Economic Affairs Minister Chris Cardona said on Tuesday that he does not follow Formula One racing, and has never attended a grand prix.

The minister was reacting on Facebook to what he termed as "more speculation and untruths" about his "work-related travel". 

The Sunday Times of Malta reported last Sunday that Dr Cardona had failed to explain his frequent solo travels abroad on official business and why he decided not to have any of his ministry officials accompany him.

The only reason given in Parliament justifying these solo trips, some of them on weekends, was to take part in “business meetings”.

The trips, usually short, have taken the minister to Russia, Ukraine, Dubai and Monaco, among other places.

One such visit took place between December 29, 2014 and January 8, 2015 to Russia and Ukraine during the Christmas holiday season. Also, a particular weekend visit to Monaco in 2015 cost taxpayers almost €11,000.

People commenting on the social media had observed that the Monaco visit coincided with the F1 grand prix in that principality.

Questions sent to Dr Cardona about these overseas visits last week were never replied. The Sunday Times story did not make any reference to his Formula 1 visits. 

In a tweet, former Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil asked why Dr Cardona spent so much money on a weekend in Monaco where "everything stopped" because of the Grand Prix.

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