Ethical misgivings and political motivation - PN leader

Unlike political motivation, ethical standards do not feature highly on the agenda of the current government, Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil said.

Speaking during an interview this morning the newly appointed leader recalled the saga of parliamentary secretary Franco Mercieca and how he was allowed to make €3,600 in one morning was a prime example, Dr Busuttil claimed. The MP was allowed to carry his private practice at the same time he was supposedly on government duty.  Dr Busuttil urged the government to publish the figures showing Mercieca's total income from this practice since appointed as parliamentary secretary.

The downward spiral in ethical standards is pushed further when PL allowed a person under criminal investigation to run for the post of MEP.

The PN leader said the party has evidence a prison amnesty was promised before the elections. "Buying votes with promises verges on corrupt practice", Busuttil said. He did not mention who were the candidates promising the amnesty.

The fact that a company carries out a feasibility study on a project and is allowed to tender for the same project is shocking. "This attitude of anything goes is unacceptable", Busuttil said. The contract should have read that the company would be excluded from the project and not that the company should not expect to be given preference if the bridge is ever built.

Labour MPs will benefit from a second income if the proposed law permitting parliamentarians to take up other positions goes through.

Simon Busuttil continued that MPs who are appointed on authorities and boards will get paid for their position. This will be additional to the parliamentary honoraria they receive.

Dr Busuttil recollected PL's clamour over the amendment to the parliamentary honoraria as proposed by the previous administration. "I was against the proposed changes however by allowing MPs to sit on boards this administration is doing worse by granting them a second income", he said.

Political motivation seems to be behind every move made by the current administration. The government is harassing the operators of the San Frangisk animal hospital at Ta' Qali after they won a public tender.  The appointment of former Nationalist MP and former European Commissioner John Dalli also smells of political motive. Dalli was given his appointment a day after the police commissioner said there was not enough evidence against the former commissioner. "This makes me believe the PL was already in agreement with John Dalli", the PN leader stated.

The first 100 days post election were a time of change also for the Nationalist Party. Leadership changes resulting in the appointment of a new team and a wide leadership, Dr Busuttil concluded.

Changes are also expected in the party's ailing financial sector. An ad hoc commission has been set up and will forward its recommendations by the end of the month.

The people at the helm of the newly appointed PN administration strive to return the factors of belonging and zeal, which the party had lost over the years, PN leader Simon Busuttil said.