No answers from PL on Cuschieri’s second job

The Labour Party and Joseph Cuschieri have declined to answer questions over whether the new MEP is still employed and receiving a salary from the party while earning some €5,000 net a month as a full-time politician in Brussels.

In his ‘Financial Declaration’ submitted to the European Parliament last December upon assuming office as a member of the EU’s parliamentary chamber, Mr Cuschieri declared “a job with the Labour Party” as his only paid activity. In his declaration, Mr Cuschieri did not specify his designation at the party while stating he had no other professional activities.

Asked by this newspaper whether he has retained his job at the PL Headquarters and to give details about his designation and annual salary, Mr Cushieri said The Sunday Times “can obtain all the necessary information from the proper channels in due course”.

Questions asking the PL to state whether the MEP is still on the party’s payroll and to provide details of his job failed to elicit a reply despite several reminders sent to the party’s Director of Communications.

MEPs who have a secondary job do not contravene EU rules, though parliamentarians tend to take on work related to their profession rather than having an active paid role in a party.

Upon resigning his seat in the Maltese Parliament to make way for then MEP Joseph Muscat, Mr Cuschieri was employed by the Labour Party.

However, the party never provided details about Mr Cuschieri’s designation or his salary. Mr Cuschieri is also refusing to give details about the staff employed so far at his private offices both in Malta and in Brussels.