As Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday urged people to come forward with information on illegalities, PN leader Simon Busuttil demanded resignations over the Valletta property expropriation deal.

Wondering why the Parliamentary Secretary for Planning, Michael Falzon, had not yet resigned despite his admission that he had been on a hunting trip with Mark Gaffarena, the man involved in the expropriation deal, Dr Busuttil said political responsibility ought to be shouldered also by Dr Muscat.

Speaking on the radios of their parties, the leaders both tackled the hot issue that is now the subject of an investigation by both the National Audit Office and the Internal Audit and Investigations Department.

The matter came to light a fortnight ago when The Sunday Times of Malta revealed that Mr Gaffarena had been paid €1.6 millions in cash and parcels of land in exchange for half ownership of a property in Old Mint Street that is being rented to the government until 2028.

Describing the deal as “institutionalised corruption”, Dr Busuttil said it was not enough for the government to reverse the deal if any wrongdoing was established.

Responsibility had also be shouldered, he insisted.

“It is very evident there is something wrong and Dr Muscat should shoulder political responsibility. You do not need to investigate further since there was a smell of corruption from the outset. You have to be blind not to notice there’s corruption in this case,” Dr Busuttil said.

Dr Muscat, on his part, said the government would not allow anyone to take advantage of his government’s goodwill, adding that if any wrongdoing was found, the deal would be reversed.

“The government will not rush. We are waiting for the investigations to be concluded and if it turns out that there has been wrongdoing, we will reverse the deal,” Dr Muscat said.