Partit Demokratiku files noconfidence motion in Konrad Mizzi

Partit Demokratiku has filed a no-confidence motion against Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi amid calls for the minister’s resignation over recent revelations into the Dubai company 17 Black.

Partit Demokratiku MPs Godfrey Farrugia and Marlene Farrugia submitted the motion of no confidence yesterday morning.

A no-confidence motion filed against the minister two years ago by then-independent MP Marlene Farrugia was ultimately defeated, while former Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil had also filed a motion of no confidence in the government but it, too, had been defeated.

Leaked emails obtained by the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung show that 17 Black was listed as the ‘Main Clients’ and ‘Possible Payers/Senders’ of Panamanian companies Hearnville Inc and Tillgate Inc, owned by Minister Mizzi and OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri respectively.

In reaction to the revelations, Schembri has said that 17 Black never became a client of his business group, while Mizzi had previously claimed that there was no connection, direct or otherwise, between him, his company or trust and any entity called 17 Black.

Partit Demokratiku leader Godfrey Farrugia stated: “In 2016, Mizzi told Parliament that his secret financial structure was set up for estate planning purposes.”

“What began in 2013 as doubt over the government’s energy plan steadily grew into a series of extremely suspicious events, now galvanised as indisputable fact by the establishment of 17 Black’s owner and its links to Electrogas,” he said.

“It is clear that Minister Konrad Mizzi’s position is no longer tenable,” concluded Farrugia.