The Nationalist Party’s consultative committee on ethics and proper conduct was not reconstituted after Adrian Delia was elected leader, the Times of Malta has learnt.
This newspaper asked the PN for the names of the five members sitting on the committee, as stipulated by the party statute, and whether the allegations against Dr Delia were referred to it, but the questions remained unanswered.
Senior PN sources said the members of the former ethics committee relinquished their post when the new leader was elected but they were not substituted.
According to the PN statute, the ethics committee, which would operate as an internal disciplinary mechanism, is nominated by the administrative council every year on the recommendation of the party leader.
There were aspects which were not clear
The committee should consist of a chairman and four other members, including the administrative council president, an office currently occupied by MP David Stellini.
The last time the committee was functioning, it had investigated money laundering and other allegations against Dr Delia prior to the PN leadership race.
At the time it was chaired by former PN secretary general Louis Galea and included former ambassador Joe Cassar, since deceased, University professor Maryanne Lauri and accountant Franz Wirth. MP Karol Aquilina, who at the time was president of the administrative council, also sat on the committee as an ex-officio member.
The PN ethics committee had concluded that with regards to claims of money laundering about Dr Delia, there were aspects which were not clear and required further explanation. These aspects included an alleged Barclays offshore account in Dr Delia’s name in Jersey and the source of funds in the same account.
Endorsing the committee’s conclusions, the PN administrative council had asked Dr Delia to reconsider his position while allowing the leadership election to proceed.
Dr Delia insisted the ethics committee had found absolutely nothing against him and accused PN officials of twisting the committee’s findings in an attempt by ‘the establishment’ to tarnish his name.
What the PN statute says:
• There should be a consultative committee for ethics and proper conduct composed of five members.
• The president of the administrative council shall be an ex-officio member of the consultative committee. The administrative council should nominate a chairman and three other members on the committee on the recommendation of the party leader for a term of one year.
• The chairman and members of the consultative committee should be nominated from among people enjoying the respect of the public and are known for their integrity and honesty. At least three of the committee’s members should be party members.
ivan.camilleri@timesofmalta.com