The government cannot enclose itself in an echo-chamber and continue acting as if everything is “business as usual” parliamentary secretary for EU Funds Aaron Farrugia has warned.

“We need to continue on with our mandate to ensure that our proposals become a reality, and to continue working for the good of the country with a sense of political responsibility and justice, while also looking forward,” Farrugia said during a TVAM discussion alongside Opposition MP Karol Aquilina.

“This is the only way the country can come out stronger.”

In light of yesterdays’s mass protests in Valletta, Farrugia actually said he understands with the current civil action taken place, although he condemns the use of violence.

“People need to express how they’re feeling and to ask for justice,” he said.

However, he maintained that justice is taking place, especially in view of the arrests being made.

“This will be clear in the coming days,” he continued.

Farrugia is one of the few Labour MPs who have voiced criticism of the government following the arrest of Yorgen Fenech, which has since led to the arrest and resignation of the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Keith Schembri.

Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi has also resigned while Economy Minister Chris Cardona has suspended himself pending investigations.

In a Facebook post last Sunday, Farrugia urged fellow MPs to put the national interest above all other considerations.

“In the coming hours, days and weeks, we’re going to need MPs to safeguard the national interest and no other interests. I, like many, will work to ensure that justice takes place, to put this crime behind us and to clean our country’s name, so that the movement we gave birth to can continue doing what it was set up to do – to make Malta the best version of itself possible in the coming years,” he said.