Former environment minister Leo Brincat never shared with Joseph Muscat any thoughts of resigning over the Panama Papers revelations, a spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister said yesterday

Mr Brincat told MEPs on Monday that he had considered resigning after then health and energy minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Keith Schembri, were found to have set up secret companies in Panama sheltered by trusts in New Zealand.

He told a European Parliament committee he did not follow through because he feared he would end up “a voice in the wilderness” and also because he felt he had a better chance of exerting influence if he remained within the fold.

If he were in Dr Mizzi’s shoes, he also said during a grilling session in connection with his European Court of Auditors candidacy, he would have resigned or suspended himself.

Both Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri resisted calls for their resignation at the height of the Panama Papers scandal.

During the session, Mr Brincat was asked to explain why he had voted against when Dr Mizzi faced a no-confidence motion in Parliament last May and how he would behave when faced with corruption allegations if appointed auditor.

Mr Brincat replied that his hands were tied by the Prime Minister who instructed the party whip to ensure all Labour MPs voted against the motion. Asked about these instructions, the Office of the Prime Minister’s spokesman said there was no such thing as a free vote in a vote of confidence.

Asked whether Mr Brincat’s nomination to the European Court of Auditors was a bargaining chip to stop him from resigning, the spokesman said the nomination was based on merit, insisting that Mr Brincat’s resignation was never discussed with the Prime Minister.

In fact, the spokesman added, no Labour MP had threatened to resign in the run up to the vote.

Dr Mizzi lost his health and energy portfolios and was made Minister without Portfolio in a Cabinet reshuffle last April. Yet, he still continued to be involved in the energy sector.

No action was taken against Mr Schembri with the Prime Minister saying he trusted his chief of staff.

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna was yesterday asked whether any action had been taken against any of the individuals mentioned in the Panama Papers.

He replied that any such investigations would fall under the Commissioner for Inland Revenue’s remit, which, as minister, he was not privy to. It would be up to the Commissioner to decide whether it was in the public interest to give any updates on investigations, Prof. Scicluna said.

Asked what he would have voted if given a free vote in the case of the no confidence motion against Dr Mizzi, Prof. Scicluna said he had nothing to add to the comments he had already made on the matter.

In the meantime, the Australian Tax Commissioner announced yesterday that tax advisers in the country and their wealthy clients with links to the Panama Papers could face criminal charges in the coming weeks.

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