Konrad Mizzi to stay on as independent MP, remain loyal to PL

Konrad Mizzi has confirmed that he will stay on as an independent MP but will support the Labour government.

In a Facebook post, Mizzi said he had informed the Speaker about his decision.

Mizzi said he will remain loyal to the Labour Party in his Parliamentary work. “With my vote in Parliament, I will suppport the efforts of the Labour government.”

Mizzi said he will keep contributing towards the country’s economic development and will remain a voice for his constituents.

The former energy and tourism minister was kicked out of the Labour Parliamentary Group last week after the latest revelations on the Montenegro wind farm scandal. Prime Minister and PL Leader Robert Abela also cited the Panama Papers scandal as one of the reasons why Labour kicked Mizzi out.

Earlier that day, Mizzi said he had been asked by Abela to resign from the PL Parliamentary Group but said he disagreed with the PM. The PL’s executive committee later chucked him out.

Konrad Mizzi resigned from the post of Tourism Minister in January amid the political crisis that led to the resignation of Joseph Muscat. His tenure as minister was rocked by several scandals, including the hospitals privatisation deal. Mizzi had already been formed out of the energy and health portfolio in 2016, during Joseph Muscat's first term as PM, after it was revealed that he had opened a company in Panama.

Last week it emerged that 17 Black, the company belonging to suspected Daphne murder mastermind Yorgen Fenech, had made a profit of €4.6 million through Enemalta’s purchase of a windfarm in Montenegro.

17 Black had been listed as a target client of Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri’s Panama companies.

The Montenegro deal was brokered when Mizzi was energy minister.