Busuttil planning 'further initiatives' if Muscat doesn’t dismiss Mizzi, Schembri • Wants Falzon to resign as MP

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Three years have passed since the Labour Party was elected to power and, according to opposition leader Simon Busuttil, the past three years were years of “corruption” and “deceit” led by “an incompetent government”.

He demanded the dismissal of energy minister Konrad Mizzi and OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri and also called for the resignation of former junior minister Michael Falzon from parliament.

“From the latest shocking scandal involving Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri to the Gaffarena scandal and the public transport fiasco… the Maltese citizens feel angry, disappointed and betrayed but are also tired of all these scandals,” Busuttil said.

Standing beside parliament with PN officials, members of parliament and candidates for the next election sitting behind him, Busuttil said the PN was showing it was an alternative government.

“I am disappointed, however, that because of all these scandals, people are losing trust in all of the political class. People can’t give up on us politicians. Our track record was clear: whenever decisions were required from me, I took them.”

He said that the opposition had offered not only criticism but also solid alternatives.

“It’s high time to clean politics again,” Busuttil said.

The opposition leader said that working on a strong economy was not enough, albeit arguing that the government’s economic success was thanks to “a solid foundation” left behind by the previous Nationalist administration.

Without revealing what he’s planning to do, Busuttil insisted that if the Prime Minister fails to dismiss Mizzi and Schembri, he would launch other “initiatives”.

“The ball is in the Prime Minister’s court. Thousands of citizens on Sunday descended on Valletta to protest against scandals, corruption and dirt. What will the Prime Minister’s response be?

“If Muscat doesn’t get rid of Schembri and Mizzi, we will take action.”

The PN leader said he would not say anything as yet, but he would not exclude anything.

“This is a huge and shocking scandal due to the individuals involved,” he said, referring to Mizzi and Schembri.

Noting that Mizzi was responsible from both the energy and health sectors, Busuttil questioned why one person was handling two so big portfolios.

“Both ministries cost a lot,” he said, adding that he would have never allowed Mizzi to run for deputy leadership knowing that he held an offshore company in Panama.

Mizzi is also responsible for Projects Malta, a government entity that seeks to work in partnership with the private sector on various projects. “Mizzi’s ministry is located at the Auberge de Castille, which houses the Prime Minister’s Office.”

Busuttil has demanded several investigations into major government decisions, all of them contracts signed by the Energy Minister. Asked to specify where the crime of corruption might be, he said that the doubts emanated from the setting up of the Panamanian company – a company that will be closed once a tax audit investigation is concluded.

“He signed all these big contracts on the sale of Enemalta, the sale of BWSC, fuel procurement, fuel hedging and the privatisation of the Gozo hospital, St Luke’s and Karin Grech.

“There is a huge question mark hanging over Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri’s heads, both of whom work from the Auberge de Castille. Don’t you think that an investigation should be carried out? I have no doubts that the truth will out and responsibility has to be shouldered.”

Likewise, Busuttil wants responsibility to be shouldered over the Old Mint Street expropriation saga. Following an affidavit signed by the former director of estate management, Carmel Camilleri, in which he alleged that a Falzon aide would pressure him, Busuttil called for Falzon’s resignation from parliament.

“Responsibility must be shouldered and as far as I know Michael Falzon is still a member of parliament,” Busuttil said, adding that former PN MP Joe Cassar had vacated his parliamentary seat “for much less”.

Reiterating that economic success on its own was not enough, Busuttil also argued that the Labour government had betrayed citizens on the most sensitive issue: the distribution of wealth.

“The money was instead given to the Café Premier owners and the Gaffarenas whilst more people are at risk of poverty,” he charged.

Labour slams ‘negative’ Busuttil

In reaction, Labour accused Busuttil of being “against everything at all costs” and challenged the “desperate” PN leader to come clean on who is involved with party president Ann Fenech’s legal firm in the registration of companies in Panama.

Describing the PN leader as a coward, Labour said “Busuttil should stop hiding behind Parliamentary immunity and repeat the vague, deceitful and slanderous claims he made outside the House.”