Azzjoni Nazzjonali (AN) yesterday decided to exclude any person accused of criminal offences from any party involvement or appointment, be it public or internal.
The decision was taken at an AGM at the party headquarters in Sliema. At the same AGM, Dr Josie Muscat was unanimously re-elected party leader, having been “asked to stay on” by the party.
Last February, MaltaToday had revealed a spate of criminal charges brought against candidates contesting general elections under the AN ticket.
“We’ve passed a motion that excludes anyone undergoing a criminal court case from any internal or public role within the party,” information secretary John Spiteri said when asked why former party president Charles Attard was excluded from the list of newly elected executive members. “This has nothing to do with whether the persons in question are innocent or less, but rather with public perception.”
A particular AN candidate was named in the Government Gazette of 26 January 2007 as one of four accused before the Court of Magistrates as the court of criminal inquiry in the preliminary investigation brought by the police over a case of money laundering. His name cannot be published by court order.
Former candidates Paul Salomone and Pierre Cutajar, neither of whom feature on the list of new executive members, also face criminal charges.
Former deputy leader Angelo Xuereb, who was featured in the same MaltaToday article as facing claims in a civil case by the Lands Department of illegal and abusive occupation of public land, decided not to contest for any executive role within the party.
The AGM has also established a board of vigilance to scrutinise any members who wish to contest the election or form part of the Executive Committee.
Elected deputy leader, Mary Gauci will be the first woman to occupy such a position in any Maltese political party.

ddarmanin@mediatoday.com.mt