Transport Minister Joe Mizzi’s has breached the terms set out in Transport Malta’s expression of interest, the PN’s spokesman for Transport Toni Bezzina said in comments to The Malta Independent on Sunday.

Mr Bezzina said the terms of the expression of interest clearly state that no bidders are allowed to make contact with Transport Malta or with the Transport Minister prior to a preferred bidder being formally announced. Doing so will automatically disqualify the bidder, Mr Bezzina said.

Last week, Mr Mizzi said the reason for his recent trip to Spain was to meet one of the bidders, Autobuses de Leon, and see with “his own eyes” that everything is in order.

“I do not want public transport to fail. I want those who expressed an interest in providing the service to have everything in order. I also spoke to the Maltese bidders; I speak to everyone,” Minister Mizzi said.

Three bids have been submitted, two by Maltese companies and one by the Spanish company. Mr Mizzi said negotiations are underway with the preferred bidder, who he did not name.

Mr Bezzina said it is “shocking” that Mr Mizzi declared he is willing to meet with any of the bidders.

“The rules are there for both the authorities concerned and the bidders to abide by them. However, for Joseph Muscat’s government, there are no rules,” Mr Bezzina said.

He blasted the government for abandoning its pre-election pledge to bring about a more transparent and accountable way of doing politics.

Mr Bezzina questioned the true nature of Minister Mizzi’s Spain visit.

“Why did Mr Mizzi go to Spain when the preferred bidder has yet to be announced? Even the fact that officials from the Spanish company came to Malta and met with Mr Mizzi and Transport Malta officials goes against the conditions set out by the government in the expression of interest.

“It opens up the door for the immediate disqualification of the company from the process,” Mr Bezzina said.

Island Buses, one of the other three bidders, said in a statement that it was never involved in talks with the government or Transport Malta .

The company has not been informed which company has been selected as the preferred bidder. It said no talks should have been held with any bidder prior to the preferred bidder being announced, as set out in the terms of the expression of interest.