Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this evening that Joseph Muscat lost his moral authority when he did not sack Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia but left it up to him to decide his fate.

In an initial reaction to comments by the prime minister on the inquiry report into the shooting on November 19 by Dr Mallia's driver, Dr Busuttil said the prime minister had admitted there was a cover-up but did not come to the logical conclusion of removing Dr Mallia. Instead, he left it up to him to resign.  

"The prime minister is weak when faced with important decisions," Dr Busuttil said.

Nowhere else did a prime minister worthy of the name leave it up to others to take the decisions he was supposed to take. 

"This is a weak decision, the people are surprised and disappointed to see the prime minister fail in his duty as prime minister to reach the logical, obvious decision to remove Dr Mallia as minister," Dr Busuttil said.

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