The Nationalist Party and the Labour Party are at loggerheads over the increased parliamentary honoraria PN Cabinet ministers were between 2008 and 2010.

On the one hand, the PN is claiming that the ministers and parliamentary secretaries paid it back in full following a decision taken by the party after public opinion turned against the ministers.

On the other hand, the PL, through Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, is stating that only a fraction of the total amount was returned to the government’s coffers.

In a statement, the Labour Party claimed that according to information tabled in parliament by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, the then PN ministers and parliamentary secretaries accepted an increase totalling €1.6 million, with only €300,000 being paid back. This meant, the PL said, that that the ministers accepted an increase between them of €1.3 million, adding that the PN’s claims that the ‘secret’ increase was paid back in full is nothing but a blatant lie.

The PL accused PN leader Simon Busuttil of being aware of the above-mentioned facts, but tried to hide them during the election campaign, since back in November 2012, he had publicly stated that the issue was a closed chapter.

In another statement issued by the PN, it claimed that it was Dr Muscat had confirmed that all the money due had been paid back during a TV programme on PBS.

Apart from that, the PN said that as from 1 January 2012, the ministers and parliamentary secretaries did not receive the honoraria increase any longer.

The PN accused the Labour Party of playing with words.