PN employees still without May salary

For the third consecutive month, the majority of Nationalist Party employees have been asked to bear with the party as salaries for the month of May will be distributed late.

A selected few have already received their pay.

Moreover, sources within the party say that the overtime accumulated in the run up to the 9 March elections remain unpaid.

The Nationalist Party is currently undergoing a renewal process which includes an overhaul of the party's financial structures. The party has now appointed a commission, led by PN leadership candidate Ray Bugeja, tasked to look into the party's finances as well as its commercial entities.

Members include former minister Tonio Fenech, MP Claudio Grech, former air Malta and Malta Enterprise chairman Lawrence Zammit, public relations consultant Chris Scicluna and former Transport Malta chairperson Mark Portelli.

Though the PN's liquid finances have run dry, with its debt believed to run into figures over €8million, the party remains asset-rich, particularly when it comes to property.

It is believed that Bugeja, a successful businessman himself in Malta and abroad, has suggested an innovative membership drive with the aim of bringing the party closer to the people, which would be accompanied by an additional drizzle of funds into the party's coffers. 

Speaking to MaltaToday earlier this month, Bugeja said:  "If one takes €8million debt and splits it over 20,000 registered members over five years, it will amount to simply €400 each, meaning a mere €80 annual per member," however prior to making any concrete proposals, Bugeja remained adamant about the need to view these reports.

On Sunday, the PN held a fund-raising marathon during which it collected €355,903.