What the Sunday papers say…

MaltaToday says former parliamentary Michael Falzon is mounting his own public relations campaign of war against the Auditor General, claiming people at the National Audit Office were manipulation the audit of the government property department’s (GPD) expropriation of Marco Gaffarena’s share of a Valletta palazzo. The newspaper also reports that fish landings published by the environment ministry have raised eyebrows in the fishing industry, and sparked fears that the fishing industry is being used as a front for criminal organisations involved in the smuggling of fuel, drugs, and weapons.

Sunday newspaper Illum says former Labour MP Marlene Farrugia has defended former parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon, claiming that he is a victim following the controversial Gaffarena scandal. In another story, the newspaper says at least 34 underage persons were present in Plus One club when a glass bannister gave way in November. The newspaper reports that an inquiry into the incident has advised that 21 people be charged for their role in the accident that left 74 youths injured.

The Sunday Times of Malta says former parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon used his political discretion to approve another €370,000 payment to the Gaffarenas at the same time as the controversial dealings on the Valletta property.  On the backpage, the newspaper says Malta’s “umpteenth condemnation” for violating refugees’ human rights shows how mechanisms to test the lawfulness of their detention are ‘flawed, inefficient and ridiculously slow’, according to former European Court of Human Rights judge Giovanni Bonello.

The Malta Independent on Sunday says the government lost over €1 million in pre-election Fekruna Bay land deal after having overvalued two plots of land it expropriated by €875,000 and undervalued one lot it granted in return for the expropriation by €407,417. The newspaper also says President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca is uncomfortable of being mere rubber stamp for expropriations.

It-Torca says Gozitan PN candidate Ryan Mercieca is in a mess for failing to produce documents related to EU funding to an association of NGOs, while in another story, the newspaper says former PN President Victor Scerri, who in 2009 resigned after controversy erupted over the building of a farmhouse on land he owns in Bahrija, will represent the Nationalist Party on the Electoral Commission.

PN news organ il-mument says Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is within to the wall due to a ‘crisis of corruption’ unfolding within the government, and says that after 33 months, Malta’s ‘best ever Cabinet’ turned out to be a failure and a disappointment.

Labour newspaper Kullhadd says Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is heading in a change country. The newspaper also reports that during the previous administration, the PN government spent €15 daily on a car for former PN minister George Pullicino.