Embattled Nationalist MP Hermann Schiavone has suspended himself from the PN and requested that he is investigated for his behaviour.

Schiavone wrote to PN leader Adrian Delia to explain the situation, and Delia accepted the MP's suspension.

Schiavone, together with MP Kristy Debono, had met Yorgen Fenech to seek sponsorship for a conference. Fenech's name was thrust into the limelight in November when it was reported that he was the owner of 17 Black, a company which was named as one of two which would pay 2 million euros into the Panama companies owned by Minister Konrad Mizzi and OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri.

In his letter, Schiavone says that his intention was to organise a non-profit conference for which he sought a venue free of charge.

The conference was still in its planning stage and was not discussed with the leader.

He said that originally he had made an appointment with another director of Tumas Group, other than Yorgen Fenech, but he was referred to the latter in the last stages.

He said that Debono was unaware of the change of appointment and therefore is receiving unjust criticism for her action.

During the meeting with Fenech, only the planned conference was discussed, Schiavone said.

In spite of doing nothing wrong, Schiavone said he felt he had to shoulder responsibility for his lack of good judgment.

He said that the controversy is causing harm to the party and the leader in the fight for righteousness.

Schiavone said that he is in politics to serve and always did his best to serve his leaders and the party with honesty and loyalty.

He said he believed that the party is bigger than each individual, and he was offering to suspend himself from the parliamentary group and ask the party to investigate his behaviour.

He said that although he will not form part of the PN group, he will continue to follow the party whip.

In a terse reply, Delia said that he was accepting Schiavone's suspension.

Schiavone and Debono met Fenech last Friday. Debono, in a statement issued earlier this week, apologised for committing what she described as an error of judgment.

Hermann Schiavone letter

Adrian Delia letter

 

PL reaction

Reacting, the Labour Party said the latest development showed that the PN was more divided than ever before.

It said the PN was resorting to ‘fake’ actions in an attempt to try and hide its internal turmoil.

The PL said that on one side there was a clique that attacked all that the party Leader did, and on the other is a group that acts in a fake manner and comes up with excuses to try and save its leader’s skin.

The suspension was clearly an attempt to stop PN MPs from insulting each other publicly before an electoral campaign, the PL said.