The Nationalist Party has disassociated itself from Gozo electoral candidate Ryan Mercieca who will be contesting the casual election for the seat vacated by PN MP Frederick Azzopardi, who recently passed away.
In a statement on Sunday, the party said that after consultations with new PN leader Bernard Grech, the party’s secretary general Francis Zammit Dimech had asked the party’s Ethics Commission to investigate media reports about Mercieca, even in view of a recent court judgement on a libel case that Mercieca had initiated.
Mercieca had initiated the libel suit against it-Torca in January 2016 after a report in the newspaper that he was in a mess for failing to produce documents related to EU funding to an association of NGOs.
Mercieca lost the case in July 2018 after the courts determind that the facts were “substantially correct” and hence cannot be considered defamatory.
The party’s commission met on Saturday to consider the case, giving Mercieca every facility – including any lawyer he may see fit to defend him – to make any argument he wished.
It concluded that Mercieca had not managed to give a satisfactory explanation for the serious accusations levelled against him, and hence cannot consider him as a candidate who should represent the Nationalist Party in the upcoming casual election.
The party said that Mercieca was not willing to abide by this decision, and will be contesting the casual election regardless.
The party said that it is disassociating itself from Mercieca and committed to opening procedures for Mercieca to be dismissed from the party.
It said it would also be taking all the necessary ulterior measures because it believed the highest ethical standards and correct behaviour in public life should apply to all.
Mercieca is likely the leading candidate vying for Frederick Azzopardi’s now vacant seat on the 13th district.
He received 738 first count votes in the 2017 general election. Out of the remaining candidates on the PN’s side eligible for the casual election, Maria Portelli had received 433 votes, Joseph Ellis had received 339 votes, and Jason Zammit had received 309 votes.
The casual election will take place on 5 November.
In reply, Mercieca said that yesterday morning, he appeared, as requested, before the Chairman of the Ethics, Discipline and Media of the Party and "refuted in the strongest of terms the issued raised in my regard"
He said he brought to the formal attention of the Commission: (a) "that the document referred to in the libel case I had instituted was in actual fact presented to the Court and confirmed under oath and an affidavit by the person responsible for such a document. Thus, the original document was never in my possession; I was at no point responsible to issue such a document and I had absolutely no reason to doubt the genuineness of such a document;
(b) "I have never been found guilty of any wrongdoing in court or otherwise."
He said that on Saturday evening he informed the Chairman of the Ethics, Discipline and Media and the Secretary General in writing that "I do not wish to be further considered as a candidate for the Nationalist Party, and this with immediate effect".
This being said it appears that the Press Release issued by the PN states facts which are not properly informed as, Mercieca said, "It does not make any mention of my decision not to be further considered as a candidate of the Nationalist Party and - I never stated either that I will not abide by any direction given by the Party nor that I will submit my nomination. I furthermore declare for all intents and purposes that I am fully prepared to defend my position and my reputation. For me politics isn't based on undermining people but in elevating them in exceeding in their expectations and delivering in the best interest of Malta and Gozo."