Fgura mayor says he is ready to 'protect his interests' against Labour vote of no confidence

Fgura mayor Darren Marmarà has refuted the suggestion that a motion of no confidence in him presented by Labour councillors’ had party backing.  “The motion was brought against me by the personal initiative of the five councillors

He also made it clear that he had nothing to do with any corruption allegations or accusations of immoral acts, saying there was nothing at law that could stop him from carrying out his duties as Labour mayor.

The motion, to be discussed on 16 July, was signed by former Labour mayors Anthony Degiovanni and Salvu Camilleri, Rita Cutajar, and Labour committee president Pierre Dalli. Byron Camilleri is being nominated for mayor.

The councillors said in their motion they were unable to retain a serene relationship with the mayor and that it was necessary to force his resignation. The motion has clear party backing, In-Nazzjon reported today, also noting that Marmara had not supported Joseph Muscat’s leadership bid in 2008. The newspaper added that PL local councils’ coordinator Frans Abela was unaware of the motion.

Labour councillors have not been attending council meetings with deputy mayor Anthony Degiovanni losing a case against Marmara before the board of local governance, over planned twinnings with towns in Bulgaria. Degiovanni had insisted that the motions proposed by the mayor went against the Permanent Orders which govern local council regulations.