Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has said that Joe Cassar is guilty of an “error of judgement” following news that Joe Gaffarena paid for construction works at the former health minister’s home.

Speaking in an interview on Radio 101 this morning, Dr Busuttil said he had requested a meeting with Dr Cassar and would listen to his version of events before making a decision on that basis.

Dr Cassar has also alleged that he is being blackmailed after receiving a car from Mr Gaffarena in exchange for a €1,000 donation to the PN.

Dr Busuttil, however, said this morning that no illegalities were involved in the dealings, which did not concern public funds, and therefore could not be compared to the government’s own dealings with Mr Gaffarena.

“I will not allow the government to continue responding to serious allegations by simply saying: you used to do the same in the past,” he said.

The Opposition leader also took aim at the government for legal amendments passed this week which will see local council elections held every five years, alongside elections for the European Parliament.

Dr Busuttil accused the Prime Minister of “undermining democracy” by effectively scrapping the elections scheduled for 2017.

“This is the first time a change has been made to the law on elections without the consensus of the Opposition,” he said.

“The Prime Minister is running scared because the Nationalist Party has already made up a large part of the gap between the parties. We would have gone further and turned that gap into an advantage in these elections.”

Dr Busuttil reiterated his pledge to deliver a set of proposals on good governance by the end of the year, insisting the government was mired in scandal.

“This government will lose the election because of dirt, sleaze, corruption and nepotism,” he said. “Our job is to expose them and show that there is a different way of doing politics.”

Speaking about allegations of corruption surrounding the granting of Algerian visas, the Opposition leader called for an inquiry after it emerged that the Prime Minister’s cousin was responsible for heading the visa office.

This, Dr Busuttil said, showed involvement in the “scandal” at the very highest level.