Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is not excluding withdrawing the presidential pardon given to rogue oil trader George Farrugia.
In an interview on TVM’s Dissett, Dr Muscat yesterday said he would “exclude nothing”, when asked if he was considering revoking the legal reprieve granted last February.
Mr Farrugia was given the official pardon by President George Abela on condition that he turned State witness for the investigation into the oil procurement scandal.
This, however, is only valid for crimes connected with the oil bribery case and is based on the premise that Mr Farrugia tells the whole truth and nothing but in connection with the case.
This condition is extended both to court proceedings and to any other inquiry that could be held in connection with fuel procurement in the future.
Dissett host and PBS head of news Reno Bugeja, however, pointed to apparent contradictions in varying statements given by Mr Farrugia in court as well as to the Auditor General and the Public Account Committee.
Dr Muscat, however, declined to comment further when pressed for a position, simply reiterating that he would “exclude nothing”.
The Prime Minister also played coy when Mr Bugeja pointed out that Mr Farrugia’s lawyer, Franco Debono, was also the Law Commissioner responsible for the ongoing justice reform.
“I will not comment any further on this case and have nothing more to add at this point.”
Asked about the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, he insisted details would only be released when the time was right.
He did, however, point to the possibility of further Cabinet movements throughout the rest of the legislature.
“This is something that people will have to get used to. I will change as many times as necessary. There could be another reshuffle next year or the year after that. There are no rules on this, and I follow my own rules anyway – not traditions,” he said.
Asked who would handle the problems plaguing the social housing system once Social Solidarity Minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca became president, Dr Muscat said he had “significant” plans for improving the sector.
Among the measures, he said, could be the cancelling of building contractors’ debts with the government in exchange for developments to be used for public housing.
Dr Muscat said he would only take a decision once he had a full understanding of the financial repercussions to the public coffers.
“Among the expressions of interest we received were some from people with outstanding government debts. They have developments available and we don’t want to build new properties.”
He stuck by the one-year deadline for the new floating gas terminal and power station and his pledge to resign if electricity bills were not reduced by 25 per cent by this month.