Updated | Cardona to take legal steps, MP says brothel allegations ‘epitome of sleaze’

The minister for the economy Chris Cardona has announced he will take legal steps against Malta Independent columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia, over persistent reports that he was witnessed inside a German brothel.

The Nationalist Party has called on the Prime Minister and Cardona to prove that he did not attend the brothel whilst in Essen on government business. “It is a very serious allegation. It is unacceptable for a government minister, during an official visit and even if he isn’t on government business, to be present in what is effectively a brothel,” Nationalist MP Beppe Fenech Adami told reporters during a press conference.

“For a minister to find time to visit a brothel, even if it is in his free time, reflects the state the country has descended into. It is the epitome of sleaze,” he insisted.

According to Fenech Adami, Cardona’s denial was a “cautious” one and claimed that the minister was “hedging his reply,” possibly in anticipation of any further revelations. "The minister must come clean and reassure the country that we do not have ministers who spend time in brothels."

He called on Cardona as well as the Prime Minister to clearly prove to the nation that the allegations were not true. 

Cardona issued a categorical denial to allegations published in the blog of Malta Independent columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia, that he was witnessed inside a German brothel.

Cardona is on an official government visit in Germany.

“This outright lie is another attempt on Caruana Galizia’s part to discredit and sully an individual’s reputation,” Cardona said, accusing the columnist of peddling fake news.

According to Caruana Galizia, a source who contacted her allegedly witnessed Cardona “emerging naked from the showing shouting: ’Haqq ****, kemm hu kiesah l-ilma’. [how cold the water is...] This is when my source spotted him” – suggesting that the witness is also Maltese.

The post was uploaded on her blog at 11:45pm on Monday.

The brothel, the FKK Acapulco of Velbert, charges patrons a €40 entrance fee, but patrons can negotiate separate fees with female masseuses and escorts on site.

“This has not been the first incident where Minister Cardona has been the target of this blogger’s writing. However, as he has done previously, the minister will continue to fulfil his role in attracting investment, strengthening the current economic climate, and creating more job opportunities,” the Ministry for the Economy said.

Cardona is currently in Germany to participate in the first Stakeholder Forum on the Digitisation of European Industry, as a speaker on the invitation of the German Ministry for Economic Affairs

The forum is being held in Essen, 28 minutes away from Velbert. The Stakeholder Forum starts today and lasts until 1 February