The people deserved to know the whole truth about the Café Premier scandal and the Prime Minister should shoulder political responsibility, PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami insisted today.

Addressing a news conference, the PN deputy leader said that Dr Muscat had been caught lying about the Cafe in at least 10 instances in just one week.

Dr Muscat lied when he claimed the court proceedings would have lengthened as the Attorney General unequivocally said this was the route the government should have taken.

The Prime Minister lied when he said that the €4.2 million were paid for dangers to be removed from beneath the National Library. The Auditor General clearly said no danger existed.

Dr Muscat also lied when he said that the building was to be passed on to the public once again. A year later, the place remained closed and the Culture Minister had no idea what should become of it.

The Prime Minister lied when he said the place was needed for better access to the National Library, he lied when he said the matter had been discussed in Cabinet and he lied when he said he met director Mario Camilleri twice. Mr Camilleri said he met the Prime Minister three times.

Dr Muscat lied when he said the Café Premier should not be commercialised, when the Cabinet memo stated the government had to fork out €4.2 million to commercialise the place.

He lied when he said he shouldered political responsibility by allowing the Auditor General to investigate. The Auditor General investigated the case on the Opposition’s initiative and Dr Muscat could not stop him from doing so.

Dr Muscat lied when he said this bailout had not been discussed with Mario Camilleri before the election. For Café Premier closed on the day Dr Muscat won the election.

And while Dr Muscat stated he had not been involved in negotiations, the Auditor General’s report showed that he had embarked upon and led the negotiations.