Outgoing Nationalist Party Leader Simon Busuttil yesterday insisted he had the full backing of the party when filing the court application for the courts to investigate if money laundering laws were broken when Minister Konrad Mizzi and chief of staff Keith Schembri secretly acquired companies in Panama.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, Busuttil was asked about criticism levelled against him by PN leadership candidate Frank Portelli. Portelli slammed the outgoing leader for beginning a ‘crusade’ in court when he will no longer be leader in just two weeks’ time, leaving the newly elected person to continue the fight.

Busuttil said that with the full support of the PN, a direction was decided on which battles the PN will be fighting. He said that he filed the application with full support from the party, and that whosoever is elected after him can shape the direction the PN will be taking.

The outgoing leader was visiting the National Audit Office (NAO). The NAO is celebrating 20 years since its independence and autonomy was enshrined in the constitution of Malta.