Prime Minister Joseph Muscat would not say what was discussed with President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca today.
He said that this was a private meeting. The President has expressed herself in a statement and it is not correct to say what went on, Dr Muscat said.
He was addressing the media during a press conference on the budget surplus.
When The Malta Independent asked Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, who was also addressing the press, what he thinks about working for a Prime Minister under investigation, the PM intervened to say that he was not being investigated but had asked for an investigation into serious allegations made about it.
Prof. Scicluna said he was comfortable working within this government.
President Marie Louise Coleiro today held separate meetings with both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition following a call made yesterday by Dr Simon Busuttil for her to intervene in the ongoing Egrant saga.
In a statement before the meetings, Dr Coleiro Preca said:
“I have been following closely what happened throughout last week, and afterbseeking advice from my constitutional advisors on Saturday, I have called in both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
JM president meeting from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.
As I have already stated several times, the powers of the President of Malta are constrained by the Constitution itself, and I will exercise those few powers given to me.
At this stage, I will not be making any further statements on the matter, to allow the independent instutions to do their work. Malta is a democracy and the law is to be observed by everyone.”
SB president meeting from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.
Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil was the first to say he had been summoned to the Palace for a meeting with President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.
The meeting was announced by Dr Busuttil on his Twitter account.
The Prime Minister later also said that he had a meeting with the President.
Dr Busuttil yesterday called on the President to request the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat following allegations that his wife is the owner of a company in Panama, an allegation the PM refuses.