Bartolo and JPO are cooking up a statement on ‘socio-political developments’

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo and former Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando have asked journalists to attend a press conference discussing “recent socio-political developments”.

The conference will also be addressed by family therapist Charles Azzopardi, a Labour candidate who was also part of the Moviment Iva ghad-Divorzju, spearheaded by Bartolo, Pullicino Orlando and Deborah Schembri.

MaltaToday is informed that Schembri had to turn down an invitation to attend tomorrow’s conference due to other commitments.

Pullicino Orlando, who broke ties with the Nationalist Party in 2012 and became an independent MP, is said to have shown interest in a possible return to politics on a Labour ticket. This has however not been confirmed.

On his part, Evarist Bartolo is fending off allegations of having been aware of abuse inside the awarding of contracts at the Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools. He has filed libel action against other allegations related to FTS payments.

The Nationalist Party accused Bartolo of seeking ways, “together with his friend Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando”, to deviate attention from the allegations surrounding the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools.

“Instead of shouldering responsibility, Evarist Bartolo wants to alienate the public and has chosen his friend who is being paid €60,000 a year from taxpayers’ money,” the PN said.