The Nationalist Party today stepped up its calls for the resignation of Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, saying that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is too weak to take any steps against “who has been caught lying and hiding corruption”.
The call was made during a press conference addressed by PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami, after Minister Bartolo yesterday admitted that he was first informed about the alleged abuse involving his canvasser Edward Caruana in April, and not in August as he had originally said.
The case has led to the resignation of Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools Philip Rizzo, who is saying that there was ministerial procrastination. The minister has defended the accusations by saying that in April he did not have enough information to proceed, but when in August more evidence emerged the matter was taken to the police.
But Dr Fenech Adami insisted today that the Minister should not have waited at all – he did not have a duty to ask for more evidence to be gathered – and should have called in the police there and then. “For the good of the government, Bartolo should accept the fact that the only way is resignation.”
The PN Deputy Leader said Mr Bartolo was caught lying when he admitted to having first received word of the allegations in April. The minister’s behaviour was “condemnable,” he said.
He also said the education minister had simply transferred Edward Caruana to another department when public sector workers had to appear before a Public Service Commission for the slightest of offences.
Dr Fenech Adami said the Prime Minister had no moral authority to take action in the face of corruption. “The PM is impotent before these allegations. He brought this upon himself when he decided to be strong with the weak – like in the case of Godfrey Farrugia and the Mater Dei Hospital tent – and weak with the strong, just like in the case of Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri.”
He added that if Muscat asks Bartolo to resign the minister would accuse the PM of double standards. “The PM’s blunders have weakened democracy in this country. Muscat should remove Bartolo for choosing a person of trust who was involved in alleged corruption, for remaining idle in the face of these allegations and for lying.”
Justice Shadow Minister Jason Azzopardi pointed out that Mr Bartolo was the most experienced minister in Muscat’s cabinet and yet he was caught in a case which, in the best case scenario was a grave error of judgment.
“We all remember what Bartolo said during the Panama Papers scandal – that there should not be a law for the gods and another for the animals. We all heard him say that Konrad Mizzi should have resigned.” Dr Azzopardi Mr Bartolo should heed his own advice, especially since the Prime Minister had lost his moral authority.
PN candidate (and Assistant Secretary General) Jean Pierre Debono said this was a serious case where a person that held the minister’s trust had come forward with allegations on another person of trust. He said Mr Bartolo should not have waited and had everything he needed to go to the police. Mr Debono said the country deserved a Prime Minister that had moral authority and would be able to take tough decisions in times like these.
PL reaction
Reacting the Labour Party said Beppe Fenech Adami had no shame speaking in this way when he was linked to an investigation being carried out by three judges and was related to money laundering and drug trafficking.
“Instead of stepping aside, he put on a straight face and went to speak about others. Instead of announcng that he will subject himself to a tax audit, he has lashed out at others,” the PL said.
It said Beppe Fenech Adami was “the establishment personified” and thought he was above the law and that he can sweep all of his actions under the carpet.
“The PN Deputy Leader, together with his leader, should find a shred of decency and stop deceiving people on a case which has already been explained when there are the subject of many unanswered questions.”