Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1078260
SUNDAY • 3 FEBRUARY 2019 • ISSUE 1004 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY YOUR FIRST READ AND CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT SUNDAY • 3 FEBRUARY 2019 • ISSUE 1004 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY SUNDAY • 3 FEBRUARY 2019 • ISSUE 1004 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY maltatoday 2 INSIDE Actor MIKHAIL BASMADJIAN TAKES THE Q&A Delia harmed by party infighting and separation MATTHEW VELLA A measure to raise women's represen- tation in the Maltese parliament will distribute an increased number of women MPs equally between the Na- tionalist and Labour Party – in a situ- ation that assumes bipartisan domi- nance of the House so far. In measures yet to be announced by the Labour administration, which has committed itself to increase the number of women inside the House of Representatives, both the PN and the PL will have an equal number of MPs added to their side, after parliamenta- ry seats are constitutionally adjusted. Labour had pledged to hold a consul- tation on raising the number of wom- en MPs in its 2017 manifesto, although it did not commit itself to a minimum number. Sources indicate the ratio could be as bold as 40% for whichever sex is under-presented – that is male or female – in parliament. That would imply that if a specific number of women is required to raise their percentage of the House to 40%, those additional MPs will be distrib- uted equally to the PN and the PL. Ministers told Pilatus could have successful claim against MFSA PAGE 3 PAGE 3 Actor MIKHAIL BASMADJIAN TAKES THE Q&A Actor MIKHAIL BASMADJIAN TAKES THE Q&A mt survey MALTATODAY SURVEY Leaks on Delia's personal life push voters to embrace Joseph Muscat as PM hits new trust record, and Labour starts European elections 18 points ahead PAGES 10-11 €1.95 SIMONE VELLA LENICKER Construction is booming, but how much thought is being given to the quality of what we're building? INTERVIEW 16-17 FRANCO'S BACK! Has Muscat slighted the former MP over his role as head of the Constitutional convention? STORY ON PAGE 2 Number of MPs to grow with quotas proposal Additional women distributed equally to both Labour and Nationalist sides MATTHEW VELLA GOVERNMENT ministers have been told that a case by the owners and di- rectors of the shuttered bank Pilatus, could well be won to the detriment of the Malta Financial Services Author- ity. The small private bank, owned by the Iranian family of Ali Sadr Hashem- inejad, had its licence revoked in 2018 after its owner and chairman was ar- rested in the United States, on charges of breaching US sanctions on Iran. The arrest in February 2018 immedi- ately pushed the MFSA to put the bank under controllership, as well as carry out an investigation of each single transactions that passed through Pila- tus Bank with the help of the Financial Investigation Unit – an exercise that is costing hundreds of thousands of eu- ros. But a government source privy to discussions with various ministers, told MaltaToday that MFSA officials expressed their doubts on the chal- lenge mounted by Pi- latus in the financial services tribunal. lenge mounted by Pi- PAGE 2