After demanding OLAF resignation, EPP throws its weight behind Busuttil

The European People's Party has thrown its weight behind Simon Busuttil's parliamentary walk-out over a Speaker's ruling, just months after it had demanded the resignation of the EU's anti-fraud chief over the Dalligate affair.

The EPP's vice-chairman Manfred Weber today called into question a ruling by the Speaker of the House that found Busuttil in breach of privilege after claiming that Commissioner of Police Peter Paul Zammit had been influenced by the government in declaring that John Dalli, the former European Commissioner, should not be charged with bribery.

But at the time of Zammit's statement, the EPP's chairman Joseph Daul had called for the resignation of OLAF chief Giovanni Kessler, after Zammit stated that there was no case against Dalli. Now it is supporting Busuttil's claim that the commissioner's decision has been influenced by Joseph Muscat's government after taking issue with a ruling by Speaker Anglu Farrugia.

Zammit's predecessor John Rizzo last week stated in a court of law that he had wanted to press charges against Dalli, after having charged Silvio Zammit in December 2012 of soliciting a multi-million bribe on his behalf. Latching onto his testimony, Busuttil declared that Peter Paul Zammit's own opinion that Dalli should not be charged had been influenced by the new government, and demanded his resignation.

Busuttil repeated his allegation in the House on Monday, leading to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat demanding that he retract or substantiate the allegation. Busuttil did neither, leading to a Speaker's ruling that found him in breach of privilege. The ruling, delivered Tuesday evening, led to the walk-out of the Opposition from the House.

In a statement, the EPP's vice-chairman Manfred Weber expressed concern at decisions taken by "the socialist government in Malta that are chipping away at the fundamental democratic structures of the country."

The EPP specifically pointed out the replacement of former commissioner of police John Rizzo, and the promotion of four majors up two ranks within just a fortnight, as examples.

"Freedom of expression is essential in a democracy and the national parliament, as the highest institution of the land, should allow for such freedom to be exercised," Weber said referring to Busuttil's walk-out over the Speaker's ruling. "To do otherwise is to undermine the foundations of a system of checks and balances in an EU Member State and the erosion of the rule of law."

Busuttil's walk-out came in protest at Anglu Farrugia's ruling that he was in breach of privilege for claiming that Peter Paul Zammit had been politically influenced in declaring that there was no case against John Dalli. Zammit's statement had originally been welcomed by the EPP.