The Prime Minister this morning skirted questions on inconsistencies between a Cabinet memorandum outlining a possible gas explosion as a main reason for the lease purchase of Cafe Premier, and revelations that the kitchens were entirely electrically powered.

Joseph Muscat said the issue of the purchase was “wider than that” when asked why the government had claimed the establishment’s subterranean kitchens posed a danger to the adjacent National Library.

Asked if the lease purchase set a precedent for future deals, Dr Muscat said "I think the main lesson we have taken from this is of a procedural nature but now, whoever made allegations regarding donations and the Labour Party will have to answer for them."

Times of Malta today reports Cafe Premier former director Mario Camilleri claiming gas cylinders had never entered the establishment.

The government has come under fire for the lease purchase in recent days with the National Auditor publishing a damning report on the government’s buy-back decision.

The main accusations levelled by the Nationalist Party was that the move was the result of a pre-electoral deal made with Mr Camilleri – something he flatly denies.

Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Speaking to the press after a visit to a Qormi primary school, Dr Muscat confirmed that the Labour Party had never received any donations from Mr Camilleri.

“I can say that there was no donation given. We checked our books very thoroughly over the past few days,” he said, declining to comment on revelations that Mr Camilleri had instead given a €1,000 donation to the Nationalist Party.

The Auditor General has highlighted the government’s failure to include the Government Property Division as a shortcoming.

Asked about this, Dr Muscat said: “Yes, I think on this he is right. We were a new government and we wanted to get things done... that is a mistake we have learnt from,” he said.