Busuttil ‘inconsistent’ on Tonio Fenech, Beppe Fenech Adami ‘cases’

The Labour Party yesterday claimed Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil was being inconsistent in the way he deals with internal issues, naming Tonio Fenech and Beppe Fenech Adami in particular.

Addressing the media yesterday, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said that while the Labour Party is being careful in the way it speaks up on matters being investigated, Simon Busuttil had defended both MPs.

Dr Zammit Lewis said that both matters are delicate, with abuse of pensions in Sweden by a company of which Tonio Fenech is a director, and alleged money laundering and drug trafficking by a company in which Beppe Fenech Adami is a director.

He said that Simon Busuttil is defending both, with the Nationalist Party ending up issuing a statement on behalf of Tonio Fenech when the matter is related to his profession, not his politics. Simon Busuttil cannot be taken seriously on this matter, he said.

Labour MP Luciano Busuttil said that since both situations are being dealt with on an international scale, the behaviour of these two MPs is causing damage to Malta’s reputation.

In reply, the Nationalist Party said that instead of focusing on the challenges being faced by the country, the Labour Party is trying to deflect attention from the crises brought about by the Panama Papers and the LNG tanker.

At yesterday’s press conference, the PN said, the Labour Party referred to unfounded allegations that have already been denied. Instead, Joseph Muscat should explain why he continues to defend Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri who were caught having opened a company in Panama five days after the election in which they were going to put commissions, the PN said.