Fenech would leave politics if allegations of works-for-favours were true

Finance minister Tonio Fenech has stood by his record of political integrity, when he told the TVM breakfast show TVAM that he would "leave politics" if any truth emerges from allegations that works carried out in his private residence by construction firm JPM Brothers were done to curry favour with him.

Fending off claims that his 'political baggage' would hinder his bid for the PN's deputy leadership, Fenech said he had sued the Labour party media that had carried a MaltaToday story, which reported claims by a JPM subcontractor attributed to JPM director Jeffrey Montebello.

"While this government was reaping success during such projects as the privatization of the shipyards, without any industrial unrest... the Opposition tried to tarnish my integrity."

Referring to the conviction of a former private secretary, Noel Borg Hedley, who admitted to collecting donations from JPM Brothers in return for administrative favours, Fenech said Borg Hedley himself said the minister was unaware of the bribes.

"I have already sued Labour for defamation on the reports concerning my house: the person who created this story is a Labour activist, a GWU employee, and his lawyer if Toni Abela (PL deputy leader)... if there is a smidgen of truth in what was said, not only do I deserve not to be PN deputy leader, or finance minister... I would leave politics."

The finance minister, 43, is facing Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil, also aged 43, in the election for a new PN deputy leader after Tonio Borg was nominated commissioner-designate to the EU.

Fenech set much store in portraying himself as a different candidate to Busuttil, pointing out that while the MEP was coordinating an electoral manifesto - as revealed by Busuttil himself last week - the programme included ideas that he as finance minister was proposing.

"I take responsibility for the economic proposals in the manifesto, both for 2008 and the upcoming programme," Fenech said, in a bid to dispel the notion that MEP was authoring the forthcoming electoral programme. "As finance minister I am giving my contribution in seeing that the forthcoming proposals are financially possible and credible."

Fenech also reiterated his belief in the banning of Franco Debono from contesting the next general elections, saying he agreed with the PN executive's decision.

"The decisions the party executive took, had to be taken. We cannot present a team to the people that doesn't given them the certainty of stability that is expected from a government," Fenech said. "The PN must look for reconciliation with Nationalist voters who are hurt, and to match peoples' aspirations."

Fenech will present a budget on 28 November, just days before the deputy leadership election: the budget stands the chance of not passing if Franco Debono votes against it.

Referring to Simon Busuttil's battlecry for the election, which sees the MEP portraying himself as a candidate who can help the PN win the next general election, Fenech gave the impression that the MEP was selling himself short.

"I am no less a newer face than Simon... we are both 43, and when I started off as a parliamentary secretary in 2004, he was elected an MEP.

"But we are not just contesting this general election to win it, but to give the electorate a programme that works. So when we go to the electorate and present our programme, we are not just contesting an election for the next four months but to govern for the next five years," Fenech said.

Following the elections, expected to be held in March 2013, the PN's leadership will submit itself to a vote of approval by its 900 party councillors.

"I have enough experience from the last decade working with the prime minister, to ensure the country faces the challenges surrounding us, and give peace of mind to people that with the PN at the helm of the country, we can solve problems inside the factories, create growth, and save jobs."