The PN said that it is striking that, in the same week a property market study showed how it has become practically impossible for young families and first-time buyers to keep up with ever-rising housing prices, a news report revealed how Minister Roderick Galdes purchased a duplex penthouse for €140,000 - "a price far below what ordinary people are being forced to pay for their first home."

"According to the KPMG and Malta Development Association study released earlier this week, the average price of an apartment today stands at €414,000 - an increase of around €40,000 in just one year. The same study found that the average penthouse price has risen to €555,000. And yet, according to a Sunday Times report, Roderick Galdes purchased his penthouse in Rabat, Gozo - complete with a garage, airspace and even a rooftop jacuzzi - for €400,000 less, claiming he secured the low price because it was in shell form and also because he booked the property before construction began in 2021, even though the contract was only signed this year. The property was purchased from a well-known construction company."

This means Galdes managed to secure an extraordinarily favourable deal, buying the property for a quarter of the market rate of similar homes today, the PN said. A true example of "affordable housing" for the Minister responsible for housing, it said.

The same story reveals that this is the second property Roderick Galdes owns in Gozo - he also owns a house in Xagħra, in addition to other properties in Qormi, Luqa, and an apartment in Middlesex in the United Kingdom, the PN said. "This is over and above land and a house in Sicily, and another property in Siġġiewi."

"Roderick Galdes is currently under investigation by the Auditor General after the PN formally requested the National Audit Office to examine allegations of political interference by the Minister within Malita Investments. These allegations were made by former Labour MEP and former Chairperson of Malita Investments, Marlene Mizzi. In addition to political interference, Mizzi also alleged that the Housing Minister was favouring certain contractors linked to the company. She stated she was removed from her post after raising these concerns with the Minister."

"This led members of the Opposition on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), together with the Shadow Minister for the sector, to file a formal request for the Auditor General to investigate both these allegations and the company's operations.

"Malita Investments is a company that purchases, develops and manages properties forming part of multi-million-euro projects of national importance, including social accommodation developments. Regarding the involvement of Roderick Galdes in Malita Investments, there was on Saturday an additional public call for his resignation and for political responsibility to be shouldered for what has occurred within this Government-majority company, in which the State holds an 80% shareholding. There is now also a separate request for an investigation by the Standards Commissioner concerning the Minister's Gozo property purchase."

In light of the latest revelations, the Partit Nazzjonalista asked whether Prime Minister Robert Abela intends to take any action whatsoever against Roderick Galdes. It also calls on Robert Abela to publicly declare whether such conduct by a senior member of his Cabinet is acceptable to him.

"Above all, Robert Abela must explain to young people and first-time buyers in Malta why they are having to work day and night to buy their first home, take on heavy bank loans and rely on parental assistance just to have a chance of becoming homeowners - and why, even then, they are paying prices far higher than the extraordinarily advantageous amount paid by Minister Roderick Galdes."

The PN statement was signed by Ivan Bartolo, Shadow Minister for Social and Affordable Housing, the Fight Against Poverty and Solitude.