After Sliema impeachment, PN goes on the attack: ‘Labour councillors’ abstention supported Nikki Dimech’

The Nationalist Party has found itself vindicated with the successful impeachment of former Sliema mayor Nikki Dimech, choosing to hit out at Labour for abstaining on the vote of no confidence.

In a statement, the PN is accusing Labour of putting paid to its ‘zero-tolerance’ policy on corruption, by refusing to oust Dimech, who is charged with having asked for commissions on a council contract.

The commissions were allegedly demanded from Stephen Buhagiar, a driver to Nationalist MP and former Sliema mayor Robert Arrigo, who until very recently, was Dimech’s political mentor.

“The Labour councillor’s declaration of gratitude for Dimech and its abstention on the motion, means the party is still carrying on its campaign to support the former mayor.

“Despite Nikki Dimech’s admission to police, Joseph Muscat’s Labour is weak on corruption because it defends whoever admits to involvement in corruption, and instead criticizes the PN for expelling Dimech,” the PN said.

The PN said it was “cynical” of Labour’s three councillors, not to have voted in favour of the motion to oust Dimech and install Joanna Gonzi as mayor.

Instead it accused Labour of “defending those accused with corruption and continuing in its tradition to be weak on corruption.”

Before the start of yesterday’s meeting, Labour councillors Martin Debono, Nikolai Cuschieri - who is actually in the employ of Nikki Debono’s audit firm - and Marianne Aquilina, issued a statement explaining they would abstain on the vote:

“This case is politically contaminated, and it’s a fight for power with roots in the corridors of the PN headquarters, between rival candidates and their friends. We don’t agree with the uncivil way Sandra Camilleri was treated, an elderly person who always acted in an exemplary way.

“We don’t agree that Joanna Gonzi be made mayor, as in various occasions she showed disrespect towards the Labour minority. We don’t feel it right that a few hours before this vote, the police filed charges against the mayor, with the probability that the council decision has been influenced.”