Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi and fellow lawyer Kris Busietta have presented an official letter on behalf of 11 people who are claiming that their property in Qormi is "illegally and abusively" being used as a Labour Party club.

The eleven - Clothilde Borg, Josephine Cassar, Jane Sammut, Charlotte Sammut, Carmen Mizzi, Joseph Mizzi, Salvinu Mizzi, Vincent Mizzi, Isabelle Mercieca, Cecilia Dalli and Felicita Micallef - are asking the Labour Party to vacate the premises within two weeks and to provide them with a just compensation for the abusive occupation of the dwelling.

They are arguing that Labour's occupation of the premises violated their right to the enjoyment of their property, as guaranteed by the Maltese Constitution and by the European Convention on Human Rights.

The building in St Bartholomew Street had been a private residence before it was expropriated by a Labour government and leased to the Labour Party for a pittance. The Labour Party has obtained several other clubs in this matter.

The Nationalist Party is insisting that before a party financing law is in place, all public or requisitioned property which was passed on to political parties should be identified, properly valued and returned to the public, and is also seeking compensation to make up for the unfair advantage Labour enjoyed.

At a political activity in the Għaxaq Labour Party club - coincidentally, one of the clubs that the party obtained through government intervention - yesterday, Dr Muscat shot down the call for compensation.

PL reaction

In  a statement this afternoon the Labour Party said the lease on its Qormi club is regulated by rent law. The PL said that new rules to bring justice to landlords with regards to unpaid rent have only been introduced recently. This was not done when Jason Azzopardi was Minister responsible for this sector. The party said that now that the owners have taken the case to court, it will respect any court decision, as it has always done in similar cases.,