In a statement issued at 10pm, Economy Minister Chris Cardona denied allegations made by blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia and repeated in Parliament by Opposition Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami regarding a flat at Portomaso.
The minister published a copy of the contract for the lease of a one-bedroom flat at Portomaso for €1,400 a month as from 1 December 2014.
He also denied that the person renting the flat to him forms part of the consortium involved in the power station deal.
The minister challenged the Opposition to withdraw the allegations made and disassociate itself from Dahne Caruana Galizia. Repeating allegations made by the blogger goes against the recommendations made in the PN-commissioned report following the election defeat, the statement said.
Copy of agreement
Earlier in Parliament
Four hours before the DOI statement, in Parliament, the government did not deny the allegation that Economy Minister is staying at an apartment in Partomaso for free, an apartment which is owned by a relative of one of the key shareholders in Electrogas Malta.
It also did not deny the second allegation, which states that the Economy Minister frequents the bar “ The Stable Pub” in Valletta, frequented by shady people of a dubious and perhaps criminal nature, and where drugs are abused of.
The allegations were made by Daphne Caruana Galizia on her own personal blog. When approached by Mrs Caruana Galizia, the economy minister did not deny staying in the property.
During question time at about 6.30pm, PN’s deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami asked whether Prime Minister Joseph Muscat would be giving his reaction to this story, notingthat rent of a Portomaso apartment amounted between €2,000 and €3,500 a month. He asked Dr Muscat to simply reply whether the allegation is true or not.
Dr Muscat simply replied that the blogger was accompanied by a Nationalist MEP.
Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil then claimed that the Economy Minister had passed the offensive remark “Your turn will come” off microphone.
In turn, Mr Cardona said that Dr Busuttil had passed the same remark about him during the budget speech. “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.