PN Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil said in Parliament last night that the election of Claudette Abela Baldacchino shamed Malta before Europe and he called Labour’s political ethics into question.

Dr Busuttil said he was very concerned by the fact that even though Ms Abela Baldacchino was facing criminal charges of fraud regarding payments for flights, the PL had still allowed her to contest the casual elections.

Now that she had become an MEP, she would benefit from parliamentary immunity, meaning that proceedings in the Maltese court would have to be suspended if the Government did not ask for such immunity to be waived.

He said that the PL allowed Ms Abela Baldacchino to stand for the casual election when it had prohibited her from contesting the local council elections.

Dr Busuttil spoke amid interruptions and points of order raised by Home Affairs Minister Emanuel Mallia and Government whip Carmelo Abela. Mr Speaker Anġlu Farrugia had, at times, to order microphones to be switched off to let Dr Busuttil continue his speech. Dr Busuttil thanked Dr Farrugia for his protection.

The Government side argued that a person had to be assumed innocent until found guilty.

Dr Busuttil said political ethics required that the party in government would have the moral courage not to let such a person contest until her name was cleared by the courts.

Later in the sitting, Mr Abela said it was not right that Dr Busuttil should use Parliament to score points with PN councillors in his race forthe party leadership.

Dr Mallia said it was not correct to say the PL had allowed Ms Baldacchino to stand for the casual election. Labour had accepted Ms Abela Baldacchino’s candidature when she was not accused of anything and it was her right to contest.