The Prime Minister seems to believe that if he is satisfied, then everyone else must be satisfied too, when it comes to the case involving Roderick Galdes, the Nationalist Party said Thursday.
On Wednesday, Robert Abela told us that he is satisfied with the explanation given to him by Roderick Galdes - on the very same day that it was announced that a police investigation has been opened, while at the same time what appears to be yet another scandal emerged in relation to another property owned by Roderick Galdes abroad.
Despite all this, Abela has no doubts whatsoever about his Minister and has ruled out any possibility of asking him to resign until he clears his name, since Galdes himself has no intention of stepping down voluntarily, the PN said.
This is notwithstanding the numerous stories that have emerged in connection with the Minister for Social and Affordable Housing.
This includes the allegation made by former Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi that Galdes politically interfered in Malita Investments and that he is close to developers who are awarded major contracts for the company's large projects, including social housing projects. Mizzi herself was removed as Chairperson of Malita after she raised concerns about this.
The PN also referred to a bargain deal through which Galdes acquired a luxury penthouse in Gozo - complete with garage, airspace and jacuzzi - for €140,000 from the same company that, in the very year the promise of sale was signed, was awarded a €27 million contract for social housing projects by the Housing Authority, which falls under Galdes' own ministerial responsibility
The PN also mentioned the exchange of an apartment valued at €135,000 in Xagħra for a plot of land valued at €100,000 in Għarb, from the same contractor, who covered the difference in value by carrying out works on the site for Galdes.
All this comes on top of the fact that Roderick Galdes is not only being investigated by the National Audit Office in relation to the Malita case, and by the Standards Commissioner over the purchase of property at a price far below market value, but is now also under police investigation following a request made in recent hours by lawyer Jason Azzopardi for an inquiry into unexplained wealth, the PN said.
At the same time, Galdes himself told us yesterday that he sees no conflict of interest whatsoever in having secured these advantageous deals apart from owning a long list of properties in Malta, Gozo and abroad, despite being the Minister responsible for housing - a role that should see him assisting those in search of affordable housing. Galdes also stated that he has decided he will no longer answer journalists' questions, the PN said.
Meanwhile, Robert Abela appears - contrary to media reports - to be equally convinced that not a single MP within his parliamentary group feels uncomfortable about the deals and bargains secured by Roderick Galdes, the PN added.
Despite all that has emerged, the Prime Minister sees nothing wrong with the string of scandals emerging about a key member of his Cabinet, the PN said. He has chosen to continue defending Roderick Galdes and to take him at his word, claiming that Galdes "provided all the explanations he needed to decide that no action is required", the statement concluded.