Ten social events hosted by Muscats at Villa Francia last year cost €37,500

Prime Minister says he and his wife hosted ten social events at Villa Francia last year, 'each of which cost around €3,750'

The gardens at Villa Francia, the Prime Minister's official residence
The gardens at Villa Francia, the Prime Minister's official residence

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle Muscat hosted ten social events at Villa Francia in 2015, each of which cost “around €3750”.

The information was revealed by Muscat in response to a parliamentary question raised by Opposition MP Toni Bezzina.

“These social events included a special event in occasion of Charles Scicluna upon his appointment as Archbishop, receptions for high-ranking foreign dignitaries, receptions for civil society organisations and a Christmas party,” Muscat said.

Muscat argued that his predecessor Lawrence Gonzi had also hosted social events at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Lija – including receptions to mark the Malta International Fair and the Lija village feast.

“When [PL] Opposition MPs had asked [Gonzi] for information related to Villa Francia, he had responded that compiling the information would require a lot of work and no answer was ever provided.”