’s court…. The Opposition leader said a lot last Monday in an outburst of wrath and desperation… He did not take up the challenge to repeat what he said in the House outside,” Dr Muscat said.

He said that he did not want the country to return to a tribal mentality and the more attacks there were, the more he would preach unity.

“The more people stamp their feet, the more I will smile at them,” he said.

His party, Dr Muscat said, had a vision and had managed to implement what others had thought was impossible.

Earlier, Dr Mizzi promised to repay “tenfold” the trust shown in him.

He gave an overview of his plans at the party saying he would be focusing on the grassroots and work for party structures to be change to enable more to give their contribution.

He would also work to strengthen the party’s media and the PL would be launching a new portal to replace Malta Star in the coming days.

“I will repay the trust in me tenfold,” he said, adding that he also had to ensure that the party went to the electorate for the next election with a manifesto that would push the boundaries again.

He said he would consult, list to ideas and draw up policy papers for the party to continue to build on what it had.