Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that he was not present when the Cabinet discussed his termination package.

Answering questions by The Malta Independent, Muscat said that he is “not entitled to disclose Cabinet discussions, also because I was not present when the said decisions were taken”.

The Malta Independent last Sunday reported that the OPM was reluctant to provide information on Muscat’s termination package, but workings made by the newspaper put the figure at around €135,000 for three years.

Outgoing Prime Ministers and Ministers have been entitled to termination benefits since 2004, Muscat said in his reply.

Muscat was also asked about his presence at a meeting between the government and Steward Healthcare, where the deal on the privatisation of three public hospitals was discussed.

Muscat said that the government already clarified that “no negotiations were held during the brief introductory meeting and my presence with the Deputy PM and the Principal Permanent Secretary was part of this introductory meeting.”

Journalists tried to get a comment from Muscat as he emerged from Parliament on Tuesday, but the former PM told the reporter asking the questions to “keep talking to yourself.”