Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon yesterday struck a defiant note, insisting he had no intention “to pack up and leave”.
As pressure mounts on the former Labour Party deputy leader following a string of scandals concerning his portfolio, Dr Falzon said he had much more to contribute.
“I have no intention to pack up and leave because I sincerely believe we did a lot and can do more. I believe I have done nothing wrong,” he said in an interview on One Radio, the Labour Party station.
Dr Falzon took umbrage at Opposition leader Simon Busuttil’s statement that the parliamentary secretary’s “days were numbered”.
Taking a dig at the literal Maltese translation of the statement, which Dr Falzon took to mean that his life was soon to end, the parliamentary secretary wished Dr Busuttil a long life.
I have no intention to pack up and leave
Playing the underdog card, Dr Falzon said the Opposition was being destructive and engaging in character assassination because of the success he had achieved over the past 16 months in office.
Dr Falzon’s office has been in the spotlight over the Gaffarena scandal, which involved the part-expropriation of a Valletta building by the Government Property Division. The case is subject to two audit investigations. As parliamentary secretary, Dr Falzon had rubber-stamped the two expropriation agreements that saw Marco Gaffarena receive €1.6 million in cash and land parcels.
But Dr Falzon has also been in the spotlight over an early retirement package worth €260,000 he got from Bank of Valletta last year. The package has been described as unique since Dr Falzon has the possibility of returning back to the bank until June 2018 subject to paying back pro-rata the lump sum.
This controversy is linked to an alleged breach of the ministerial code of ethics. The Sunday Times of Malta revealed that Dr Falzon had taken part in negotiations over the conversion of a lease into a 65-year temporary emphytheusis for a Valletta property held by BOV while he was dealing with the bank over his early retirement scheme.
Dr Falzon has denied having a conflict of interest.