Joe Cassar’s resignation from Parliament should serve as an example for the government, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this afternoon

Giving the Times of Malta his initial reaction, Dr Busuttil said he expected Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to call for the resignation of Lands Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon’s over his involvement in the Gaffarena scandal.

Dr Falzon came under fire in recent months for his involvement in the controversial €1.65 million expropriation of a Valletta property from the Gaffarena family.

“Dr Muscat has to remove Michael Falzon immediately as such misappropriation of public funds can’t be allowed to continue,” Dr Busuttil said. 

Dr Cassar’s resignation today follows his resignation as Opposition culture spokesman on Sunday.

Dr Busuttil had said Dr Cassar had exhibited an “error of judgment” after Malta Today published a story saying Dr Cassar permitted works at his home to be paid for by businessman Joe Gaffarena.

Mr Gaffarena allegedly paid €8,150 for the works including the construction of a staircase and garden landscaping. Dr Cassar was also allegedly given a car as a gift by Mr Gaffarena for his 18-year-old daughter. Dr Cassar said he had paid for the car by donating €1,000 to the PN.

Asked why the resignation had been staggered, Dr Busuttil said that when he asked Dr Cassar to resign from spokesman, he was acting on the information at hand.

Later, however, Dr Cassar decided to also resign from Parliament.