Nationalist Party spokesman Joe Cassar has resigned as party spokesman for culture in the wake of revelations about his connections with Joe Gaffarena.
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said in a statement this afternoon that he met Dr Cassar this morning. He said Dr Cassar - a former minister of health - was seeking legal advice to safeguard his reputation.
"Unfortunately it is clear that Dr Cassar cannot stay on as a member of the shadow government at this time. I have therefore accepted his resignation from his position as Opposition spokesman on culture," Dr Busuttil said.
Dr Cassar allegedly allowed works at his home to be paid for by businessman Joe Gaffarena. Mr Gaffarena allegedly paid €8,150 for the works including the construction of a staircase and garden landscaping. Dr Cassar was also allegedly given a car as a gift by Mr Gaffarena for his 18-year-old daughter. Dr Cassar said he had paid for the car by donating €1,000 to the PN.
In another statement, Dr Cassar said:
I apologise unreservedly to the electorate for my error of judgement- Joe Cassar
"Although I have done nothing that breaches any law I have allowed an unscrupulous person to take advantage of me. The fact that this happened some three years ago is no excuse and I apologise unreservedly to the electorate for my error of judgement.
"The way this person, in collusion with the Labour Party, is manipulating the events of three years ago - in an attempt to cover up his and the Labour Party's unacceptable scandals - has become a distraction as the Nationalist Party fights to raise the standards of political behavior in this country.
"In terms of the Ministerial Code of Ethics which applied to me prior to March 2013 - there were no gifts to declare and therefore I do not believe that I breached the code.
"It is only because of this person's manipulation of events that took place three years ago that, today, they are being made to look like gifts. Still less was there any obligation created on me.
"So much so that Joe Gaffarena never got what he wanted from a PN administration - the sanctioning of his illegally-built petrol station. This, he got only after he crossed over to the Labour Party. Nor did his son get multi-million compensation for half-ownership of a house in Valletta from the PN. For these actions, it is only Joseph Muscat and Michael Falzon who have to answer."
Dr Cassar categorically denied that he had ever known or consented to any payments to be made by Mr Gaffarena on his behalf for works performed at his property.
"In this regard, I am taking legal advice to identify the avenues available to me.
"I hope that my resignation will allow the focus to return on the real corruption in this country and on those who are truly abusing of their position," Dr Cassar said.
PL: DOUBLE ERROR OF JUDGEMENT
The Labour Party described as a “double error of judgement” that the fact that Dr Busuttil did not dismiss Dr Cassar from the party.
The first, the PL said, was when Dr Busuttil yesterday defended Dr Cassar, describing him as a man of integrity, and the second was today when he retained him as part of his team.
Dr Busuttil’s reaction, the PL said, was weak and ridiculous.
But Dr Busuttil’s biggest error of judgement was that he surrounded himself with the same old people who clawed as much as they could in past administrations.