Health and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi admitted this evening that he could have exercised better judgement when choosing a jurisdiction in which to open a company but insisted that his intentions were "noble."

Earlier, the Minister was blasted for choosing to make a statement on an inquiry into alleged corruption at the cemeteries instead of “finding the courage” to speak about his Panama company.

This evening’s sitting was suspended for an hour and a half after the Opposition objected to Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne making the statement. Eventually, Speaker Anglu Farrugia ruled that Konrad Mizzi had a duty to make the statement.

Dr Mizzi said an inquiry had been launched after PN MP Claudette Buttigieg alleged that there were corrupt practices at the cemeteries. He said the inquiry, headed by Judge Alberto Magri, found no irregularities in the running of state-owned cemeteries. The inquiry looked into practices at the cemetery in the last 15 years. It heard 40 witnesses speak about several cases. The inquiry did not find any graves which had been dug irregularly or without authoritisation and no irregular transfer of graves.

It found two cases of administrative shortcomings which happened under PN administrations, in 2004 and 2012. One was about the way in which a grave was transferred and the second was when an employee indirectly gave permission for burial of persons who were not entitled to be buried there.

Dr Mizzi said the state offered grave cleaning services but these were also offered by the private sector. There was one case where government employees had demanded payment they were not entitled to and this case was referred to the police.

He said the government was not happy with the situation at the cemetery, which needed restoration and expansion. The former government had made promise of sale agreements for the sale of graves in a way that was irregular. They were not made before notaries, they were not registered and no stamp duty was made. Nonetheless, they were now being registered and would be honoured once the cemetery extension was completed. A Mepa permit for an extension for the Addolorata cemetery was issued recently.

Surreal situation - Fenech Adami

Replying, PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami said the situation was surreal. Instead of having the courage to speak about the Panamgate scandal – a day after thousands protested against corruption in Valletta – the minister had chosen to speak about cemeteries. “This is not what people want you to talk about. Dr Mizzi came here to talk about serious allegations and how they turned out to be false, according to him. But he did not dare speak about the serious allegations made against him.”

Quoting from Daphne Caruana Galizia’s blog, he said the minister had set up a company in a jurisdiction many resorted to to launder money or receive kickbacks.

Government MPs raised a number of point of orders, insisting that Fenech Adami was deviating from the subject.  Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said the Opposition had called for an inquiry and now that it has been concluded they do not want to hear the results. He urged PN MPs to desist from telling lies and misleading people. Dr Bonnici argued that there were rules which had to be followed and the Opposition had to limit itself to the subject of the inquiry for the time being. Speaker Anglu Farrugia agreed, warning Dr Fenech Adami that he had to keep to the subject.

Dr Fenech Adami insisted on referring to the Panamagate scandal, prompting the Justice Minister to warn him not to break parliamentary rules. Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said the government had bowed its head down to the Speaker’s ruling, but the Opposition was not respecting that decision.

Independent MP Marlene Farrugia also raised a point of order, saying these were extraordinary times and it made no sense for parliament to talk about cemeteries when the entire population was speaking about the Panamagate scandal.

Konrad Mizzi told the Speaker Dr Fenech Adami could speak on whichever subject he wished and he would be happy to reply. Marlene Farrugia said that, if the minister did not have a problem speaking about his Panama company, his statement should have been precisely on that subject, not cemeteries.

Dr Fenech Adami said the issue was that the government had launched an inquiry into the Addolorata claims, which were serious, but it had not launched an inquiry into the Panamagate scandal, which was much, much more serious.

PN MP Claudette Buttigieg asked Dr Mizzi if the Addolorata inquiry would be published. She said she had received information and referred it to Parliament. She asked if an investigation would have taken place had she not broached the subject. She said the government has a report in hand, which speaks about the situation in several cemeteries, not just Addolorata. The report, which labels the current situation as ‘mediocre,’ has so far been ignored by the government.

Replying, Konrad Mizzi said Beppe Fenech Adami had, just like Simon Busutti last week, made serious allegations under parliamentary privilege. He challenged him to repeat the allegations outside.

The Opposition Leader said he had repeated those allegations several times in public. Mr Mizzi had not sued him for libel, and neither had Keith Schembri, despite threatening to do so. Mr Mizzi had also not claimed breach of privilege.

Dr Mizzi again challenged Dr Busuttil and Dr Fenech Adami to step outside of parliament and repeat the allegations in front of the media. Dr Busuttil in turn challenged Mizzi to file for breach of privilege, but the Energy Minister invited Busuttil to repeat the allegations in the house. He said the PN today "equates to Daphne Caruana Galizia," and that Busuttil was "in sync and working hand in hand with her."

He also challenged the PN Leader and Marlene Farrugia to move a no-confidence motion. “Hand on heart I can do it.”

Dr Mizzi insisted that he had declared all of his assets and had nothing to hide. “I have given all explanations and have heard the people’s feedback. I understood that the choice of country could have been better. I am sure I will be cleared by the Tax Commissioner and, when that happens I will close the company down. I admit I could have shown better judgement but my intent was noble.”

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Speaking during adjournment time, Dr Fenech Adami said Konrad Mizzi’s own admission about bad judgement was reason enough for his removal. “But this is Joseph Muscat of two weights to measures.”

He recalled how Dr Muscat had sacked Speaker Anglu Farrugia from PL Deputy Leader for criticising a Magistrate but claimed that, in the case of Konrad Mizzi, the Prime Minister was ‘impotent.’

Labour Reaction

In a press statment issued this evening the Labour Party once again accused Opposition Leader Simon Busutill and Dr Beppe Fenech Adami of hiding behind parliamentary privilage and challenged them to repeat what they said in outside Parliament. With reference to Daphne Caruana Galizia's blog, PL said that she is the PN official spokesperson, despite what was written about Ms Caruana Galizia in the report about the reasons for the PN's electoral defeat. 

The Labour Party said that during this debate nothing was said about Dr Ann Fenech that she is director and shareholder of a company that has interests in Panama.