John Dalli said today he had been told by former PM Lawrence Gonzi that he would nominate Richard Cachia Caruana for the post of European Commissioner if he (Mr Dalli) kept refusing the offer.

Mr Dalli was giving evidence in a libel case instituted by former permanent representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana against Maltatoday Managing Editor Saviour Balzan. Mr Cachia Caruana claims that a news report entitled “Why people will protest and not vote” was libellous and contained false allegations, which damaged his reputation and exposed him to public humiliation.

The former Commissioner said a number of PN officials, journalists and columnists had “ganged up” against him. This was evident from the way the PN leadership campaign was being conducted. He said that Daphne Caruana Galizia had launched an attack against him and his brother and he had approached Dr Gonzi about it. The attacks had stopped, Mr Dalli said.

He also mentioned Steve Mallia, Ivan Camilleri and Lou Bondi as prime suspects in attacks against him, saying that these were coordinated.

Mr Dalli said that under Eddie Fenech Adami’s leadership, attacks against him were more subtle but when Lawrence Gonzi became Prime Minister things escalated. “Six months after becoming Prime Minister Gonzi threw me out of cabinet and wanted to put me in jail.”

The former EU Commissioner said Dr Gonzi dismissed him from cabinet because he could not have a minister under investigation. “When I asked him what this was all about he gave me a blank stare and then mentioned a report I did not even know about.”

Mr Dalli said cabinet did not discuss his resignation in his presence. At the time, Mr Cachia Caruana was Dr Gonzi’s advisor.

A few years later, Lawrence Gonzi asked Mr Dalli to take up the post of EU Commissioner. “I was reluctant and did not accept, but Dr Gonzi warned that if I did not accept he would nominate Richard Cachia Caruana instead. Eventually I accepted his offer.”

Mr Dalli has eventually accepted the position offered by Dr Gonzi but he was forced to resign by European Commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso after the snus scandal erupted.

The case continues on 6 October.