Party financing debate persists during Bondiplus

Labour MP Chris Cardona challenges Nationalist MP Beppe Fenech Adami to deny donations by Nazzareno Vassallo company.

PN donor Nazzareno Vassallo
PN donor Nazzareno Vassallo

Labour MP Chris Cardona challenged Nationalist MP Beppe Fenech Adami on PBS current affairs programme Bondiplus, to prove that the Nationalist Party had paid for some €160,000 in services annually rendered to it by MFCC, a company owned by PN donor and construction magnate Nazzareno Vassallo.

Both he and Fenech Adami clashed in a race to prove to the electorate whose credentials on party financing are the cleanest. Cardona said that since 2008, the Nationalist Party had run up a debt ammounting to €160,000 annually with MFCC, the owners of the Ta' Qali convention centre tent, and challenged Fenech Adami and the Nationalist Party to prove that this debt was paid by presenting the fiscal reciepts.

The heated debate dealt largely with Anglu Farrugia's controversial interview which was published last Sunday and featured lengthy excerpts from the interview itself, as well as the resulting reactions from both Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Labour leader Joseph Muscat over the past two days.

Fenech Adami reiterated many of the attacks that the PN has been levelling against Labour, while Cardona pressed on the PN's own troublesome proximity to big business and developments.

Alternattiva Demokratika spokesperson for international and EU affairs Arnold Cassola also took both parties to task during a brief intervention over their joint reticence to introduce rigorous party financing laws and willingness to accommodate business interests.

Cassola insisted that both parties in parliament conspired to accommodate the MFCC by removing a €1.2 million bank guarantee that had previously been a condition for the tender for the land use of the tent area in Ta' Qali.

Cassola said that both parties were guilty of removing the bank guarantee through unanimous approval in a parliamentary committee - a statement that both Cardona and Fenech Adami made no reaction to.

Cassola also said that it is "noteworthy" that on the same day that Anglu Farrugia blew the whistle on Labour's proximity to big business, MaltaToday published its own story that revealed that Nazzareno Vassallo had made hefty donations to the Nationalist Party. "This debate shows our sorry state. We are in an election campaign, and we are not even discussing proposals but discussing bribes and corruption in the country," Cassola said.

During the debate, Cardona insisted that Anglu Farrugia's statements need to be considered within the context of "someone who is hurt" and pointed out how the former deputy leader's cause seems to have been taken up by the PN despite its intense criticism of him in the past.

"Farrugia spent five years suffering vicious that targeted him and his family. And [Gonzi] never defended him," Cardona said, questioning how, suddenly, the Nationalist Party is "glorifying him" and treating him as its most reliable source.

Cardona also referred to the PN's past proximity to big business by recalling how in 2007, both former party secretary-general Joe Saliba and incumbent Paul Borg Olivier went on cruises aboard a yacht owned by business magnate Zaren Vassallo.

On his own part, Fenech Adami reiterated many of the attacks that the PN has been levelling against the Labour Party, insisting that Farrugia's statements shows that Labour has been hijacked by big business.

He also insisted that Muscat needs to be clear on why he requested Farrugia's resignation, maintaining that "Muscat cannot be trusted."

Fenech Adami also questioned "what goes on in [the Labour Party's] fourth floor" insisting, "that this is the place where the Labour party sends for businesspeople and contractors and asks them for money."

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Luke Camilleri
Ftakru dak li qal Dr. Franco Debono fuq Dr. Beppe Fenech Adami! Fuq il-progrm "SIBT il-PUNT" il kliem ezatt ta' Dr. franco Debono kien li hu (Beppe) gideb GIDEB FAHXI FUQU (Franco ) kif missieru Eddie kien jigdeb GIDEB FAHXI fuq Dr. Alfred Sant! http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Fenech-Adami-accuses-Debono-of-working-behind-the-scenes-to-oust-Mifsud-Bonnici-20120121
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@eckopper & @toninu Harsu ftit hbieb imma intom tahsbu li hawn xihadd li ha jidecidi fejn ha jivota ghax jara lil monsinjur bondi minus!? lanqas li mhux kullhad jafu. nahseb lil jpo u lil jesmond u lil schiavone ha jkun hemm nahar il hamis titilfuhx ta!!!! ghax interessanti ikun.MA TARAWX mela zommu kalimi hbieb.
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@Toninu,... U ma tarax li Lou se jiddiskuti , jew iqanqal is suggett tal kliem iebes li F.debono iddikjara fil program ta Miriam Dalli-9:03, tighd mhux x'qal A.Farrugia jerga igib xi zewg clips editjati, Hawn xi hadd hawn Malta(inkluzi nazzjonalisti) li ma jafx it tattika u lil min imelles u lil min jattakka sur lou, Dan tarah anke fil mistoqsijiet tieghu fil press conferences taz -zewgt nahat, u bhalu hemm Peppi,Norman(immexxi min peppi) u Pierre wkoll, Dawn kollha fuq PBS is suppost stazzjon nazzjonali, Lanqas il prezentaturi ma Net u One(li taf l-agenda taghhom) ma jkunu daqshekk sfaccati
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@Toninu,... U ma tarax li Lou se jiddiskuti , jew iqanqal is suggett tal kliem iebes li F.debono iddikjara fil program ta Miriam Dalli-9:03, tighd mhux x'qal A.Farrugia jerga igib xi zewg clips editjati, Hawn xi hadd hawn Malta(inkluzi nazzjonalisti) li ma jafx it tattika u lil min imelles u lil min jattakka sur lou, Dan tarah anke fil mistoqsijiet tieghu fil press conferences taz -zewgt nahat, u bhalu hemm Peppi,Norman(immexxi min peppi) u Pierre wkoll, Dawn kollha fuq PBS is suppost stazzjon nazzjonali, Lanqas il prezentaturi ma Net u One(li taf l-agenda taghhom) ma jkunu daqshekk sfaccati
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@Toninu,... U ma tarax li Lou se jiddiskuti , jew iqanqal is suggett tal kliem iebes li F.debono iddikjara fil program ta Miriam Dalli-9:03, tighd mhux x'qal A.Farrugia jerga igib xi zewg clips editjati, Hawn xi hadd hawn Malta(inkluzi nazzjonalisti) li ma jafx it tattika u lil min imelles u lil min jattakka sur lou, Dan tarah anke fil mistoqsijiet tieghu fil press conferences taz -zewgt nahat, u bhalu hemm Peppi,Norman(immexxi min peppi) u Pierre wkoll, Dawn kollha fuq PBS is suppost stazzjon nazzjonali, Lanqas il prezentaturi ma Net u One(li taf l-agenda taghhom) ma jkunu daqshekk sfaccati
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@Toninu,... U ma tarax li Lou se jiddiskuti , jew iqanqal is suggett tal kliem iebes li F.debono iddikjara fil program ta Miriam Dalli-9:03, tighd mhux x'qal A.Farrugia jerga igib xi zewg clips editjati, Hawn xi hadd hawn Malta(inkluzi nazzjonalisti) li ma jafx it tattika u lil min imelles u lil min jattakka sur lou, Dan tarah anke fil mistoqsijiet tieghu fil press conferences taz -zewgt nahat, u bhalu hemm Peppi,Norman(immexxi min peppi) u Pierre wkoll, Dawn kollha fuq PBS is suppost stazzjon nazzjonali, Lanqas il prezentaturi ma Net u One(li taf l-agenda taghhom) ma jkunu daqshekk sfaccati
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@Toninu,... U ma tarax li Lou se jiddiskuti , jew iqanqal is suggett tal kliem iebes li F.debono iddikjara fil program ta Miriam Dalli-9:03, tighd mhux x'qal A.Farrugia jerga igib xi zewg clips editjati, Hawn xi hadd hawn Malta(inkluzi nazzjonalisti) li ma jafx it tattika u lil min imelles u lil min jattakka sur lou, Dan tarah anke fil mistoqsijiet tieghu fil press conferences taz -zewgt nahat, u bhalu hemm Peppi,Norman(immexxi min peppi) u Pierre wkoll, Dawn kollha fuq PBS is suppost stazzjon nazzjonali, Lanqas il prezentaturi ma Net u One(li taf l-agenda taghhom) ma jkunu daqshekk sfaccati
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@Toninu,... U ma tarax li Lou se jiddiskuti , jew iqanqal is suggett tal kliem iebes li F.debono iddikjara fil program ta Miriam Dalli-9:03, tighd mhux x'qal A.Farrugia jerga igib xi zewg clips editjati, Hawn xi hadd hawn Malta(inkluzi nazzjonalisti) li ma jafx it tattika u lil min imelles u lil min jattakka sur lou, Dan tarah anke fil mistoqsijiet tieghu fil press conferences taz -zewgt nahat, u bhalu hemm Peppi,Norman(immexxi min peppi) u Pierre wkoll, Dawn kollha fuq PBS is suppost stazzjon nazzjonali, Lanqas il prezentaturi ma Net u One(li taf l-agenda taghhom) ma jkunu daqshekk sfaccati
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@Toninu,... U ma tarax li Lou se jiddiskuti , jew iqanqal is suggett tal kliem iebes li F.debono iddikjara fil program ta Miriam Dalli-9:03, tighd mhux x'qal A.Farrugia jerga igib xi zewg clips editjati, Hawn xi hadd hawn Malta(inkluzi nazzjonalisti) li ma jafx it tattika u lil min imelles u lil min jattakka sur lou, Dan tarah anke fil mistoqsijiet tieghu fil press conferences taz -zewgt nahat, u bhalu hemm Peppi,Norman(immexxi min peppi) u Pierre wkoll, Dawn kollha fuq PBS is suppost stazzjon nazzjonali, Lanqas il prezentaturi ma Net u One(li taf l-agenda taghhom) ma jkunu daqshekk sfaccati
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Xokkanti l-hmieg ta korruzzjoni madwar il-kuntratturi tal-yellow pages, u l-iskandlu tal-commssions taz-zejt minn 'a few good fellas'. Kulhadd jaf, barra Dr Beppe- ma min kienu jieklu il-kirxa dawn! Xokkanti kif biex erba isiru biljunarji faqqartu eluf ta familji u tfajtu fuq dawn il-familji id- dejn ta 5 biljun ewro...li marru ghand tal-klikka. Kellu ragun Dr Franco Debono ghalek keccejtuh ghax kixfilkom il-borma bil-kawlata ta tahwid li hemm fiha!
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The difference between Dr Lawrence Gonzi and Dr Joseph Muscat has been clearly seen lately who has a "par idejn sodi". While Dr Muscat had the balls calling for Dr Anglu Farrugia and by looking in his eyes, he instructed him (not expelled him like the PN is spinning)to resign from Deputy Leader. Dr Gonzi smsed Joe Borg, Ninu Zammit and Jesmond Mugliett informing them that they are no longer needed as a Commissioner and Ministers respectively.
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Igor P. Shuvalov
Does the Nationalist Party leaders believe that they have the divine right to get help from contractors, businessmen, ecc?
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Beppe irid ikun jaf xhemm f`tielet sular tal kwartieri !!! imma dawn ma jisthux ? Hu qalina xhemm fil kmamar li ghandhom Tal Pieta !!?? nahseb qatt ma intaqaw ma nies tal business hemmhekk , imma le huma kollha vergni u puri , jien mhux lil Farrugia smajt il bierah imma lil Franco icapcplilkom wahda fuq l-ohra , hadd minnkom ma iccalingjah sa issa jew ftahtulu xi libel.
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"The heated debate dealt largely with Anglu Farrugia's controversial interview which was published last Sunday." Pray explain which part of the interview was "controversial"? I fail to detect even the minutest iota of it in said article. Businessmen and contractors have had links to political parties since the birth of politics. Businessmen like Albert Mizzi have been close advisors to both parties at various times. Is this also controversial? Mintoff deployed Cassar (Marsovin), Toledo (NCR), Sunny Borg (Bortex) and Bertie Mizzi as his commercial advisors? Was this controversial? Would it not be more accurate to state the PN tried to create a controversy in the total absence of one? ALBERT FENECH Qawra
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"Fenech Adami also questioned "what goes on in [the Labour Party's] fourth floor"....... has anybody ever asked you what goes in your house or at tal-Pieta General HQ's basement where your computer section is Beppe?
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Beppe should be the last to talk about financing. I guess he conveniently forgot that when his father lead the opposition to boycott parliamen back in 1981 and lost his salary his and his siblings PRIVATE EDUCATION was made possible by those who financed the party. His father had publicly thanked those who made it possible. Beppe the less you talk the better you are as puerile as your father was.
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.... ilna nafu kemm hu patetiku u bla ebda sustanza beppe fenech adami .... u kellna konferma liema bhalha l-bierah fuq it-television ..... imma kien l-aktar ridikolu meta baqa' issummat, iccassat u fjakk quddiem dak li qallu chris cardona li hemm stampatur li se jtella' il-pn fil-qorti ghax ghandu jiehu xi nofs miljun ewro ..... il-kulur nixef minn wiccu u baqa' skantat ..... insomma ma tantx ghandna ghalfejn niskantaw wara kollox ghax skont iz-zokk il-fergha ..... min jaf missieru kemm laghabha tal-qaddis u kemm fl-istess hin kisser laburisti fic-civil ghax ma kienu jaqblu mieghu ......
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Dr Beppe Fenech Adami qal li hija xi haga xokkanti dak li zvela Anglu Farrugia li l-big business qed idur u jindies mal-PL. Allura nghid jien, meta l-big business kien hobza u sikkina mal-PN, dan ma kienx xokkanti? Nahseb li Beppe l-aktar haga li qed jara xokkanti hi li l-PN ma ghadux favorit man-negozzjanti ghax dawn sabu f'Joseph Muscat lil min jifihom ahjar. X'tahseb Beppe?
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Ara veru ma jistħix Beppe ta! Veru għandu wiccu u ...... xorta. u lou veru loo ta. Qed jitħallas minn flusi u flus il-poplu Malti biex jigwadanja l-PN. Kif ma jistħux jaqgħu aktar fil-baxx. X'iħobbuh issa lil Anglu Farrugia!! Tal-Pn qed juru li maħruqin għax mal-PL qed jingħaqdu ħafna nies.....fqar, sinjuri, għalliema, kuntratturi, avukati, tobba, ekonomisti.....u ħafna oħrajn. Ma jistgħux jaċċettaw dan kollu u qed jaqbdu ma kull tibna....li bħalissa hu Anġlu Farr. M'għadhomx jgħidu tar l-anġlu tal-Milied issa. Qed jinqdew bih l-anġlu, imma f'wiċċhom ħa jibqa'.
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Tghid Bondi+ tal Hamis li gej ser jiddiskutu l-istatments li ghamel Franco Debono il lejla fil konfront tal Prim Ministru u il PN, fuq ONE? Nahseb qed nistenna izzejjed min Bondi u l-PBS.
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The famous 4th floor at the CNL. Well one asks what happened under the brdige of St Julians. This myth of the 4th floor. Do you think that if certain things had to happen will happen infront of so many eyes? Come on Anglu, and you accepted this situation throughout all this time - give us a break.