PN’s libel suit an attempt at gagging MaltaToday
MFCC’s denial over reports that it financed PN electoral campaign does not carry signature of its own chairman – Saviour Balzan
4 February 2013, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
2 min read
Mediatoday managing editor Saviour Balzan has replied to claims from the PN that it will sue MaltaToday for libel, by calling on PN secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier to file for urgent proceedings so that the libel hearing takes place promptly.
The PN said it will sue MaltaToday for libel over news reports that PN donor and construction magnate Nazzareno Vassallo's company MFCC Ltd had earmarked a total of €350,000 for services to the PN, after having written off some €1 million in debt by the party.
Both the PN and the directors of MFCC have denied the report, although the PN has hinted that the monies could have formed part of barter agreements between the party and the company.
"MaltaToday will prove in court what really happened between MFCC Ltd and the PN over the past years since Paul Borg Olivier was elected secretary-general.
"The statement by MFCC denying the claims was not even signed by MFCC chairman Silvio Scerri, which is a case in point. On my part, I challenge Dr Borg Olivier to publish the invoices for MFCC services liked to the Independence celebrations in 2008," Balzan said.
"Borg Olivier's decision to proceed with a libel suit is an attempt to gag MaltaToday and stop it from publishing further evidence about the way business and politics are linked in Malta."
So far, Borg Olivier has not answered to these specific questions from MaltaToday:
- Was his discussion with member of MFCC to sign a statement of denial, outside his remit as secretary-general?
- What was the reason he had made contact with past and present MFCC directors?
- What was his comment about the fact that MFCC chairman Silvio Scerri was not included in the statement?
- Could he provide the invoice for MFCC works and services carried out for the PN's Independence celebrations in 2008?
The PN has announced that it will be filing for libel against this newspaper over Sunday's revelation that Zaren Vassallo has contributed significant resources to the PN's fledgling campaign.
In response to Labour leader Joseph Muscat's failure to respond to questions over Anglu Farrugia's own allegations of the PL cosying up to big business, the PN said it had a number of questions that it wants the PL leader to answer to.
"What role have contractors had in the PL's proposal to split MEPA? Is the PL's proposal to spend €600 million on a new power station in any way linked to Anglu Farrugia's allegation that PL is too close to certain contractors?" communications director Frank Psaila said in a statement.
"We would like to know who the contractor behind all these proposals is. Is this the same contractor that the PL accompanied on a trip to Dubai?" Psaila said, referring to a recent trip by PL leader Joseph Muscat to the Gulf state.
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fenea, why didn't PBO insist on urgency so the PN's name be cleared of dirt and sleaze asap???? Miskin, is he too busy fighting all those horrendous insinuations of bad management and malpractice?? I fell it is all a political farce, so as to demonstrate bravado but leave it all pending till after the elections, where it will have little effect. FENEA (and this goes also to all those listening in) rest assured that the unbiased uncommitted voter KNOWS the connection between these three parties and in their personal capacities as well.
Zack Depasquale •
@Fenea What was the big business connection when Tonio Fenech flew on a private jet to watch a football match with big business magnates? What was the connection of GonziPN general secretaries one former and the current one who sailed on a holiday aboard one big business magnate superyacht, who usually gets large contracts from the Yellow Pages?Hallina fenea il-hmieg taghkhom tippruvaw titfuh fuq il-Partit Laburista.
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Is the Pn for real? I think before you call for somebody to talk about contacts with contractors you have to be clean yourself. I would like to thank MT for coming up with these stories and if the police and the courts are for real they should start the proceedings them self. These libel cases should be heard with urgency and before the election.The people should know the truth before they go to vote not after.
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fenea, l-hmieg taghkhom tatihx lilna. Ahna mhux allegazzjonijiet ghandna fuqkhom izda izda fatti.
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@ fenea
Tipprovax titfa il-hmieg tal partit tieghek fuq haddiehor, il- PL jippubblika l- accounts li huma audited, il- pn qatt ma jippubblika l- accounts, ghalfejn? X` ghandkhom x` tahbu?Fuq dan il- kaz il-MTD ghandha il- provi kollha, dak li qed tghid int huma kollha invenzjonijiet tal PN li int qed tirrepeti bhall pappagall u ma ghandek l- ebda provi. Haga ohra, idhol fuq il-blog ta DR Franco Debono u tara x` akkuzi mill aktar serji u xokkanti ghamel DR Debono fuq persuni li ser johorgu mal PN. Kif qal wiehed minn tghakhom stess, it is the tip of the iceberg!!
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@ fenea
The investigations will start when the whistleblower act is passed in parliament. Now that will be something to see. The sleeze and corruption that has taken placxe under GonziPN. Ha narfaw dakinhar tlissinx kelma fenea!
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Fenea: Malta Today publishes stories when it has in its possession FACTS. GonziPN, on the other hand, INVENTS stories without having even a shred of evidencend divert attention , to try and divert invention from the scandals of CORRUPTION which GonziPN is DROWNED IN !
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Jiena nahseb li l-kuntrattur li qed tahsbu fih intom sinjuri tal-PN huwa mill-Mosta, ras kbira li hadd ma jista ghaliha, s'issa. Nahseb li issa tafu ghal min qed nghid.
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Jiena nahseb li l-kuntrattur li qed tahsbu fih intom sinjuri tal-PN huwa mill-Mosta, ras kbira li hadd ma jista ghaliha, s'issa. Nahseb li issa tafu ghal min qed nghid.
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“Behind the supposed government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government, to befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of today.” Theodore Roosevelt
A question to PL leader Joseph Muscat,'the contractor behind all these proposals, did you come across him via the YELLOW PAGES like the GonziPN did'?
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PN is trying to hide their guilt by trying to pass it tho PL but nobody beleives PNany more.
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it will be appreciated if malta today investigate the agreement or connections by big contractors and the pl.
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mr balzan the questions will be answered in court
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Keep up the good work MT ... This is what real journalism is all about.
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IL GIDEB
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IL GIDEB
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IL GIDEB
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Nisperaw li z-zejt ma jdumx ma jitla' f'wicc l-ilma u dawk li m'ghandhomx zejt f'wicchom ma jibqghux jippruvaw jiddiehqu bil-Maltin u l-Ghawdxin.
Anette B Cassar •
Ghada nigi nghamel donazzjoni ghal-libel fund.
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YAHASRA!! IL GIDEB TA GONZI
Anette B Cassar •
Ghada nigi nghamel donazzjoni ghal-libel fund.
