April: Public protests against corruption

April was dominated with articles about the Panama Papers as the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists revealed the leak which caused shockwaves around the world. Minister Konrad Mizzi dug in even further until the Prime Minister removed h

1 April

Former Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit filed a criminal libel case against PN MP Jason Azzopardi, who had said that Mr Zammit leaked certain documents to a news organisation. The PN MP, a few days later on the trial date was greeted outside the courts by a number of PN supporters, and even made a statement. But it was not only pro-Azzopardi supporters who made their way to Republic Street. The crowd also included members of the Labour Youth Forum who said that the Natioanlist Party leader Simon Busuttil had himself instituted a similar case a few years ago against the then president of the Labour Party.

3 April

This day marked the beginning of the Panama Papers leaks by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and their first wave of partners, which had Minister Konrad Mizzi named as one of the politicians with companies in this secretive jurisdiction. The cache of 11.5 million records showed how a global industry of law firms and big banks sold financial secrecy to politicians, fraudsters and drug traffickers as well as billionaires, celebrities and sports stars. This marked the end of the scandal being called ‘Panamagate’, and the phrase ‘Panama Papers’ was born.

In a separate article, Marlene Farrugia said that she was willing to lead the Partit Demokratiku if she were asked by others in the movement. Months later she was elected as the first head of the party.

5 April

The Malta Independent was reliably informed that several members within the PL Parliamentary Group wanted Konrad Mizzi to resign.

6 April

PN Leader Simon Busuttil announced the second national demonstration against corruption, calling the Panama Papers the biggest international corruption scandal ever.

8 April

Brian Tonna, the man behind

NexiaBT which is the firm that advised Minister Konrad Mizzi to establish a company in Panama, was revealed to be the shareholder of Mossack Fonseca & Co (Malta). When confronted, Mr Tonna held that BT International (one of his firms) holdings in the local Mossack Fonseca company was purely on a fiduciary basis. Mossack Fonseca is the infamous law firm which was at the centre of the Panama Papers leak.

On the same day, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo proposed a public registry for tax haven users. He, later in the month, also suggested that Minister Konrad Mizzi take former Prime Minister Alfred Sant’s advice and resign.

9 April

The allegations of a Malta-Italy secret deal where Malta allegedly gave up oil exploration areas in return for Italy taking most rescued migrants in the Mediterranean resurfaced in international media, with oilprice.com and business insider publishing articles on the matter.

10 April

The Malta Independent on Sunday revealed that Mossack Fonseca, aside from handling Minister Konrad Mizzi’s company, also handled the affairs of the parent company of former Delimara power station owner Gasol – African Gas Development Corporation Ltd.

The second national protest against corruption took place on this day, and the Opposition Leader said that the Prime Minister lost the moral authority to govern the country. The Prime Minister addressing a Labour Party conference slammed the PN’s Cedoli scheme.

On the day, a 67-year-old man ended up in a critical condition after being hit by a Fiat Punto driven by a 23-year-old man residing in St Lucija. The accident took place in Triq Katarina Vitale in St Lucija. The man, who resided in Tarxien, was rushed to the accident and emergency for treatment. The man unfortunately succumbed to his injuries on 27 September.

11 April

The first phase of the Kappara Junction project began

14 April

The Malta Independent ISurvey showed that 26% of respondents wanted Konrad Mizzi to stay in office, while 54% wanted him out. Other results from the survey included that just under half of respondents wanted OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri out.

15 April

PN MP Jason Azzopardi was found not guilty of criminal defamation in a case filed by former Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit, revolving around a comment made by the PN MP revolving around a breach of confidential data from the police headquarters.

18 April

Government won the no confidence motion vote in Parliament presented by the PN due to the Panama Papers saga, after presenting a united front on the matter. This led to another call for a no confidence motion in Minister Konrad Mizzi by PD MP Marlene Farrugia, however this vote was also won by government.

21 April

Government was still looking for a strategic partner for Air Malta, and rumours at the time surrounded the possibility of Etihad Airways being such a partner.

23 April

The Malta Independent published an article where sources informed this newsroom that Michael Cassar had expressed his wish to leave the police force. The Commissioner stepped down at a later date.

24 April

The Malta Independent ISurvey showed that if an election were to be held then, the PL would win by a 10,000 vote margin

27 April

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat declared €75,000 deposited in banks for the second year running in his declaration of assets tabled in Parliament.

In a separate story, government announced that Alitalia and Air Malta signed a Memorandum of Understanding, for Alitalia to purchase 49% of shares in Air Malta, thus ending speculation over who the strategic partner negotiations would be with.

28 April

In light of the Panama Papers, Minister Konrad Mizzi had his Health and Energy portfolio’s removed, however to this day he still plays a role in Malta’s energy sector. He also resigned from his post as deputy leader of the PL.

On the day, Irene Tanti Bellotti, a 77-year-old woman from Marsascala died in a traffic accident on Zabbar Road, Fgura. The woman was riding as a passenger in a car that crashed into a stationary vehicle in Zabbar Road at around 10pm. The car, a Toyota Rac4, rolled on its side on impact and the woman died on the spot. The police said that the 79-year-old driver, resident of Marsascala, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a Renault, which was stationary at the time.

29 April

Konrad Mizzi refused to apologise about the Panama Papers when asked by this newsroom, and also expressed that he was not a minister without a portfolio, but rather a minister within the office of the Prime Minister.