Negotiations with the preferred public transport bidder had not even started, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said, denying reports that a government announcement was imminent.

On Wednesday, the General Workers’ Union’s daily, l-orizzont, quoted Mr Mizzi saying negotiations were in the final stages and that the wait for the name of the new bus operator was nearly over. But he retracted this yesterday.

Though no announcement was ever made by the government, Spanish company Autobuses de Leon was being tipped to be in pole position, following a call for expressions of interest, which closed on April 7.

Two Maltese companies – Gozo First and Island Buses Malta – had also bid to operate the service.

Read the full story in Times of Malta, the e-paper or timesofmalta.com premium here.

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