Updated | Joe Cassar resigns from parliament

Nationalist MP Joe Cassar has resigned from the PN parliamentary group, in the wake of accusations that he had accepted gifts from businessman Joe Gaffarena.

He tendered his resignation in letters to PN leader Simon Busuttil and Speaker Anglu Farrugia, both of which were released to the press.

Although it was proven that works in 2011 on his Dingli house had been paid by property entereprenuer Joe Gaffarena, and should have been probably declared by the former minister, Cassar insisted that he was the victim of “character assassination”.

“If politics has been reduced to these levels, I’m not ready to be part of it. I entered politics to help others, not to let others assassinate my character,” Cassar, a psychiatrist by profession, said.

He also denied having committed anything wrong MaltaToday broke news on Sunday that as minister he had not declared over €8,000 in house works paid for by donor Joe Gaffarena in 2011.

“I categorically deny having committed anything wrong or illegal, but I am taking this step so that I am not used as an excuse for any damage made to you or the PN,” he told Busuttil. “I respect you and the party too much to allow this to happen.”

Cassar thanked Busuttil for “believing in [his] integrity” during these days.

He went on to say that although he would be departing the world of politics, he would continue to defend his name against any accusations, using legal means if necessary. He also asked that his privacy and that of his family be respected going forward.

Political party reactions

In a statement, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola, said Cassar had taken the only possible honourable way out. "He did well to stop trying to justify himself in what was definitely totally unacceptable behaviour when he accepted payment by others for works in his house which amount to nearly €8,000.

"We are often getting stories about Maltese politicians from both parties in Parliament who were or are still involved in deals with certain big business people whose philosophy is 'make hay while the sun shines' and who, in fact, are ending up influencing political decisions, even of national importance. The time has come for a real clean up in Maltese politics."

On its part, Labour accused Opposition leader Simon Busuttil of being “weak” for not taking the decision to sack Cassar.

“Busuttil first said that Cassar was a person of integrity, then toyed around with a ridiculous resignation from spokesperson, and on Monday said there was nothing and that Cassar had no need of resigning.

“Busuttil’s worse error of judgement is that he retained people from the PN’s past. And what will he do about Claudio Grech, Giovanna Debono and Toni Bezzina?” the PL said in a statement.

Giovanna Debono resigned from the PN parliamentary group in the wake of charges of public funds’ misappropriation against her husband Tony Debono.

Background

On Monday, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil insisted that there was no reason Cassar should resign from the Nationalist Party, despite revelations that the former minister had failed to declare over €8,000 in house works paid for by Joe Gaffarena – a property entrepreneur associated with MPs on both sides of the House.

“After meeting with Cassar yesterday, I came to the conclusion that his position as culture spokesperson was no longer tenable,” Busuttil said. “However, I didn’t think that the case merited asking him to resign from the party or from parliament.”

Busuttil drew comparisons with the way Manuel Mallia was forced to resign as home affairs minister in 2014 but maintained his parliamentary seat on the government benches. “If [planning  parliamentary secretary] Michael Falzon resigns from his Cabinet role, I  wouldn’t also expect him to resign from parliament or the Labour Party,” he said, equating the Opposition’s shadow cabinet to the government’s Cabinet of ministers.

“Cassar didn’t do anything illegal and was not involved in misuse of public funds,” he said, adding that he will not shy away from taking harsher action against the former health minister “if new developments come to light”.

Nationalist MP Joe Cassar on Sunday announced he will no longer occupy the role of Opposition spokesperson for culture, after MaltaToday broke news on Sunday that as minister he had not declared over €8,000 in house works paid for by donor Joe Gaffarena in 2011.