Former Health Minister Joe Cassar yesterday resigned from his role as the PN's spokesperson for culture in order to "defend his name" over allegations about gifts he received from donor Joe Gaffarena.
In a brief statement, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said that he met with Dr Cassar yesterday morning and decided the best course of action was for him (Dr Cassar) to resign.
"Dr Cassar informed me that he is taking legal advice in order to defend his name. Unfortunately it is clear that Dr Cassar cannot remain as a member of the Shadow Government at this period. I have therefore accepted his resignation from his responsibility as Opposition Spokesperson on Culture," Dr Busuttil said.
The Nationalist MP reportedly let Mr Gaffarena pay a €8,000 bill for construction works carried out on his Dingli home.
Dr Cassar also paid a €1,000 donation to the PN a year after he bought a car from the Gaffarenas instead of paying Joe Gaffarena directly.
Mr Gaffarena paid for a €800 security system at Dr Cassar's house, with the latter claiming that the people who installed the system repeatedly refused payment.
In a statement, Dr Cassar apologised for his "error of judgement."
It-Torca yesterday carried a photo of a VAT receipt for €800 issued on behalf of Joe Gaffarena in conjunction with works carried out in his house. And Maltatoday claimed that Joe Gaffarena paid a €8,150 bill for construction works carried out at the MP's Dingli home; that Dr Cassar paid a €1000 donation to PN a year after purchasing a car from Gaffarena's son and that he hurriedly sold the car days after the revelation of Gaffarena's expropriation scandal.
"Though I have done nothing that breaches any law I have allowed an unscrupulous person to take advantage of me. The fact that this happened some three years ago is no excuse and I apologise unreservedly to the electorate for my error of judgement. The way this person is, in collusion with the Labour Party, manipulating the events of three years ago - in an attempt to cover up his and the Labour Party's unacceptable scandals - has become a distraction as the Nationalist Party fights to raise the standards of political behavior in this country,” Dr Cassar said.
"In terms of the Ministerial Code of Ethics which applied to me prior to March 2013 - there were no gifts to declare and therefore I do not believe that I breached the Code. It is only because of this person's manipulation of events that took place three years ago that, today, they are being made to look like gifts. Still less was there any obligation created on me. So much so that Joe Gaffarena never got what he wanted from a PN administration - the sanctioning of his illegally-built petrol station.
"This, he got only after he crossed over to the Labour Party. Nor did his son get a multi-million compensation for half-ownership of a house in Valletta. For these actions, it is only Joseph Muscat and Michael Falzon who have to answer.
"With regards to the allegations published today in MaltaToday, I categorically refute that I have ever known or consented for any payments to be made for me by Mr Gaffarena for works performed in my property. In this regard, I am taking legal advice to identify the avenues available to me.
"I hope that my resignation will allow the focus to return on the real corruption in this country and on those who are truly abusing of their position."
Weak and ridiculous reaction - PL
The Labour Party said the fact that Dr Cassar was not expelled from the PN shows a “double error of judgement” by Dr Busuttil.
His first error of judgement was defending Dr Cassar, and the second was retaining him as part of the PN team, the PL said in a statement.
The party called Dr Busuttil’s reaction to the case “weak and ridiculous.”
The PL pointed out that Dr Cassar never even formed part of the PN’s shadow cabinet.
In a tweet, Dr Muscat said the way Dr Busuttil reacted to the whole case is "so weak that it is plain ridiculous."
What is Joseph Muscat going to do, PN asks
In a counter-statement, the PN asked what Dr Muscat intends to do about Michael Falzon's involvement in the Gaffarena case, his cousin's involvement in the Algeria 'visa scam,' Ian Borg's abuse of power and the illegal works on Minister Helena Dalli's farmhouse.
The PN said that whilst Gaffarena did not get what he wanted from the PN, Dr Muscat has given him everything.