Updated | Gonzi dodges questions on withholding of donor names

Updated with comments from Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, and PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi avoided questions which sought a clarification on what bartering agreements the Nationalist Party was referring to when it denied reports that business magnate Nazzareno Vassallo had funded its campaign.

"The PN has rented the services of the MFCC Ltd as well as other suppliers to organise its activities on commercial arrangements involving payment, including barter agreements, as is normal practice for both parties," the Nationalist Party had said in a statement on Monday.

However asked to clarify what sort of 'barter agreement' the PN's statement was referring to, Gonzi was evasive, and opted to instead refer to recent controversial statements made by former Labour deputy leader Anglu Farrugia in an interview on Sunday.

"I think we should rather look at the statements made by former Labour deputy leader Anglu Farrugia," Gonzi said.

"He has made allegations of the utmost seriousness with regard to the Labour Party. I think that Joseph Muscat must answer to the questions that have automatically emerged from Anglu Farrugia's statements," the Nationalist leader said.

Gonzi insisted that the Nationalist Party remains committed to "publishing all information as we said in our declarations, and that the PN "will be publishing the details of all the funds we are using for the electoral campaign."

"This should answer all questions," he insisted.

Asked for a definite timeframe by when the Nationalist Party is planning to publish its campaign financing, Gonzi was however evasive.

"We will publish," he insisted, adding, "I prefer to hear the answers to the questions I made myself regarding Anglu Farrugia's serious accusations."

"The allegations made by Farrugia deserve a clear reply," Gonzi said, "and we shouldn't allow anobody to evade the responsibility of answering questions."

On his part, PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil said the PN would not be revealing the identity of donors who gave the PN money or aid for the electoral campaign. "We are going to publish the amounts of money that was collected and how this money was spent. But at this stage we have no authorisation from our donors to name them... we have to be fair with these donors."

Busuttil insisted that the government already had a draft bill for party financing drawn up by MP Franco Debono, and which has been approved by the government, as well as a draft bill for a Whistleblowers' Act, which however had not yet been tabled in parliament. "Unfortunately, there has never been any reaction from Labour to any of these two important bills."

In reference to the Anglu Farrugia comments on Labour's intimacy with construction magnates, Busuttil said that Farrugia's "shocking" interview showed that Labour was "morally bankrupt."

"I am deeply concerned by Labour's links to big contractors as it seems that these persons are seeking refuge in Labour to earn what they have no right to take home," he added.

Busuttil warned that the powerful construction lobby was already influencing Labour's policies, in reference to the Opposition's plans to separate the Environment Authority from the Planning Authority, which the PN dubbed as "dangerous."

The PN deputy leader added that "the people had the right to know" what led to Farrugia's sacking as Labour deputy leader in December, which the latter described as "political murder."

Asked for his take on former PN secretary-general Joe Saliba and incumbent Paul Borg Olivier going on holiday on contractor and PN donor Nazzareno Vassallo's yacht, Busuttil said "I can only vouch for myself and I cannot speak on behalf of Joe Saliba, Paul Borg Olivier or Nazzareno Vassallo. However, no, personally I would not have done the same."

Later that same day, Maltatoday asked Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi whether the PN's stand to not publish or release the names of its donors, and the amounts they donated, is truly transparent, he refused to answer.

As he did earlier that same day, Gonzi shifted the focus to Anglu Farrugia's controversial statements, insisting that Joseph Muscat must answer for the statements made by his former deputy leader.

"I will answer in the same way that I answered this morning. What interests me is what Anglu Farrugia said," Gonzi said when asked whether withholding donor identities amounts to transparency.

He reiterated that Joseph Muscat "has a responsibility to answer" for Farrugia's statement.

 Gonzi also added that "over the past 24 hours, the Labour Party issued a statement which said that yes, they re meeting with disgruntled contractors and businessmen who are disappointed."

"This means that Anglu Farrugia is right," Gonzi insisted. "Now, more than before, there is urgent need for clean answers from Muscat."

"I am expecting them," Gonzi said.

Gonzi was speaking at the end of a tour of the Mater Dei Medical Illustrations Unit, accompanied by Health Minister Joe Cassar and Manager Medical Illustrator Brian Cassar.

The Nationalist leader's statements follow in the wake of MaltaToday reports which unveiled 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 Nationalist Party and the MFCC have since denied the reports, with the Nationalist Party going so far as to say it would sue Maltatoday for libel.

While the PN denied the report, the party hinted that the monies could have formed part of 'barter agreements' between the party and the company.

Gonzi was speaking after a tour of the National Screening Centre in Lascaris Wharf, Valletta.

Accompanied by Kate Gonzi and Health Minister Joe Cassar, Gonzi toured the centre's various offices and met with staff.