Former Minister Leo Brincat is this afternoon expected to face a series of questions from MEPs on the Panama paper leaks and his apparent backing of Minister Konrad Mizzi in a no confidence vote earlier this year. His replies have been described as 'crucial' in determining whether he will be appointed to serve on the European Court of Auditors (ECA).
Mr Brincat will be questioned by the European Parliament's Budgetary Committee. He is the second person nominated by the government to succeed Louis Galea, with former Labour deputy leader Toni Abela having failed to overcome the hurdle.
Speaking to Times of Malta in Brussels just a few hours before Mr Brincat's grilling, many members of the committee said that there were no major objections to Mr Brincat's nomination except for his attitude towards the Panama scandal.
His CV and various informal one-to-one meetings held with Mr Brincat over the past weeks seem to show that he can do a good job at the ECA. However, doubts remain as we cannot have a member of the EU's auditors institution who supports a minister colleague who opened a secret company in a tax haven. The two things cannot go together- MEP
"His CV and various informal one-to-one meetings held with Mr Brincat over the past weeks seem to show that he can do a good job at the ECA. However, doubts remain as we cannot have a member of the EU's auditors institution who supports a minister colleague who opened a secret company in a tax haven. The two things cannot go together," an MEP from the liberal group told Times of Malta.
"We will ask very direct questions to Mr Brincat on Minister Mizzi, the prime minister's chief of staff and their apparent schemes to evade tax. We expect nothing short of clear answers from Mr Brincat," a member of the green group said.
Soon after the meeting, a vote will be taken on whether the committee should recommend Mr Brincat's approval. A green light from the committee is likely to be followed by a positive vote in the plenary session of the European Parliament, where all 751 MEPs vote.
In his preliminary written dossier sent to MEPs Mr Brincat avoided saying that he will withdraw his nomination if he is not approved by the committee.
"I will review my nomination, taking into full account the deliberations that would have taken place and reasons adduced by the committee for its recommendation," Mr Brincat said.
Mr Brincat was parliamentary secretary for housing and information in the Karmanu Mifsud Bonnici government in 1986. He was finance minister under Prime Minister Alfred Sant in 1997 and environment minister under Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.