Prime Minister Robert Abela has ruled out taking any action against Affordable Housing Minister Roderick Galdes over his property dealings, insisting that he found “nothing to censure” after reviewing documentation the Minister presented, and dismissing a criminal complaint filed by former Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi as repetitive and speculative.

Speaking to journalists following the inauguration of the Msida Creek flyover, Abela was asked whether he was comfortable having someone in Cabinet who conducts deals with developers who boast that they are close to politicians.

Abela said that Minister Galdes has already given multiple explanations over both the provenance of the funds to acquire his properties as well as its transactions.

He said that the matter has now also been brought under police scrutiny after a criminal complaint was filed last week by former PN MP Jason Azzopardi with the Police Commissioner, regarding the Minister's property deals, with Azzopardi expecting the Commissioner to request a magisterial inquiry.

Abela said that with the magisterial inquiry reform implemented this year, investigations will now start with the police, meaning that investigative entities will have the opportunity to carry out their scrutiny.

“Minister Galdes already showed his propensity to show all his doings and gave assurances that what he did was all above board. Some or most of his properties were bought during a PN administration when he was not Minister, and he gave all his explanations,” Abela said.

The Prime Minister said that from the documents he has personally reviewed, he found nothing that warranted censure.

He said that when he read the document with which Azzopardi requested an investigation and a magisterial inquiry, it showed that it was a repetition and a photocopy identical to the inquiries he requested during the Christmas period last year against Ministers Silvio Schembri, Clint Camilleri, the Permanent Secretary responsible for Gozo, and the CEO of the Lands Authority.

“What Jason Azzopardi wrote in the document with which he requested for an inquiry is an exact repetition,” Abela said.

Abela also insisted that there were no reservations within the Labour parliamentary group regarding Minister Galdes.

“From what I saw up until now, there is no reason why they should uncomfortable, as the explanations given by Galdes till now do not create any doubt over the provenance of his wealth,” Abela said, adding that he believes nobody should feel uncomfortable.

He acknowledged that the timing or manner in which explanations were given were another question, but said that, when considering their substance, along with the document requesting a magisterial inquiry, the case was weak.

“If Galdes should've given the explanation earlier or in a different manner is another question, but when one sees the sustenance of the explanation, as well as the document with which a magisterial inquiry is being requested, it shows that it is solely based on speculation and conjectures,” Abela said.

Asked by The Malta Independent whether he would force Galdes to resign, Abela replied in the negative, saying that had he found at least one point which was censurable in Galdes’ role as Minister, he would have taken action.

“Like I have done in the past since 2020 till today, whenever there was the need for action, I have always took action. However, I cannot take action based on the decision of an ex PN MP on the closing of the anniversary of the array of inquiries he opened last year, that we all know how they ended - with a number of magistrates denying the requests of opening the inquiries because they were based on frivolous claims and speculations,” Abela said.

He said that the document put forward by Azzopardi, which he said received little to no media attention, was fundamentally weak.

Abela said the document creates more doubt on the person making the request for a magisterial inquiry rather than against the person it is being made about.

Abela invited journalists to read the document themselves, insisting that it was built on “cotton,” and said his decisions are based on facts.

“From the facts I have seen till now, there is absolutely no reason as to why I should take a negative decision against Minister Galdes,” Abela said.