Labour: PN circumventing party financing laws since their introduction

The Labour Party (PL) once again held a press conference on the opposition’s links to big business demanding answers from PN leader Simon Busuttil over the party financing scandal, insisting that the case "starts and ends" with him.

Addressing journalists, former Labour president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that despite the fact that the PN had been in favor of the new party financing law, ever since its introduction, the party has been trying to find ways around it.

He argued that the PN's Cedoli loan scheme clearly goes against the spirit of the law by hiding the identity of people making donations to the party.

"This at a time when Simon Busuttil speaks as though he were the paladin of good governance," said Zrinzo Azzopardi.

He said that the db Group case represents yet another instance where the PN has tried to find a way around the law, adding that the story had only come to light because of infighting in light of Mario De Marco's involvement in the transfer of land to the company.

Justice minister Owen Bonnici pointed to a statement issued by the Electoral Commission, in which it said it would be investigating potential breaches of the law, as evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the PN.

He also pushed back against what he claimed was attempt by the PN to imply that both parties were being investigated. The Labour Party has not yet registered as a political party - a requirement laid out in the law - because it is awaiting the parties AGM before it can make changes to its statute necessary for it to register as a party.

"We are not comparing like with like," he said. "Anyone who knows what is happening knows that this is not the case and that the commission's investigation starts and ends with Simon Busuttil."

Asked whether he knows for a fact that the investigation will look into the dealings of the PN and its media company, Bonnici insisted that one cannot accuse a party of not registering as a political party, while also claiming it has broken the law governing political party funding.

"You can't accuse a party of not registering as a political party and then claim it has broken the law governing political parties."