PN General Secretary Chris Said indicated this evening that the PN would like to see the thresholds proposed in the White Paper on party financing reduced.

The comment was made during the Dissett discussion programme on TVM.

Labour deputy leader Toni Abela was non-committal, saying he would await public reaction to the White Paper issued last week.

Mario Mallia, representing Alternattiva, also argued that the thresholds should be reduced.

The White Paper bans donations over €50,000 and also sets limits in spending by  the parties during electoral campaigns.

CONTROVERSY OVER SANDRO CHETCUTI

During the discussion, a fierce argument broke out between Dr Said and Dr Abela after the former said that the president of the Developers' Association had an office at the Labour Party headquarters.

Replying, Dr Abela said that Dr Said last May had invited Sandro Chetcuti, the current president of the Developers' Association, to a meeting and asked him to join the PN. But Mr Chetcuti told him he was comfortable in the PL.

Dr Said said Dr Abela was 'making things up,' adding that his meeting with Mr Chetcuti was only about matters involving the Developers' Association (of which Mr Chetcuti was vice-president at the time).