[WATCH] Marlene Farrugia: Partit Demokratiku coalition with PN still on, but not at all costs

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Partit Demokratiku leader Marlene Farrugia confirmed that her fledgling party is still in discussions with the Nationalist Party over forming a potential coalition government, but that she will not accept a coalition at all costs.

Addressing a press conference at Castille Square, Farrugia said that her party, as a coalition partner, could be “instrumental” in pressuring a future PN government to stick to its promises of good governance.

She praised Opposition leader Simon Busuttil for referring the controversial transfer of the ITS land to hotelier Silvio Debono to the National Audit Office for investigation, and cast doubt over Debono’s allegations that Busuttil had personally requested him to pay the monthly salaries of the PN’s secretary general and CEO.

“All we have so far is allegations, which the PN has denied. What we know as a fact is that Busuttil requested that the deal be investigated from the NAO, an unprecedented move,” she said. “Despite the fact that the PN was financed by [Debono] in some way, Busuttil didn’t cower in fear of him but still requested that the NAO investigate the deal. He sent a clear message to businesses that he is on the side of the people and that he is not ready to allow party donations to condition him.”

Marlene Farrugia (Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday)

Farrugia added that she was willing to work with "positive elements" of both the PN and the PL as well as with people who don’t hold allegiance to either party.

“The crux of the coalition is good governance, for every single decision taken by government to be in the national interest,” she said. “One cannot claim that the ITS deal was carried out in the national interest, when Debono will only pay €15 million for land that has been valued at €200 million. That money could have been used to acquire more medicines, slash hospital waiting lists, improve the education system, build ore social housing units, increase pensions, and complete infrastructural projects.”  

Pledge to close down party financing loopholes

In her press conference, Farrugia pledged that a future coalition government that includes the PD would, within its first year in power, close a loophole in the party financing law that allows political parties not to declare income from businesses if the money is channelled through party-owned companies.

The loophole came to the forefront during the recent ITS controversy, with Debono alleging that he had paid Rosette Thake’s and Brian St John’s salaries through MediaLink, the PN’s media arm.

The party financing law, passed in 2015, obliges parties to declare donations of over €3,000 and forbids them from accepting over €25,000 in donations from the same person in a single year. However, it includes no such provisions for companies owned by political parties.

Farrugia also urged the Labour government to quickly pass into law a draft Bill that proposes the appointment of a commissioner to investigate breaches in public standards by MPs and public officials.

"The Bill was first proposed in 2013, passed through its second reading in 2015 and through committee stage a month ago," she said. "What is the government waiting for to move it for its third reading and pass it into law?"