PN leader Simon Busuttil said today that if police investigations established there was corruption by Nationalist MP George Pullicino, he would take immediate action but if it resulted there was no case, he expected Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi, who made the allegations, to resign or be removed by the Prime Minister.
Dr Mizzi claimed earlier this week that Mizzi that the Nationalist Government had given a €35 million feed-in tariff contract binding the country for 35 years. He said that an audit investigation found shameful irregularities in the contract, for the installation of photovoltaic panels on public buildings.
The contract provided for a feed-in tariff of 23c per electricity unit for 25 years. The feed-in tariff should have been 16c.
Mr Pullicino denied that the feed-in tariff was his decision and said it authorised by the Malta Resources Authority.
Both Dr Mizzi and Mr Pullicino took the case to the police for investigation.
Speaking during the party’s general convention, IdeaMalta, Dr Busuttil said that those who tried to taint others unnecessarily were dirty themselves and should shoulder the responsibility for their actions.
Earlier, Dr Busuttil promised that never again would the PN cut itself off from the people and his commitment was for the party to get close to the people immediately.
The convention was in fact intended to take the party to a new phase in which it would listen to what the people had to say, their thoughts, ideas , needs, criticism and aspirations.
“And because I believe that the leadership should lead with example I have already committed myself personally in this process. And with me there are the MPs, candidates and local councillors,” Dr Busuttil said.
He said the process to listen to the people would be implemented through the policy fora set up in the past days and which would lead to the renewal and improvement of the party’s policies. The party would also be going directly to the people, meeting several sectors and dialoguing with the social partners and civil society.
Dr Busuttil said he disagreed with a statement made by Godfrey Grima during the convention on Friday that everyone lied in politics.
“I have not gotten to where I am because I lied but because I said the truth. But if it is true that everyone lies in politics, we really need to overhaul politics in our country. And I am willing to try to do this.”
This, he said, would not be easy considering that the government lied blatantly. But for him, Dr Busuttil said, the truth was important and he intended to continue to say it.
“I am confident the people will appreciate and acknowledge those who say the truth and not those who lie.”
He accused the government of bringing to an end a project that had been embarked upon by the Nationalist government building a new school a year and of lacking ideas for economic growth and job creation out of the public sector.
On the proposed 58c cost of living increase, he said this was what an SMS on Super One cost.
Dr Busuttil said the Nationalist Party would work to come up with the best economic ideas for strong public finances, investment and job creation.
He said that the party had to win the hearts and minds of the people. It could do this by showing it had understood the reasons as to why it lost the election last year and that it could be trusted to improve one’s standard of living.