PN takes new MEP to task over court proceedings in OLAF tickets' probe

Both the Nationalist Party and deputy leader Simon Busuttil slammed Labour over the election of Claudette Abela Baldacchino to the European Parliament in a casual election that was held on Wednesday.

Busuttil was speaking in parliament that same day, where he criticised Abela Baldacchino's election in the light of court proceedings instituted against members of the Local Councils' Associatio, for fraud on the payment of air tickets for LCA members following a funds probe by anti-fraud agency OLAF.

Busuttil expressed concern that despite these accusations hanging over her head, she was still allowed to contest the casual elections.

"Labour has allowed her to contest the MEP election despite the fact that she had not contested the Qrendi local council elections for that selfsame reason."

Busuttil also questioned whether Labour had opted to push her candidature specifically so that she would be able to benefit from parliamentary immunity, which he said would mean the case would not continnue.

"Will the government now apply to have this immunity lifted?" Busuttil queried.

Busuttil's statements were met with equal opprobrium from the government benches.

While government whip Carmelo Abela interjected to underscore the legal principle of 'innocent until proven guilty', Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia reminded Busuttil that so far Abela Baldacchino had been only accused - and not found guilty of the charges she is facing.

Undeterred, Busuttil kept up the pressure, saying government's ambition to make Malta "a centre of excellence in Europe" had been betrayed by fielding Abela Baldacchino. "I am raising doubts of how ethical this candidature was, and that Abela Baldacchino should have refrained from contesting until her name is cleared. Isn't this what moral ethics is all about? It boils down to having a moral obligation and willingness to step back, instead of ridiculing Malta before Brussels."

Busuttil said Labour either did not take the EP seriously "or now that the elections are behind us, Labour feels it is in a position to do whatever it wants."

In a statement issued that same evening, the Nationalist Party criticised Labour for Abela Baldacchino's election to the European Parliament.

"Prime Minister Joseph Muscat found no difficulty in allowing her to contest the election. This is the same Muscat who, in other occasions, stopped others accused facing criminal charges, from contesting elections in on the PL ticket, and others were even ejected from the party," the PN said.

"Correctness would have required that Muscat stopped Abela Baldacchino, who is accused of fraud, from contesting this election. But Muscat chose otherwise - and applied a different yardstick in Abela Baldacchino's regard."

The PN said that "this is another example of Muscat's inconsistency - two weights to measures - a way of doing politics that bases itself on faces."