Speaker rules against Finance Minister in privilege complaint

The Labour Party said this evening that Finance Minister Tonio Fenech was not fit for purpose after the Speaker ruled that the minister had, prima facie, committed a breach of privilege in a reply he gave to a parliamentary question.

In the privilege complaint,  Opposition whip Joe Mizzi said Mr Fenech had implied that Evarist Bartolo in asking the question,  had malicious intent to hinder the investigation of the MFSA  into the La Valette Multi-Manager Fund.

When he protested over the reply, Mr Bartolo revealed that after he put the question, he had received a letter from Bank of Valletta chairman Roderick Chalmers, something which, he warned, could also constitute a breach of privilege. He said he would not be intimidated by BOV or anyone as he sought to protect small investors who were sold a product intended for professional investors.

The Labour Party said the Speaker's ruling was another addition to a list of mistakes and scandals by the minister and further put pressure on him to resign or to be asked to step down by the prime minister.

The privilege complaint will be considered by the House Privileges Committee.

See Mr Bartolo's question and Mr Fenech's reply by clicking on the pdf.