Ombudsman’s report finds that Ian Borg used devious methods in property deal

● Second report says he used no illegal methods ● Court scrutinising Opposition leader’s fuel consumption

December saw the number of scandals start to wind down, with only two notable stories as opposed to the political battlefield that was November 2015. Parliamentary Secretary for EU funds and the 2017 EU presidency Ian Borg found himself in hot water after a report published by the Office of the Ombudsman found that he employed ‘devious methods’ to gain a Mepa development permit for his Rabat property. A second report emerged from the Permanent Commission Against Corruption found no evidence that Dr Borg employed any illegal methods to get the permit. Critics argue that just because Dr Borg did not do anything illegal per se, he should still shoulder political responsibility for not using his name in the permit application and therefore denying the public their ability to scrutinise. Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil made headlines due to allegations that his driver had misused the fuel allocation financed by Parliament. The Speaker of the House was asked to investigate, which was then referred to the police. A magisterial inquiry is under way which has left Dr Busuttil using an alternative car provided by Parliament, as the one being scrutinised has been impounded pending the results of the inquiry. There has been much speculation as to who alerted the Speaker about the bizarre allegations, when it has come out that Dr Busuttil’s driver has not once gone over the €70 per week allowance.

A record amount was collected in this year’s edition of l-iStrina – the annual fund-raising marathon in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund. More than €4,020,600 were collected in the 12 hour+ marathon and the donation counter was still spinning fast as the transmission ended. “Thank you is not enough,” an emotional President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said at the end of the event.

The Conference of Parties (COP) 21 Climate Change Summit in Paris saw 195 countries adopt a universal and legally binding global climate deal, dubbed ‘The Paris Agreement’. In addition to the revamped measures that came about from the summit, the ambitious goal of mobilising USD100 billion per year until 2025 was re-established.

The EU and its member states have committed to a binding target of an “at least 40% domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990,” as laid out by the country specific contributions.

Queen Elizabeth II reminisced about Malta in this year’s annual Christmas speech: “In 1949, I spent Christmas in Malta as a newly married naval wife. We have returned to that island over the years, including last month for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders.”

The Queen also spoke about meeting “The Queen’s Young Leaders, an inspirational group, each of them a symbol of hope in their own Commonwealth communities,” before she continued to transmit her message of hope.

A record amount was collected in this year’s edition of l-iStrina