MEPs accused of acting illegally

The seven candidates who did not take an oath on their MEP election expenses but had their agents do this on their behalf had acted illegally, MEP candidates Emy Bezzina and Norman Lowell are insisting.

The candidates were the six elected MEPs and Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas.

Addressing a news conference this morning, Dr Bezzina and Mr Lowell accused the agents of taking a false oaths and the six MEPs and Dr Metsola Tedesco Triccas of hiding behind the agents.

They called on the Attorney General to investigate this matter and on the Police Commission to probe the candidates’ expenditure.

They presented another judicial protest this morning to follow that which they had filed on July 6 and to which only electoral commissioner Edward Gatt had replied to say that his legal obligations were that the declarations were filed.

“This reflected the arrogance of those in power,” Dr Bezzina said. He called on the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader to disassociate themselves from the alleged abuses.

The electoral law states that candidates cannot spend more than €18,635 on the campaign, including personal expenditure and that by third parties whether financial or in kind.

If the limit is exceeded, it was possible candidates would not be allowed to serve if elected. If not elected, the person was liable to a fine.

Mr Lowell and Dr Bezzina insisted that if the law was broken, the election should be annulled in terms of the electoral law.

They asked the authorities to investigate all spending including advertising and promotion on newspapers, online advertising, mail shots and billboards.

Dr Bezzina said he knew of one specific candidate who was given a donation of €500,000 by a major businessmen. Once the court case was opened, he said, he and Mr Lowell would make this information public.

Mr Lowell said he wanted to see justice prevail.

“This is a perverse establishment worthy of a third world country,” he said.

See also:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090731/local/meps-expenses-within-limit