MEP David Casa has called on President Ursula von der Leyen to take concrete action following the Labour Party’s "corrupt vote buying scheme", which was exposed this month, a statement by the European People's Group said Thursday.
He was referring to reports that some 800 people received disability benefits they were not entitled to in exchange of votes.
“The party in government operates as a criminal organisation, replete with fraud, forgeries and kickbacks to buy votes which erode our democratic credentials,” claimed the MEP.
Casa referred to several revelations of corruption over the years and claimed that this is one of the most heinous.
“While criminality has become synonymous with this administration, the latest revelations are particularly disturbing because the scheme manipulated elections using funds intended for people with severe disabilities.”
Casa called on the Commission to make use of the tools at its disposal including the rule of law monitoring and the conditionality mechanisms.
PL statement
In reaction, the Labour party issued a statement saying that it is becoming increasingly clear that the Nationalist Party never changes.
In a statement, it said that Casa, during a visit by the highest European Union officials to Malta, wrote a letter "that is not only based on lies but also aims to cut European Funds for Malta."
"Like his kind, Casa is still looking for excuses because the Nationalist Party lost the general election. He still does not understand that it is arrogance and actions against our country that led to the biggest defeats in the history of the Nationalist Party," the PL said.
It continued that a few hours before the visit of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Casa wrote to the European Commission to try to tarnish this visit, "but worse than that, to try to cut European funds from Malta, from which the Gozitans and all Maltese benefit."
The PL said that it is seemingly clear that Casa cannot stand the fact that Robert Abela as Prime Minister secured the largest package of European funds for Malta in history.
"These funds will continue to be used for the benefit of the Maltese and Gozitans," it said.