
Nationalist Party MP Karol Aquilina alleged that Prime Minister Robert Abela challenged him to a physical fight during Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting.
Aquilina claimed Abela told him, “Come outside, and I’ll show you” (oħroġ barra u nurik) while the Speaker was delivering a ruling.
He dismissed the challenge, saying, “If the prime minister wants to fight, he can fight with a wall or find someone else to fight with,” and noted that as a former bodybuilder, Abela is physically stronger than him.
Aquilina called the comment unacceptable in parliament and expressed concerns about Abela’s authority, stating, “The prime minister has the forces of order behind him and can order my arrest.”
Speaker Anġlu Farrugia said he would have acted if Aquilina had raised the issue immediately.
The Labour Party dismissed the allegations as lies, calling them “infantile” and accusing the Nationalist Party’s “extremist faction” of fabricating stories, describing Aquilina as the Opposition’s “de facto leader.”
The PN criticised Abela for acting like a “playground bully,” accusing him of avoiding public scrutiny by delaying asset declarations and resorting to intimidation.
“Our country deserves a mature Prime Minister, not one who flexes his muscles whenever criticised,” the PN said. Aquilina also criticised parliamentary practices, highlighting low attendance, inactive committees, and staged parliamentary questions, which he argued discredit the institution.
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