The Nationalist Party last night raised €171,609 in a televised campaign held after Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil said that the party would not be gagged by financial threats.

The money was raised during a fund-raising marathon on Net TV, during which clips related to the Panama Papers scandal were constantly played in what the party described as a threat to democracy. 

He made his comment after the Kasco Group, which is owned by Keith Schembri, the prime minister’s chief of staff, threatened court action unless the party paid it €120,000 for newspaper products sold to it three years previously.

Dr Busuttil observed that Kasco has written to the party in the same week that parliament debated a motion against Mr Schembri in connection with the Panama Papers. This, he said, demonstrated Mr Schembri's conflict of interest.

The PN paid Mr Schembri on Monday with Dr Busuttil saying the PN was not scared of Mr Schembri.

Dr Busuttil thanked all those who made their donation today, saying the party would fight the threats being made to democracy.