Leaders trade accusations: MTA appointment and direct orders

Nobody may have learnt anything new from last Friday’s debate between the political leaders on Xarabank, except for Joseph Muscat’s and Simon Busuttil’s continuous efforts at denigrating each other over embarrassing decisions and commercial interests targeting them as self-serving individuals.

The prime minister on Sunday accused Opposition leader Simon Busuttil of lying over not having received any direct orders from the former resources ministry headed by George Pullicino, under the Nationalist administration.

Muscat set much store in telling the audience on Xarabank that Busuttil’s legal firm took €412,000 in contracts from Pullicino’s office, a “substantial” number or 25% having been direct orders.

“He lacks credibility or the credentials to be trusted… he must shoulder his responsibility,” Muscat said after a lashing from Busuttil last Friday over his alleged meritocracy battlecry ‘Malta for all’.

On his part, Busuttil is hitting out at Muscat for allowing the appointment of a ‘business partner’ of his wife’s – Michelle Buttigieg – as a director in New York for the Malta Tourism Authority.

Busuttil claims the post had been abolished years ago by the MTA due to the low business from the United States, until Buttigieg – who lives in New York – was given the placing on a €60,000 salary.

At the same time, she peddles her personal ‘Buttardi’ jewellery collection, of which Muscat’s wife Michelle appears to handle European sales. It is unclear as to which is Buttigieg’s main occupation.