The Labour Party today challenged PN deputy leader Mario de Marco to publish the receipts related to construction works carried out in his house, before the motion of no confidence in No-Portfolio Minister Konrad Mizzi is debated in Parliament.
In a press conference, Minister for Tourism Edward Zammit Lewis challenged Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil to ‘walk the talk’ on good governance and transparency.
Journalists at the press conference were presented with a transcript of Simon Busuttil saying de Marco had ‘produced’ the receipts of the works. Another transcript shows Mario de Marco telling a journalist that the receipt had not been published.
“So the PN Deputy Leader is contradicting Busuttil’s claim,” Dr Zammit Lewis said.
The Minister was challenged to distinguish between the word ‘produced’ and ‘published’ as, according to a journalist present, these did not mean the same thing.
“Simon Busuttil has lost all credibility on good governance.”
In reply, the PN said the government is doing its best to divert attention from the debate on Konrad Mizzi. This morning it sent Zammit Lewis to address the media on the "lie it has perpetuated on" Mario de Marco and this evening, while Parliament will be discussing the Panama Papers, PBS' programme Dissett, anchored by ead of news Reno Bugeja, will be discussing the same lie.
The PL is lying when it sayd Dr de Marco received a gift from Pierre Sladden. Dr de Marco had paid all his dues to Pierre Sladden and was given a receipt for it. No contractor employed by Dr de Marco is claiming he has not been paid.
Neither is it true that Dr de Marco took five years to pay up, as he did so within a month of being issued with an invoice, the PN said.