Opposition Leader Adrian Delia wrote to the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life George Hyzler asking him to investigate Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s recent Dubai holiday.
Muscat headed to Dubai on a short family holiday at the end of last month, while the country was in the throes of a political crisis. The trip has been shrouded in controversy after reports emerged that Muscat may have paid some €20,000 for the flight in first class.
Delia asked Hyzler to investigate whether Muscat had broken the Parliamentary or Ministerial Code of Ethics by not giving a proper explanation of how he paid for this trip.
In a statement issued by the PN on Wednesday afternoon, the party noted how the media had revealed that Muscat and his family had gone abroad on a three-day holiday to Dubai, travelling in first class on Emirates Airlines.
The statement notes how Muscat had told a journalist from The Times of Malta who asked for an explanation for how he had paid for the trip that it was none of his business, while also noting that the outlet The Shift later reported that the tickets for the flight had been bought from Jordan.
The statement reads that Delia pointed out in his letter to Hyzler that MPs are tied by a code of ethics when it comes to receiving or accepting gifts.
Delia reiterated that he is ready to help and collaborate with Hyzler throughout his investigations.
OPM reacts: Prime Minister has no problem in collaborating with Standards Commissioner
Reacting to Delia's request for an investigation, the Office of the Prime Minister said that the Prime Minister has no problem in collaborating with the Standards Commissioner like he has always done with all institutions.
The statement read that the Prime Minister had taken note of the Opposition's statement, which was built on speculations and suppositions which had led him to conclude that the Prime Minister had received a gift or broken the Code of Ethics.
The Prime Minister noted how the Leader of the Opposiion had been quick to request an investigation about someone else, but had not requested an investigation into himself when he is still faced with serious money laundering allegations.