What the Sunday papers say…

Malta Today’s survey shows that the PN have reduced Labour’s gap in the running for the MEP elections by 5 points. Also, whilst both party leaders received ‘trust boosts’, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat still leads Busuttil by 13 points. In fact, 7% of all respondents claim to have more trust for the Labour leader than for Busuttil.

Also, in this week’s edition of Malta Today, it is revealed how Malta’s consul to Tripoli, Dr Marisa Farrugia, has been recalled back to Malta for urgent police questioning by government in relation to an extensive visa scam in the Maltese embassy. Documented evidence suggests that fraudulent practices were carried out in the issuing travel visas for Libyans.

Sunday paper Illum reports that MEPs David Casa and John Attard Montalto participated the least in EP discussions and votes during this last legislature. Whilst Casa registered a total of 61% from the overall votes taken in the European parliament, Attard Montalto voted in only 58% of these. In contrast, Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola was present for no less than 95% of sittings, followed by Labour MEPs Joseph Cuschieri (89%) and Marlene Mizzi (87%).

The Sunday Times leads with the headline that Cyrus Engerer, who this week was found guilty by a Court of Appeal for distributing pornographic material, will remain ‘defiant’, amid calls for him to quit the Labour party. Engerer has already withdrawn his candidature for the upcoming MEP elections but Nationalist party deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami yesterday called for the resignation of the former PN deputy Sliema mayor from the party.

The Malta Independent on Sunday reports that the European Commission is questioning the government over an estimated€ 100 million in tax arrears due to the central government by Enemalta. The newspaper reads that government is ‘scrambling’ to sell off the Corporation’s petroleum division to make goods on the missing funds.

Nationalist organ Il-Mument claims that the Labour government’s clique were being given preferential treatment, despite its claim of meritocracy and fairness. Recent Eurostat figures, the newspapers says, show that Malta is amongst the countries with the worst rate of employment, when calculated on a monthly basis. In spite of this, many public posts are being given to persons close to Muscat.

It-Torca quotes Socialist party European president candidate Martin Shultz, who yesterday addressed a Labour party event alongside PM Joseph Muscat, as saying that the government was succeeding in making Malta’s economy a stronger one, and the country’s society a just one.

Kullhadd reports that the direct orders awarded to Simon Busuttil’s legal firm in the summer of 2012 by George Pullicino’s ministry – a firm which Nationalist MEP candidate Stefano Mallia formed part of – totalled €147,925. Mallia, the newspaper claims, was the recipient of €25,000 of this sum.