Labour MPs and their relatives are raking in on government appointments, in breach of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s primary pledge of meritocracy, according to Nationalist Party general secretary Chris Said.
Addressing a press conference outside Auberge de Castille, Dr Said referred to the story carried in The Sunday Times of Malta yesterday which revealed how a group of Labour backbench MPs will be pocketing an extra €1 million during this legislature, over and above their normal parliamentary salaries.
Labour’s youngest backbencher, Silvio Schembri, 27, is highest earner – with €65,285 – as a result of his various political appointments. That is €20,000 more than a minister.
Dr Said distributed a graphic, prepared by the PN, showing how Labour MPs and also relatives were pocketing taxpayers’ money with government appointments.
PN spokesman Jason Azzopardi said that apart from Labour MPs, relatives of Labour officials were also on the receiving end of political appointments.