[WATCH] Joseph Muscat will not take private jet controversy further

Joseph Muscat insists that PA should handle its own issues

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will not say whether Planning Authority CEO Johann Buttigieg’s position is tenable, insisting the authority was autonomous to make its own decisions.

Muscat had been critical of Buttigieg’s decision to hire a private jet to shuttle back a board member so that she could vote on the permit for the db project. The project was approved a fortnight ago.

But despite his criticism, the Prime Minister today insisted it was not up to him to decide what happens at the PA.

“The Planning Authority is autonomous; therefore it is not up to the government to decide on the actions it should take,” Muscat said when asked whether Butigieg’s position was tenable.

He said Buttigieg had given an explanation and it was up to the authority to decide what actions it had to take.

A private jet was hired for more than €8,000 to fly PA board member Jacqueline Gili from Sicily, in order for her to vote. The move was criticised by the Prime Minister and Planning Minister Ian Borg.

Buttigieg later defended his position but insisted he would be “an idiot” to repeat the decision given the negative reception it received from the minister and the Prime Minister.

Muscat was adamant on Monday morning that the PA was an autonomous body.

“If the Prime Minister were to call the shots on decisions taken by the PA, it would lose its autonomy. You can ask board members whether there was any interference from myself when it came to decisions taken by the authority and they will tell you there never was,” Muscat insisted.

The Prime Minister took questions after visiting Freshers’ Week at the Junior College in Msida.