Government defeated a motion of no confidence presented by the Nationalist Party with ease tonight, with 38 MPs voting against and 31 in favour. The government's counter motion of confidence was passed with 38 in favour and 31 against.
In a 13-hour session, Parliament debated the vote of no confidence brought forward by the opposition, following Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's inaction over the Panama Papers scandal, where his Chief of Staff Keith Schembri, and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi were found to have companies in the secretive tax haven, Panama.
While concluding her address, independent MP Marlene Farrugia said that she will be a presenting a motion of no confidence in Dr Mizzi as a result of the scandal as well as irregularities with what was promised and delivered regarding the Enemalta power station. Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia reminded her that she was unable to present the motion this evening in Parliament.
The vote this evening was against government and not just against Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi, which is why Dr Farrugia wanted to present an amendment this evening to change the motion to target Dr Mizzi. Independent MPs Marlene Farrugia and Giovanna Debono both voted in favour of ousting the government.
Simon Busuttil and Joseph Muscat's speeches
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This is how the debate developed as from 9am this morning until the vote was taken at 10pm.
20:55 – Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis slammed PN Deputy Leader Mario de Marco for not standing up and “censoring” Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil when certain allegations were made by the Opposition leader against Dr Mizzi in Parliament. He said this in light of Dr de Marco’s speech this evening which called for more serenity and less aggressive partisan politics.
“To believe Simon Busuttil, it cannot be the hot-air Busuttil we see in front of us, but a Busuttil who takes action.”
20:47 - Government Whip Godfrey Farrugia said the PL was elected with an overwhelming majority in a democratic election three years ago. Dr Farrugia said that the national interest required stability. The Opposition motion, he said, wanted to stifle the progress obtained under the PL government.
20:20 – PN Deputy Leader Mario de Marco said the government MPs had discussed all sorts of topics but shied away from the subject behind this debate. The PL had been elected on the promise of being transparent and introducing a new style of politics. “We can be the country with the best economy, the best education and health systems in Europe. But what does this matter when we have a government that keeps contracts hidden, that lacks transparency and that keeps defending people who are facing very serious allegations?”
Dr de Marco continued: “We are not here to speak about the economy, social services and education. That debate can take place any time. We are here to speak about an issue which is of concern to all of us – our country’s reputation.”
The PN Deputy Leader said people were concerned about the Panama allegations – including people who had no particular political interest or allegiance. “How can we risk our reputation just for the sake of protecting the Mizzi and Schembri’s jobs?”
What possible valid reason did they have to open companies in Panama? Konrad Mizzi first said that he opened the company and trust to deposit rent income. Yet more than a year later after opening the trust, his properties in London and Malta have still not been transferred into the trust. Mizzi and Schembri had tried to open accounts in nine different banks – all abroad and in secretive jurisdictions. Why did they not open accounts in local banks?
We are speaking about Mizzi’s political, not criminal responsibility. Is it acceptable for them to have been caught doing what they did while in office?
Instead of safeguarding the national interest, Dr Muscat was safeguarding the interests of Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri and this was unacceptable, Dr de Marco said.
The outcome of Konrad Mizzi’s audit was irrelevant because the issue here was political responsibility.
Instead of acting in the face of one of the biggest scandals, the government had launched a series of attacks on PN officials, starting with PN Leader Simon Busuttil and ending with him (Mario de Marco).
“I have worked hard to be able to pay my bills. I do not need any favours. I have all the invoices and receipts to show that I have always paid everyone. No one will shame me,” he said.
20:05 – Deputy PM Louis Grech described the Opposition motion as ‘political opportunism.’ He said it was clear that there was no threat to democracy and the PL would govern for another two years. Mr Grech said there were never such high expectations of good governance. “We are determined to be different from past PN governments. We will not ignore what people out there are saying. We do not take the public’s trust for granted. We appreciate that there are people who are truly disturbed by the Panama issue. We are not saying that this is yesterday’s business. Doing nothing is not an option and we will be tackling the issue of governance. ” The government, he said, will introduce measures to tackle money laundering and corruption.
The PN was responding with disproportionate discourse on every single issue for political gain. But people out there knew what was going on. The PN was using policies of confrontation, divisiveness and tension and the government would not fall for the trap. People wanted mature politics and they deserved just that.
19:55 – Gozo Minister Anton Refalo said the desire for power made people do all sorts of things. The Opposition criticised no end but did not come up with any proposals of its own, including for Gozo. The PN had not managed to attract any foreign investment to Gozo in 25 years in government. On the contrary, the PL government has attracted investment, created countless jobs and boosted tourism.
19:44 - Former Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said allegations against individuals were often stretched to the point of becoming suspicion. These suspicions often became a story people believed. These stories were then picked up by politicians and even some supposedly independent journalists. “These people care not at all for the suffering the people they attack and their families go through. The only aim is to win against their adversaries using destructive means. When they achieve their means, they turn to someone else and start all over again.”
Dr Mallia said this was discouraging valid people from going into politics. “Politicians do not do their job for the money. They are underpaid. I did not need to enter politics – I had a good income before I joined the PL ranks. I did so because I believed I could do something for the country.”
Dr Mallia said that in the courts, suspicion alone was not enough. It had to be backed up by concrete proof. The rule of law always won in the end, he said, citing a court case in which a person was accused of corruption and, after being slandered, found innocent.
19:30 - Finance Minister Edward Scicluna spoke about economic growth and how many families were no longer living on the poverty line. Retaining stability was important to keep attracting foreign investors to Malta. The Opposition has to understand this, Prof. Scicluna said. The PN should not undermine the government’s business-friendly approach. The Finance Minister said that Malta was distinguishing itself from other countries, which were still experiencing high unemployment and low economic growth. He warned the PN not to destabilise the country and break this unprecedented trend.
18:57 – Economy Minister Chris Cardona began his address by challenging Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil to respond to allegations which say that he planned on removing his two Deputy Leaders Mario de Marco and Beppe Fenech Adami a few weeks ago. Dr Busuttil categorically denied this statement, and quipped that Dr Cardona had brought the “axe” with him to Parliament.
Dr Cardona praised the government for tripling the number of projects launched and carried out as opposed to the previous administration. He added that people’s trust in the government will continue to strengthen due to the number of projects and initiatives which are to be announced in the coming days.
18.07 – Independent MP Marlene Farrugia said that apart from the Panama Papers scandal Dr Mizzi is embroiled in, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo has widened the scope for teaching ethics in primary schools. She said that the issue boils down to ethics, and being able to take the right decisions.
Dr Farrugia spoke about how many people have forgotten about all the positive work done by the government, such as free childcare, because of the Panama Papers scandal.
“There is a long list of beneficial initiatives brought in by this government. Doubt has been sown because one particular person decided to hijack the Labour Party and gain as much power as possible.”
She slammed the Prime Minister for insisting that his two most closest men inside Castille opening up companies in Panama does not necessarily boil down to corruption. She called Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri’s actions unacceptable in today’s society.
Dr Farrugia made reference to an event which took place prior to the last general election at the Realto Theatre in Cospicua. She said that on the night in question, Dr Mizzi lied to the faces of all the Enemalta workers and promised that the power station would never be privatised.
She questioned where the workers’ unions are, such as the General Workers Union. She asked what the Union representatives on the night in question, adding that workers are scared to complain of the unions for fear of being isolated and left out in the cold.
“This is what the Labour Party has done to the workers.”
Accountability, transparency, meritocracy and good governance have all been ignored despite the pre-electoral promises, she added.
“Let us be realistic, this government, when it comes to the economy, built on the good work done by the previous administration. It built upon igaming, tourism and financial services. The Labour Party is now deteriorating because a government Minister decided not to place its trust in Malta’s financial services, but chose the secretive jurisdiction of Panama.
“If the international price of oil went down by two-thirds, and Dr Mizzi reduces the tariffs by 25%, then has he reduced bills or is he laughing at us?”
She slammed the government for not publishing the Enemalta-Shanghai Electric contract, especially after promising not to privatise the power station, adding that it is completely unacceptable that the public do not know the conditions of the contract.
Dr Farrugia also blasted the government for providing a €360 million guarantee to Electrogas, the consortium building the new power station, since the government did not put up the money in the interest of the public, or for local workers, but to serve themselves.
The building of the American Institute of Malta on Outside Development Land at Zonqor was also mentioned, where Dr Farrugia questioned how the government could have the audacity to propose the development during a Parliamentary group when the area was earmarked for a national park.
She drew comparisons with how the Labour government had approved development on ODZ land at Zonqor for foreign investors, when the investors did not even have a license to build a university and the Panama scandal.
“How can you not think badly when you hear these facts?”
Dr Farrugia also said that the health sector is operating well because all the good work is being done by Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne.
17:55 - Minister for the Environment Leo Brincat said that the public is always right in expressing its sentiment. It is normal for the public to feel concerned but decisions by the Prime Minister will be taken at the opportune time, he said. The Minister called on the government to put its focus on the most important things, including the poverty issue and the environment.
"This county needs to be led by Joseph Muscat," he added. "We want to be the government better than the one before us. But let us not forget that the parliamentary seats of today are reflective of what the people voted back in 2013." He described the motion presented by the PN Opposition as "absurd".
17:40 - Minister of Social Solidarity Michael Farrugia said that the Nationalist Party is going back its roots - a party full of negativity - which reminds every one of the dark years of the 80s. "Simon Busuttil is jealous of Joseph Muscat as he is going to lead the European presidency in 2017."
17:30 - Minister Helena Dalli said that this is the government which ensured equality for all. It was the PN, she said, who always voted against or abstained. "Countries like Belgium look up to us when it comes to speak about civil rights. Before we used to import international laws, but now we are exporting our ideas and laws. This is what a real equality government does."
17:25 - Government MP Franco Mercieca asked why did the PN present this motion if it is so certain that it is not going to pass. "What guarantee do we have that after this vote, the PN will note file another motion? This motion was only filed to create instability."
He said he will vote in favour of this government so that it can complete the 10-year-plan for the good of this country.
17:10 - Claudette Buttigieg reacted to what Minister Konrad Mizzi said and described it as 'surreal'. "It looks like the Minister is living in another planet."
She said that even from the Opposition, the PN is working to have cleaner politics. "We must rebuild the faith of the public in local politics." Buttigieg said that we must tackle the mentality of indifference. "The things you have done in just three years were simply disgusting."
The Nationalist MP also mentioned the list of 109 proposals on good governance.
"When we saw him speaking with the face of a saint, people actually thought that Konrad Mizzi would do the right thing and resign."
During her speech, someone was overheard saying 'desire', referring to Buttigieg's song for the Eurovision song contest. The PN MP fought back - "I don't mind anyone teasing me for my singing. At least I used to make people happy and I never minded that." She referred to what Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne told The Malta Independent in an interview, about an agreement which was signed for the Gozo hospital during the Easter holidays. "Why was such an agreement signed in such a hidden way?" she asked.
16:45 – Minister for Energy and Health, Konrad Mizzi, who is at the centre of this political controversy that sparked the Opposition’s no-confidence motion, defended his position, saying that he has always spoken the truth right from the start.
He said that before making a decision to enter politics he spoke to Joseph Muscat and told him that he wanted to help change the country.
“I was convinced that this government could make a very good difference. I believed in the roadmap regarding energy and health,” he said.
On the Panama Papers, Dr Mizzi said: “I can assure you, I always told the whole truth.”
Dr Mizzi said that it is a shame that all the good work that the government has carried out has been overcome by the Panama Papers revelations. Dr Mizzi said that his story was always consistent and he never changed the version of events.
He said he has suffered a trial by the media over the past weeks. “I have no problem with that,” given that “I am a politician”, but this has diverted the focus away from the sterling work that this government has carried out.
He explained that the beneficiaries of the trusts are his wife and his two children. “My intention was to invest in my family’s future.”
The Minister said that he had cooperated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and “they were fair with what they published about me”. They never said that “I had millions of euros, as the leader of the Opposition claimed in Parliament.
"I already said it - the choice of Panama could have been better, but my intentions were good. The independent audit will confirm this."
On Enemalta, the Minister for Energy and Health said that nowadays, this company has become a regional player and received four consecutive upgrades by Standard and Poor's. Dr Mizzi said that tariffs were decreased by €80 million. He said that the gas facilities for the new power station are almost complete and testing has already started, all of which were so far successful. The interconnector project is also being implemented, while the previous administration did not even manage to acquire the permits, he said. The Minister mentioned the closing down of the Marsa power station. "We will give the biggest present for the community of the south region of Malta," he added.
We are working for a regeneration plan of €7 million in Marsaxlokk to the village that deserves a lot, the Minister announced.
On water preservation, the Minister said the government will launch a €22 million water system for the agricultural sector.
"That horrible Mount Carmel hospital will be closed down once and for all," he said, while the designs for the Gozo Hospital were also concluded.
"Panama papers are tarnishing the good work done by this government, but I am sure the audit will prove that I always said the truth."
16.28 – PN MP Chris Said said that not a single PL MP has mentioned the scandal that led to today's vote.
"This government won the last elections by saying that it would be the most transparent government in history. Today we see that all the major government contracts were not published. They promised to have the best Cabinet in history, and I will leave it up to the viewers to say whether that is the case or not. He said that the OPM Chief of Staff and the Energy Minister are implicated in the Panama Papers".
They promised to fight corruption, yet three years later here we are, in a corruption crisis. Government has defended the scandal and savagely attacked those who voiced their opinion against these actions. The Prime Minister defended the indefensible. We had a Prime Minister that orchestrated one attack after another to try and downplay this massive scandal. The first attack was on the Opposition Leader, saying that he also had a Panama company. The Panama Papers came out and Dr Busuttil’s name is nowhere to be found.
Next, they attacked Dr Mario de Marco and it blew up in their face. They then said Ann Fenech had companies in Panama, and they had to bring down their billboards as they were not saying the truth.
He said the PN will continue to be a strong opposition. “They tried to tie the Cedoli scheme to the way Minister Mizzi and Mr Schembri hid their own things. The scheme is completely within the rights of the Party Financing Act, and loans are mentioned within the Act itself. According to the law, the loans through the Cedoli scheme are clearly not a donation”.
16.22 - Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon spoke of the good done by this government. “All those who would find pills out of stock don’t need to anymore”. He mentioned those who used to wait years for an operation, yet now would wait three months. He mentioned the low rate of unemployment, and the “Alice in wonderland” comment by the PN pre-election. “Now people have more cash in their pockets with which they can invest”.
16.13 – PN MP Clyde Puli reiterated that the left and right hands of the Prime Minister are involved in the Panama scandal, both of whom were involved in some of the largest contracts of this government. He mentioned the Algerian visa scandal, the Zonqor point scandal… “a list that never ends”. We have a Prime Minister who has defended corruption for months. A government with a Prime Minister who has lost the moral authority to lead this country”. He mentioned the Malta Independent survey, stating that a large number believe the Maltese government is corrupt, and that the Prime Minister Is no longer as trustworthy as before. “Stop treating workers as being stupid,” he said.
“Today we will have more proof that the PL is the party for Premiere, for visas, for high net-worth individuals, for the fat-cats that went to the PL’s 4th floor. After this vote, the people, PN or PL, will await a good government, a correct government, not a corrupt one”.
16.05 - PL MP Joseph Farrugia said the people are full of optimism, as shown by one statistic after another by the European Union. He said that businesses know they are doing well and that the economy is growing, adding that the majority of industrial operators are awaiting an improvement in the coming months. “Our families are some of the few saying that their financial situation is improving”. He said that the opposition is not winning any points with businesses with theatrics such as this. "Malta has positive economic prospects".
15:55 – Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said parents spoke to him and thanked the government for introducing schemes that helped students remain in education, the introduction of middle schools and training courses. In order to do all this, the government had to boost the economy and ensure a fair distribution of wealth.
“Three years ago a majority voted for change. We need to examine our conscience – see where we started off, where we are now and where we are heading. We have to be honest with ourselves and see where we disappointed people. We need to build on the good that we have done and address our mistakes. While winning this vote in parliament is important we also need to win the trust of the public, which is difficult to gain and very easy to lose. Politics should not be reduced to a mud wrestling match. Everyone should examine his own conscience – both sides of this house.”
Mr Bartolo said the PN was being inconsistent. How can the PN be credible when it criticises hiding places in Panama but then condones others in Malta. How can they be in favour of the party financing bill and then launch a secretive loan scheme?
The Education Minister also insisted that politicians have to lead by example.
15:45 - PN MP Robert Arrigo said tonight’s motion was not to destabilise the government but rather to return stability. The PL has a right to govern for another two years. But the party should also take a good look at itself and fix what is wrong. He recalled how former PN MP Joe Cassar had resigned for a much less serious case.
15:35 - Veteran PL MP Joe Debono Grech spoke about the corruption of pre-1971 PN governments, including the disaster the new administration had found at the Gozo general hospital.
He then turned to more recent times. “Was it not corruption when PL ministers found that their offices were destroyed and ransacked by their predecessors?”
The PN’s motion, he said, was senseless. “What is the reason for this no-confidence motion in the government? For raising Malta from the bottom? For finding a solution to out of stock medicine and patients sleeping in hospital corridors?”
Going back to the 70s, Mr Debono Grech said what the PN was doing what it did in 1971, when it started striking soon after the ‘democratic’ PL government was elected. “You did so because you believed that you would topple Mintoff’s government after a couple of years.” He also said that the famous Imnarja strike and other similar incidents were attempts to destabilise the government, just like the Opposition is doing today. “You should be ashamed of yourself to harm Malta’s name abroad.”
15:25 – PN MP Paula Mifsud Bonnici said there were many questions about the money that Konrad MIzzi and Keith Schembri wanted to put in their Panamanian companies. The latest version was that they were investing in recycling and remote gaming. The Prime Minister, she said, was acting as defence lawyer to embattled government members. The government was being strong with the weak and weak with the strong on tax evasion. Dr Mifsud Bonnici said Joseph Muscat had managed to lose his moral authority in the space of just three years.
15:15 - PL MP Charles Mangion said the government had brought about a turnaround at Enemalta, which was on the verge of bankruptcy. The banks did not even want to go near the corporation. Today the situation is completely different – Enemalta is investing and will begin turning a profit in a few years’ time. It has also retained all of its workers. Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil accused the Prime Minister of being a salesman but some of his own MPs jumped on the same bandwagon and made money off it, he said (with reference to the citizenship by investment scheme). A PN MP (Albert Fenech) had resigned his seat to work in one of the new hospitals, which Dr Busuttil criticised so much.
Dr Mangion said he was scandalised by the Mater Dei Concrete report, which found that millions would have to be spent on repairs. When Simon Busuttil to call this study fake it becomes very clear that the PN’s only aim is to be negative and try to destabilise the government.
15:05 – Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Deborah Schembri spoke about the various planning policies adopted by the MEPA in the last three years, the demerger and the reform in the Lands Department. She said work is in progress on a review of policies for Mriehel and Paceville, retirement homes, outside tables and chairs and the local plans, and the new billboards regulations would also be fleshed out.The government, she said will continue working in favour of the country and its people.
14:55 - Kristy Debono said the government was accusing the PN of harming Malta’s name abroad but it is doing an excellent job, all on its own, of scaring investors away. Despite the denials and finger pointing, everyone, including foreign journalists, knew that this crisis was made in Castille under the leadership of Joseph Muscat. “You can run but you cannot hide. There is only one solution – action must be taken now. If not, the country can suffer irreparable harm.”
The Panama issue, she said, has become the government’s “comedy of errors” with new details emerging every day. This coming from the party that promised to be the country’s best ever government.
14:45 – Parliamentary Secretary Justyne Caruana said the government had brought about big changes in the services for elderly people. She spoke about the investment in homes for the elderly and in the services offered to disabled persons. The PN’s motion is against all the good work that has been carried out and all the good work that will be carried out in the coming months. “That is why we will all vote against the Opposition’s motion.”
14:35 – PN MP Toni Bezzina said the PL had brought shame on Malta after some of its people were listed in the Panama Papers. There is no doubt that Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri’s shady dealings have harmed the financial services sector. “Those who open up this kind of secret companies are not only dirtying themselves but also their country.” He said that politicians are supposed to serve the people but Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri went into politics so that they could serve themselves.
14:30 – PL MP Deo Debattista said mathematics are obvious – the Opposition’s motion will be defeated. “But this will not be a victory by numbers but by logic and common sense.” He said the Opposition could only come up with one solution to everything – resignations. The Opposition is not an alternative government, he said. “Logic tells us to vote in favour of wealth creation and the economy, and against turning the clock back three years.”
14:18 – PN MP Claudio Grech said he did not believe in the politics of hysteria and said no party had a “divine right” to govern. Mr Grech said he did not appreciate tribal and puerile arguments and discourse about swords and axes had no place in today’s society.
The country is going through an uncomfortable time because of the Panama scandal, which is affecting, to some degree at least, one of the largest sectors of the economy. It has come to a halt, with people asking what will happen next. What will the next step be?
The PN MP said several important contracts remain unpublished. These include the Enemalta and BWSC agreements, the Electrogas agreement, the 18-year power purchase agreement, the agreement with Enel on the interconnector and, most importantly, the price at which the government is currently buying electricity. There were also the secret hospital agreements. All these together were worth in excess of a €1 billion. “Why is the government refusing to publish the contracts if these are positive projects from which the country will benefit? All these doubt are self-inflicted.”
14:10 - Labour MP Joe Sammut praised the Prime Minister for addressing several aspects that had been ignored by PN administrations. These include people who had been registering for work for many years, and initiatives to increase female participation in the workforce, like free childcare.
He also referred to the “alleged” Panama scandal. “If this really exists it is a scandal of the Panamanian government, not the Maltese one,” Dr Sammut said, insisting that people were using the word ‘scandal’ too liberally, like in the 1980s.
“Dr Muscat is correct in taking his time. We are speaking about trusts, which are not necessarily secret accounts. In other countries, trusts are something anyone can own.”
13:55 - Nationalist MP Robert Cutajar said that this government has created a whole chain of scandals. He said the government has created a lie over the social sector, as one starts to discover the truth once one looks deeper beneath the artificial surface. "The Panama scandal was just the cherry on the cake."
13:50 - Government MP, Etienne Grech said that this motion is also a motion of no confidence in the Opposition Leader, Dr Simon Busuttil. "This government is as solid as concrete. Of course, I am not referring to the concrete which was found at Mater Dei."
13:40 - Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Marthese Portelli said that even after four hours into the debate, the government is speaking about anything but the Panama scandal. She said, however, that the government is also obliged to speak about what the government did not do. "Good things should not compensate the bad ones." Dr Portelli asks why the Prime Minister still insists on not taking action.
She said that the price of petrol and diesel, although it was reduced, is still the highest in Europe. "This is a government of scandal and the Prime Minister is still not answering my parliamentary questions related on land expropriation. Maybe, are there any other Gaffarenati?"
"It's time to go, dear Prime Minister."
13:18 - Dr Jason Azzopardi recalled how the last three years were characterised by scandals. He mentioned the Café Premier scandal and the Old Mint Street scandal which was completely manufactured in Castille. Dr Azzopardi explained in some detail the process by which Gaffarena was handed money and property for expropriated land in Valletta.
"Those at Castille explore ways to hide their money while the Prime Minister still decides to defend them," he added.
Dr Azzopardi said that by what happened in court this week, he was not inciting hatred or violence. "I did not come into politics to throw mud or to have my reputation tarnished."
13:10 - Silvio Parnis kicked of his speech mocking the Opposition by calling them 'the saints on the other side'. He continued by mentioning a long list of government achievements by the current administration. "Organise protests as much as you like, but we will keep on working. I am proud that I have Joseph Muscat as my Prime Minister."
13:00 - Nationalist MP Charlo Bonnici said that if he was a Government MP, he would have felt genuinely disgusted by what happened. "No one believes Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri, and yet the Prime Minister persists not to take action." Bonnici said that the country's problem has a name - Joseph Muscat and asked why the Prime Minister is not taking action.
12:50 - Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said that the PN has forgotten that the motion of no confidence was tabled against all of the government. He said that Simon Busuttil should have tabled the motion at least three years ago. Demonstrations in the streets and Parliamentary discussions are a sign that this is a functioning democracy, he added. "It was not the public's interest which motivated this motion, but the partisan politics of the Nationalist Party."
12:40 - Nationalist MP Ryan Callus said that before the Panama scandal, this government also showed its first cracks in governance with the Zonqor issue. "That was one of the biggest scandals which made people realise that all the PL slogans about the environment were lies." He said that MEPA demerger only helped to put the environmental wellbeing at a side. Callus insisted that the Prime Minister's position is no longer tenable.
12:30 - Government MP Charles Buhagiar said that all indicators clearly show that the economy is doing very well and cannot understand how one can present a motion of no confidence in the government.
12:20 - PS Roderick Galdes is convinced that the government will come out of parliament this evening, stronger than ever.
"I admit, we were not perfect and mistakes during this legislature were made. But no one can deny the fact that now we have a better government. No one can attack the Prime Minister of double standards or that he is not able to take decisions."
He said that the Panama scandal was all built on allegations with nothing concrete. "What will the PN do if the audit finds that there was nothing wrong?"
12:10 - Francis Zammit Dimech quoted the Australian Financial Review which says that the number of banks approached by Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri were not six, but nine.
He said that former Spanish Minister resigned because of what happened almost 20 years ago, while Konrad Mizzi allegedly started his attempts to open off shore accounts only a few days after their coming into power. Zammit Dimech said that we are not debating the government's performance, but a case of huge scandal which involves a prominent Minister and the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff. He accused government MPs of trying to deviate the attention from what is really being discussed.
"What facts is the Prime Minister waiting for to sack Konrad Mizzi? Isn't the information which came out until now enough?"
12:00 - Labour MP Anthony Agius Decelis said that with 'hand on heart', he believes that this country needs to be led by Dr Joseph Muscat.
"For the Nationalist Party, poverty was just a perception. But Dr Muscat looked into the problem and tackled it directly."
He said that out-of-stock medicines are a thing of the past, when there was a PN administration. Agius Decelis said that the PN now has more than six hours to present their proposals. He called on the public to judge this government by its performance.
11:55 - Parliamentary Secretary Stefan Buontempo asked if the motion of no confidence was triggered by the fact that a labour governments is getting very positive results which the PN does not even dream of achieving.
"We should not be ashamed of the fact that this government has managed to achieve very positive economic results. I don't understand how the PN reached such a level."
11:50 - Nationalist MP Michael Gonzi said that these are very sad times. He said that the ones voting in favour of this no confidence motion will be passing a message that they no longer want to be led by this government. "But those who will vote against will be forever have to face the consequences. I will vote to be in the right side of history.
11:42 - Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne said that there are many things which make us proud to be Maltese. He mentioned Joseph Calleja, the Maltese national rugby team and Ozzy Lino singing in the underground tube in London.
He said he remembered the dark times of Maltese politics and said that he only decided to come back to politics because previous leaders had made sure to eliminate violence. "But now, I feel the same way. I feel the same dark feeling I felt many years ago."
Mr Fearne warned that these are dangerous times and feared that things might turn violent again.
11.30 - PN MP George Pullicino said that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had presented Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi out of nowhere as the person with the energy plan. His left hand, Konrad Mizzi and his right hand, Keith Schembri, Dr Muscat created the famous trio that resulted in the famous energy plan. Three years later we still have the same power station, which was now given to foreigners. This trio damaged Malta’s reputation abroad. They reduced tariffs, but not due to their famous power station, but because oil prices reduced so much, and that the famous ‘cancer factory’ (the BWSC plant) was saving them millions of euros a week”.
He said that the Prime Minister uses the excuse of stability to justify the price of diesel and petrol, yet other EU countries pay less.
On the new power station being constructed, he mentioned the bank guarantee that was made. He mentioned a report by the Malta Independent on Sunday, which mentioned that the power station deal was riddled by conflicts of interest.
11.22 - Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness Jose Herrera said that the government’s work in itself is deserving for a vote of confidence in government. "While in the 80s there were constitutional questions, today there aren’t, and this government has a mandate to govern for the whole legislature. He said that the Opposition is being overly aggressive and it is affecting commerce and investment. “I’m not saying the opposition doesn’t have a right to criticise as that is their obligation, but parliamentary prudence is needed. Elections come every five years and the people judge them. He said that last legislature, when there were those who split from government, the then PL Opposition did not try and put international pressure. “At the end of the legislature the people will also judge the Opposition on their actions”.
11.15 – Parliamentary Secretary for EU Funds Ian Borg spoke about projects, such as the restoration of forts, stating that it was this government who took such decisions such as restoration works at the Citadel and Fort St Angelo “They had 15 years to come out with a Masterplan, and we began the work and issued tenders in just three years”. He said government will continue to work to prepare for the EU Presidency. "This government is committed to making Malta one of the best countries in the EU".
11.00 - PN MP Tonio Fenech criticised government for not discussing the issue at hand, an issue which is damaging Malta’s reputation abroad. “They did this by instead, introducing a counter motion praising government”. “The PL was meant to be a government based on accountability that everyone can work with, not a government only for those close to them”. He said that the Prime Minister’s problem is that when he put so much trust in the energy Minister and his Chief of Staff, after they acted the way they did, then it is the Prime Minister who must carry responsibility. “Keith Schembri was the man who ran the PL’s election campaign, and was the man Dr Muscat described as his right hand man”. He said that the Prime Minister is responsible for the actions of his left and right-hand men.
He said that the Prime Minister is failing to act, which thus makes him an accomplice. He said that a Minister in Spain left quickly after being mentioned in the Panama Papers, and that Prime Minister Muscat must carry responsibility for his two trusted persons.
10.50 - PL MP Luciano Busuttil said the Opposition criticised everything the government has done, even if it’s something that the PN failed to do in 25 years. He mentioned the repair works needed at the National Pool and that there was imminent peril that people could have gotten hurt. "In 25 years, no work took place there except for minor maintenance work, and now we’ve taken the opportunity to upgrade”.
10.44 - PN MP Karl Gouder said that bit by bit, the government would change from denying facts to admitting them. “We are speaking about a situation where Cabinet’s most powerful Minister opened a secret company. This is wrong. The fact is that we live in a country with a strong financial services industry, and yet have a minister go to Panama to open a company is wrong in itself”. The PN MP said that the locak financial services industry is being affected by this scandal.
10.30 – Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said that if there was a sector where the previous government lost the people’s trust, it was in the transport sector.
Today we have 15% more passengers than the previous year. He criticised the opposition for spreading false allegations.
10.21 – PN MP Censu Galea said that in the past 10 weeks, wherever you go Panama is mentioned, where Maltese are constantly talking about the ridiculous situation we have put ourselves in.
He mentioned Economy Minister Chris Cardona's sword and axe comment, in response to Dr Bonnici’s criticism of the PN’s ‘negativity’. “As far as I know, no one censored him on that threat”.
He said that there have never been as many corruption allegations in the past as there are today. “Everyone, PL or PN, cannot believe we have found ourselves in this situation and did not expect things to end up like this when they cast their vote”.
“There were speakers on the government side who publicly mentioned their dissatisfaction at the situation. There are speakers who, when you meet them, say they are fed up with the situation. Yes it will be hard for them to vote in favour of the motion today, but they must keep in mind that they will be voting for both the good and the bad of government. One must ask, is the wrong done by government enough to vote against government?”
10.09 - Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella said that if there was corruption, it still needs to be proved.
He said that better political correctness could have been used.
“As those have done in the past, those on the other side of the floor are only interested in destabilising the country. Their aim is to damage Malta’s name and our economy. They want to create uncertainty”.
“They cannot accept that we changed the country in three years and still believe they have the divine right to run the country. This government reduced waiting lists and removed medicines out of stuck. We are leaders on gender equality issues, provide free childcare etc.”
10.03 – PN MP Antoine Borg said that people can see that the people involved in the Panama Papers are those involved in the some of the largest contracts.
9.33am - Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said that the Opposition Leader wants Parliament to tell government that Parliament is fed up of it and don’t want government to continue its work.
He said that in 25 years, this will be the 6th motion of no confidence in Malta.
Dr Bonnici said that the Opposition Leader wants to throw out the work done by this government, a government that was elected by a strong majority.
“The Opposition used to believe that this government would fail financially and that Malta would have to ask for a bailout. Dr Busuttil believed this and three years passed. Malta is flying by with one success after another. Look at what the credit rating agencies are saying”.
He said that Dr Busuttil does not have ideas. “For the 1,000 days since Dr Busuttil lead the opposition, you can count the number of proposals he has made on one hand”.
“He picked the second road, which is politically easier, full of bitterness and negativity. Playing the bully, firing at everything that came before him, no holds barred”.
“The last general election was a signal that families and businesses want unity and are fed up with that old style of politics. Dr Busuttil is the weakest leader the PN has ever had, resulting in him giving into pressure from the more negative elements.
“This motion comes out of the bitterness of Simon Busuttil and we will not let him put into peril what we have built together. Let’s say Dr Busuttil wins today and he is Prime Minister. The first decision he would take would be to close down the Citizenship programme that would result in the loss of millions. The second would be to stop the construction of the University down south. The third, would be to abandon the new hospitals project, like the one in Gozo and St Lukes that we need”.
“Dr Busuttil would put in peril stipends for those who fail, rights for homosexuals, new pension plans and the medicines out of stock will become a problem again”.
“This is what will happen if Dr Busuttil’s motion wins. The motion states that in Malta, there is a political crisis of corruption. Do we really have this. Dr Busuttil, a country that has a 6.3% economic growth rate is not a country with a corruption crisis. If this is so, then how were we three years ago when the economy was stagnant”.
“On the Panama situation, yes we disappointed people who wanted higher standards for public life. While the decision was according to law etc, might not have been idea. The Prime Minister already said he would take decisions based on facts”.
“He will look at the facts as well as public sentiment when he takes said decision”.
“Today, through the strength of this vote, we will show we have stability and certainty”.
He said that every Minister and Parliamentary Secretary is proud that together, “through our work, we are improving the lives of families and businesses. All those who have to go to hospital, those who were marginalised, those who graduated are living better lives”.
"We have more work to do and this is why I am proposing an amendment to the motion presented by the Opposition, that government has a clear mandate, that Malta has the best economic growth rate, a low rate of unemployment, a reduction in poverty, reduction of those dependant on social benefits etc”.
“I speak in the name of everyone on this side of the House when I say we are ready to make our country better and give a better future for everyone”
“This is why I call on Parliament to give a strong vote of confidence in government to make it the best country in Europe”, he said while introducing a counter motion that would effectively say this.
9.08am PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami led the PN with the first speech, saying that the PL was elected on calls for transparency and an end to corruption, adding that government broke these promises. “Government is caught up in corruption and is impotent in the face of corruption”.
We have a country where planned corruption is being planned by the Office of the Prime Minister.
He mentioned four cases of corruption. “First came the Australia Hall scandal. One of the first things this government did, just a few months after coming to government, was steal Australia Hall from the Maltese people. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat gave Australia Hall to PL Leader Joseph Muscat as a gift. The Labour government incredibly gave the PL a gift that costs more than €10 million”
“The second scandal was that of Café Premier. Today we have a Prime Minister that chose to hold the Lands Department under his Ministry, a department that is tied to cases of corruption. On Café Premiere, it is impressive how just a few days after the elections, we had a Prime Minister who directly involved himself personally, for that agreement to be found, for government to give a €4.3 million gift to the company that runs Café Premiere”. He said that the Auditor General had released a report that should have read to the Prime Minister’s resignation”.
The third scandal “the third case of corruption planned inside the Office of the Prime Minister, is that known as the case of Gaffarena”.
“We had a situation where government abusively, corruptly paid more than €3 million for half a house in Valletta. The people paid more than €3 million for this”.
“These are scandals that were planned and followed inside Castille”.
“Dr Mizzi was pushed by Dr Muscat last election. He was given the largest portfolio and was kept at Castille by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister changed the PL statute to make Dr Mizzi Deputy Leader. As for Keith Schembri, there are those who describe him as the Prime Minister behind the Prime Minister and he is the person who knows everything about Dr Muscat”.
“Ten weeks ago they were caught and they had no intention of revealing that they had a company in Panama. The companies were set up when both were already a minister and Chief of Staff”.
“Panama is one of the most corrupt countries where it comes to registration of companies. Transparency International describes Panama as the filthiest country where one could go to open a company”.
“We have a situation where Assad, the Syrian dictator hides his money in Panama, and so do the children of the world’s most corrupt President (Azerbaijan) put their money. We have a situation where our minister and the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff are opening companies in the same country as these”.
He said that Panama is used by third world country dictators and drug lords.
“The tragedy and betrayal of the Maltese people is that instead of the Prime Minister doing what is logical and obvious, kicking these people out, he has until today kept defending them, repeating half-truths told by these two people who attempt to justify the two companies”.
“Dr Mizzi, to justify his company which was hidden in a Trust on the other side of the world, an eight hour flight from Panama, that Dr Mizzi opened the company as he is married to a foreigner. There is no reason for a person to open a company in Panama and hide it in a Trust in New Zealand”.
When Dr Muscat repeated their lies, he became an accomplice.
“Dr Mizzi then said he opened the company to put in his two properties and this is a lie. There is no worldly fiscal reason to, if you own a flat in Sliema and London, place them in a company in Panama. This excuse was repeated by the Prime Minister”.
Dr Fenech Adami then mentioned another reason Dr Mizzi gave regarding the rent from his properties.
He then turned to the attempts to open bank accounts.
“After many months of Dr Mizzi saying that he doesn’t have a bank account for the company, it is now known that he tried to get one”.
He said they failed to open a bank in Dubai, and then Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri invented two reasons to open the accounts, for recycling and online gaming. “A Minister who is bout by a code of ethics that prohibits him from working privately, yet he gave orders to open an account for funds coming from recycling and online gaming”.
“We are now amongst the worst in the world. Minister Mizzis name is near those of Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, people coming from corrupt governments. The tragedy is that aside from the Minister and Keith Schembri from doing this, we have a Prime Minister defending this. This is why we have this motion today, where the Opposition is saying ’you have defended this for too long’”.
“This is a defence that brings about questions for the Prime Minister, a man who advocates quick decisions”.
The motion was read by Opposition Deputy Leader Mario de Marco.