Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil should have demanded the resignation of Joe Cassar from the PN, and not simply as a spokesman, Economy Minister Chris Cardona said today.

The Labour Party called a press conference in the wake of the resignation of the former health minister from spokesman on culture following reports in the newspaper that a businessman, Gaffarena, had paid for works carried out at Dr Cassar’s home.

Addressing the media, Dr Cardona said that nothing had changed in the PN with Simon Busuttil as leader. “He is a weak leader and not capable of taking tough decisions. Simon Busuttil’s error of judgement is that he is still surrounded by the same people from before the 2013 general election. This is still Lawrence Gonzi’s party,” Dr Cardona said.

The Economy Minister said the PN was taking people for a ride when it said Dr Cassar had resigned from the shadow cabinet. The former minister was only a spokesperson, not a shadow minister. The case, he said, further exposed Dr Busuttil’s double standards - he spoke regularly on honest politics but did not practice what he preached.

He asked why the Opposition Leader was failing to take action against the disgraced MP, pointing out that Dr Cassar had acted as an “interlocutor” in a meeting between Simon Busuttil and Joe Gaffarena. Dr Cassar, he said, should explain what his real role was.

Dr Cardona also pointed out that Dr Cassar had given the €1,000 donation to the PN almost a year after the car ‘purchase’ and the donation was made during a PN fund-raising marathon. Pressed to be clear on the matter, instead of making weak hints, Dr Cardona and PL MP Deborah Schembri said nothing could prove conclusively that the donation was linked to the car.

Dr Schembri said Simon Busuttil was not showing respect towards Parliament. Dr Cassar had breached the ministerial code of ethics which said politicians could not receive gifts, irrespective of whether something was given in return. Despite it not being a criminal law, the code of ethics had to be respected and any breach had to be punished, she said.

Dr Schembri said Joe Cassar had gone to Parliament and alleged that he had been framed because he had no idea that more information would come out in the press. She also accused Simon Busuttil of having double standards and said he was defending Joe Cassar in the same way he defended Tony Bezzina, Claudio Grech and Giovanna Debono. The PN Leader had never taken the decision to sack any of his MPs – he had only accepted the resignation of those who offered it.

‘No doubt that PM will take action on Old Mint Street scandal’

As expected, the PL MPs were asked about the Gaffarena scandals that took place under Labour’s watch.

Joe Gaffarena’s illegal Qormi petrol station was sanctioned by the current administration and his son Marco was given millions for the expropriation of an Old Mint Street property after he had bought on the cheap with the help of inside information.

Chris Cardona and Deborah Schembri said they could give no guarantee that no Labour MP had met with Gaffarena. Asked if the PL had ever received donations by the Gaffarena family, Dr Cardona said he and Dr Schembri were not party treasurers but urged journalists to take a look at the PL audited accounts.

The Economy Minister said the government had taken prompt action in the Old Mint Street and Café Premier scandals and said action would be taken when the investigations were completed.

When journalists pointed out that the IAID investigation into the Old Mint Street scandal had been completed – and found that the land valuations were illegal – Dr Cardona said the government would take action once the Auditor General’s office analysed that report. “I can assure you that the Prime Minister will take the necessary action.”

The economy minister seemed uncomfortable with some of the questions and asked journalists to keep in line with the subject. In the end the press conference was cut short and journalists were not allowed to ask all of their questions.

PN statement

In a one-line statement the PN said Chris Cardona had no shame when he addressed a press conference to try and give a lesson on clean politics.

In the meantime, attempts to reach Joe Cassar by phone yesterday were unsuccessful.