News • 16 February 2003

Taxpayers pay Alfred Sant’s chauffeur’ to read the news

By a staff reporter
HAMRUN - According to MaltaToday’s investigations, Super One journalist Roberto Francalanza receives his salary or part of his salary through the privileges of Opposition Leader Dr Alfred Sant.
MaltaToday can confirm that Super One journalist and Labour pundit Roberto Francalanza, presenter of Qribna, is paid for his services as driver by the House of Representatives.
MaltaToday can also confirm that in 2001, his sole source of declared income came from the House of Representatives. Francalanza was paid Lm6,000 out of the public coffers while he propagated Labour’s propaganda.
Contacted by MaltaToday, Mr Francalanza admitted he was a government employee and was employed as Alfred Sant’s driver.
It is public knowledge, however, that Dr Alfred Sant never fancied himself being chauffered to Parliament, having surprised many upon his election as Prime Minister in 1996 by refusing to have a personal chauffeur. To this day, Dr Alfred Sant does not have a driver.
Roberto Francalanza told this newspaper: "I am employed as Dr Sant’s driver. According to the contract specifications, I carry out my job accordingly."
When challenged with the fact that nobody drives Dr Sant around, Mr Francalanza reiterated he was fulfilling his duties accordingly.
When asked whether he was being paid by ONE Productions for his services as a One News journalist, Mr Francalanza said this was a confidential matter which did not deserve a reply.