Labour MP Roderick Galdes, party spokesman for planning and housing, said the statements made by the auditor of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority were very serious and merited being investigated by parliament’s planing and development committee.

The Nationalist Party replied by saying the PL was using the auditor as a political tool.

The auditor, Mr Galdes said, was declaring that illegal measures were being taken which could undermine the planning system in Malta. There already were serious doubts about the way the government is using the Mepa as a screen for controversial decisions which have been taken lately. In these circumstances, Mr Galdes said, the PL was concerned that the auditor was being criticised for doing his job and the party felt the matter should be discussed by parliament’s appropriate committee.

Mepa, Mr Galdes added, is an autonomous body, and should operate independently of the government’s or some stakeholders’ interests. Planning decisions should continue reflecting transparency and accountability, as laid down in the law, he added.

The PN, in its counter reply, said the PL was using the Mepa auditor as a political tool after a court last week “found no illegality” in the Mistra disco project. The court had neutralised the arguments and allegations the Labour Party had made before the election, it claimed.

It added that Mr Galdes was in a conflict of interest because he is a Mepa employee, is a member nominated by the leader of the opposition, on the Mepa board, is a party spokesman for planning, and is a member of parliament’s planning committee.

The opposition, the PN said, was twisting facts.