Court action weeks before leaving PN ‘with full support’ of party

Outgoing Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil yesterday insisted he had the full backing of the party when filing a court application for an investigation into whether money laundering laws were broken when Minister Konrad Mizzi and OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri secretly acquired companies in Panama.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, Busuttil was asked about criticism levelled against him by PN leadership candidate Frank Portelli. Portelli slammed the outgoing leader for beginning a ‘crusade’ in court when he will no longer be leader in just two weeks’ time, leaving the newly elected person to continue the fight.

Busuttil said that with the full support of the PN, a direction was decided on which battles the PN will be fighting. He said that he filed the application with full

support from the party, and that whosoever is elected after him can shape the direction the PN will be taking.

The outgoing leader was visiting the National Audit Office (NAO). The NAO is celebrating 20 years since its independence and autonomy was enshrined in the Constitution of Malta.

During the visit, Busuttil revealed that the NAO has 41 reports that are waiting to be completed.

Busuttil said the NAO should have enough resources to carry out its duties efficiently and independently.

Ten of the 41 pending reports are investigations requested by the Opposition, such as the controversial transfer of land of the Institute of Tourism Studies site and a power station investigation pending for over two years.

He once again slammed the government of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat for snatching all public entities and weakening their independence. The NAO is one of the few entities, like the Ombudsman’s office, where the leader is elected through a twothirds majority in Parliament and a change in government does not translate into a change in staff within either entity. This is of paramount importance to insure the principle of good governance, Busuttil said.

Auditor General Charles Deguara said that in his ten years of experience within the NAO, both administrations coming from PN and PL respected the autonomy of the institution. Deguara quipped that the job means less friends, to which Busuttil said it means more respect.

Busuttil stressed his utmost respect and gratitude for the stellar work carried out by the NAO, and insisted that the office be given more resources at the earliest. Failure to do this would be limiting be entity’s independence in a roundabout way, as it would not have enough to investigate and report on all relevant issues.

Busuttil was making one of the last official visits before stepping down as leader.