Updated 7.55 a.m. Wednesday

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando will be holding a private meeting with the Prime Minister tomorrow at his request.

The meeting was requested by the Nationalist MP in the wake of yesterday's unanimous decision by the PN Executive which cleared Richard Cachia Caruana of all claims made against him. It also turned down Dr Pullicino Orlando's call to expel Mr Cachia Caruana from the party. 

The committee members by show of hands approved a motion by Francis Zammit Dimech thanking  Mr Cachia Caruana and expressing solidarity with him.

Informed sources described the five-hour meeting as tense, with those present witnessing angry scenes after Austin Gatt, early in the meeting, claimed that during the 2008 election victory march, Dr Pullicino Orlando told him that there would be trouble if he was not offered a Cabinet post.

While Dr Gatt stood his ground, Dr Pullicino Orlando strenuously denied the claim and asked all those present whether they had ever heard him say such a thing. He also asked Eddie Fenech Adami, who was present, to confirm that he had actually turned down such a post when it was offered to him under his premiership. Dr Fenech Adami nodded to confirm.

Dr Pullicino Orlando – who last week was banned by the committee from seeking re-election as a PN candidate – had accused Mr Cachia Caruana of colluding with high ranking members of the Labour administration led by Dr Alfred Sant between 1996 and 1998 in an attempt to further his personal interests whilst putting his colleagues in the Nationalist administration led by Dr Eddie Fenech Adami between 1987 and 1996 in a bad light.

Dr Pullicino Orlando also claimed that Mr Cachia Caruana colluded with high ranking officials representing foreign states in a clear attempt at bypassing the Nationalist Party parliamentary group and the Maltese Parliament.

Thirdly, he claimed that Mr Cachia Caruana fomented the unrest which had led to the difficulties being faced by Dr  Gonzi, both within the party and in Parliament. 

Mr Cachia Caruana denied all the claims.

European Commissioner John Dalli spoke for almost half an hour by  teleconference during the meeting, mostly on the state of the PN, but he made no new accusations against Mr Cachia Caruana, informed sources said.

The 2008 Mistra open air disco issue was also raised repeatedly during the meeting with allegations being made on how Dr Pullicino Orlando's contracts came into the possession of former Labour leader Alfred Sant. Dr Pullicino Orlando hit back, insisting he had done nothing wrong and had acted within his rights.

PRIME MINISTER - THE OUTCOME SHOULD BE RESPECTED BY EVERYONE

Dr Gonzi said the meeting had followed the procedure agreed last week and as was typical in the PN, everyone was free to make his remarks in a democratic manner.

The only change was to enable Commissioner Dalli to give his evidence by teleconference, after it became known that he could not personally attend the meeting. He had personally communicated with Mr Dalli and arrangements were made for Mr Dalli to use the teleconference facility to make his statement and reply to questions by, among others, Dr Pullicino Orlando and himself.

Once the agreed procedure was followed and democratic norms were observed, the  final outcome should be respected by everyone, Dr Gonzi said. He said no one had requested a secret vote, and the PN had a tradition where votes were taken openly.

He said that the meeting started with a presentation by Dr Pullicino Orlando followed by questions.

The fact that two Labour MPs (Karmenu Vella and Joe Mizzi) who were on Dr Pullicino Orlando's witness list had not turned up meant that they could not be cross-examined. This was typical Labour of throwing mud but then avoiding questions, Dr Gonzi said. Their sworn statements were read, however.

In his testimony, Dr Gonzi said, Mr Dalli had given his views on the party and also complained how his website had been hacked. He also said he wanted to give some information personally to him (the prime minister). A meeting would be held in the near future.

However, Dr Gonzi said,  Mr Dalli said he saw no links with any of the three charges made by Dr Pullicino Orlando against Mr Cachia Caruana.

Similarly no information against Mr Cachia Caruana was given during the evidence by Gordon Pisani  - the government's head of communications.

There was no shred of evidence linking Mr Cachia Caruana with any of the charges, Dr Gonzi said.

In view of such a lack of evidence, Mr Cachia Caruana opted not to give any rebuttal.

Instead, Dr Francis Zammit Dimech moved a motion seconded by Jason Azzopardi where the committee rejected Dr Pullicino Orlando's call to expel Mr Cachia Caruana. Instead the Committee expressed its total solidarity with Mr Cachia Caruana.

Concluding, Dr Gonzi said this episode showed once more the expired policies of Joseph Muscat aimed at attacking people personally. Dr Muscat had claimed that he had investigated this case. What, really, had he investigated? Had he investigated how Mr Mizzi had done nothing after, according to him, the police were sent to a wrong yacht after being informed of a drugs party?

Had he investigated how Karmenu Vella as Tourism Minister had not published reports on Air Malta which he had mentioned?

He said that there would be no further action against Dr Pullicino Orlando beyond what was decided last week, while the government would carry on to the end of its term.

MEETING BRIEFLY INTERRUPTED

The meeting  was briefly interrupted half way through after some members claimed that MP Franco Debono was taking pictures.

The incident happened as Dr Pullicino Orlando was speaking. He objected and insisted that the pictures must be erased. However Dr Debono denied taking pictures and showed his mobile phone to Paula Mifsud Bonnici, president of the PN administrative council, who confirmed that no pictures had been taken.

The meeting started shortly after 5.30 p.m.

Former President Eddie Fenech Adami said on arrival at PN headquarters that he had 'absolutely no doubts' in Mr Cachia Caruana's loyalty. 

JPO AGAIN ESCORTED BY SECURITY OFFICIALS

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said as he walked in that he would present his case against Mr Cachia Caruana. He complained, however, that the case may have been prejudiced, with the prime minister having said on Sunday that the case had all the ingredients of a frame-up. Furthermore, he said, committee president Marthese Portelli  had claimed he had acted in bad faith.

As in last Thursday's meeting, Dr Pullicino Orlando arrived accompanied by security officials, but he entered PN headquarters without incident. 

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