Joseph Muscat softens up the European Socialists ahead of tomorrow’s debate

Joseph Muscat was away from Malta today, softening up the Party of European Socialists in the European Parliament, ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s ‘rule of law in Malta’ debate.

An aide to Labour MEP Miriam Dalli tweeted about the “overwhelming support” the Maltese prime minister received, when the picture shows otherwise.

Ana Gomes, deputy chairman of the European Parliament’s anti-money-laundering committee (PANA), and a scathing critic of the way Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri have hung on to power while Muscat has consistently given her committee the slip, is a European Socialist.

In April, Mrs Gomes spoke directly to the media in Malta, saying that Muscat’s government is embarrassing to all European Socialists.