Parliament finally moves house On 13 May, Mr Dalli lost an unfair dismissal case against the EU Commission

● FBI and Maltese police investigate two companies linked to former EU Commissioner John Dalli ● Police investigate Giovanna Debono’s husband in works-for-votes case

This month was engulfed with controversies, including one involving the citizenship awarded to the wife of former Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia and the alleged works-for-votes claims involving the husband of former PN minister Giovanna Debono. But this month will also be remembered for Parliament having moved house.

On 1 May, the General Workers’ Union and Malta Public Transport solved the dispute between them, which threatened to escalate to a bus strike the next day.

On 4 May, in exclusive comments to this newsroom, Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia said that he has stayed out of the Monti relocation controversy but insisted that the Commissioner of Police did tell him that the proposed hawkers’ close proximity to the new Parliament building plan poses a security risk. Dr Farrugia explained that if it is decided that hawkers position themselves so close to the new Parliament building, this will create an additional hurdle in the event something does go wrong. To date, the relocation of the Monti is still an ongoing issue and it has not yet been decided whether they will be asked to stay in Merchants’ Street, move further up the street or moved to some other place.

Also on 4 May, Malta’s first ever purpose-built Parliament House was inaugurated, with Speaker Anglu Farrugia hailing the event as an important step forward for parliament to be truly autonomous of every institution. The first sitting was held on that day.

On the same day, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil questioned how the wife of former Minister Manuel Mallia, Codruta Mallia, was granted Maltese citizenship after only two years of marriage, as opposed to the required five.

Making reference to the story revealed by The Malta Independent on Sunday, Dr Busuttil said that this is a blatant abuse of power, and called on the government to take action.

On 5 May, we reported that the husband of former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono was expected to face court proceedings after Sunday’s edition of It-Torċa said that Anthony Debono was interrogated at the police headquarters the previous week in connection with reports that private work in Gozo was carried out using public funds. He pleaded not guilty. His wife resigned from the PN but stayed on as an independent MP.

That same day, reacting to the Opposition’s comments on his wife’s citizenship, former Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia denied allegations of abuse of power in obtaining Maltese citizenship for his wife, Codruta, saying that she qualified through naturalisation because was a resident of Malta for over 10 years and not on the strength of their being married.

On 6 May, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said he was unaware if Gozo Minister Anton Refalo is being investigated over allegations that ministry workers have carried out works in private residences and insisted that it is up to the police to decide whether to investigate him or not.

On 10 May, The Malta Independent on Sunday revealed that the FBI and Maltese police were asked to investigate two companies linked to former EU Commissioner John Dalli by a group of American investors who say they have been swindled out of their money.

On 11 May, one of the investors who claims to have been swindled by firms registered to John Dalli’s Portomaso address challenged him to go to the US and sue them, so that he could then face the music in the US Justice system.

On 12 May, we reported that the Malta Police Force started their investigations about the scam allegedly involving former EU Health Commissioner John Dalli. On 13 May, he filed a criminal complaint against The Malta Independent and its directors following a story we published. In his complaint, Mr Dalli asked the police to investigate “this conspiracy for extortion and blackmail”. This newsroom denied the allegations made by him.

On 13 May, Mr Dalli lost an unfair dismissal case against the EU Commission.

The European Court of Justice ruled that Mr Dalli resigned voluntarily following a meeting with then EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso on 16 October, 2012. The former EU Commissioner resigned following a 90-minute meeting with President Barroso, during which they discussed the conclusions of an investigation carried out by Olaf, the EU’s anti-fraud agency.

On the same day we reported that former Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit, who dropped charges against a former client of his, will retain his new role as head of security for the CHOGM 2015 event.

On 14 May, a fight broke out between GWU strike members and a UĦM member while the second part of the GWU bus drivers’ strike was taking place at the Valletta bus terminus.

On 15 May, we reported that the recent visit by the Grand Master of the Order of Malta led to a whole raft of persons honoured by the Knights. These included President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, her husband Edgar Preca, and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

On 17 May, the Church was officially requested to begin proceedings for the beatification and canonisation of Mgr Michael Azzopardi.

On 19 May, three traffic policemen assisted a woman in labour during rush-hour traffic.

On 23 May, Żonqor Point farmers joined forces in their opposition to the government’s plans to grant a chunk of ODZ land in Marsascala to a Jordanian investor to develop a so-called University – a move that was expected to drive out farmers from their land.

On 30 May, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil invited all people of goodwill to attend the Nationalist Party’s activity at Żonqor Point. Labour MP Marlene Farrugia accepted the invitation.