Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1188424
NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 NOVEMBER 2019 2 MATTHEW VELLA MALTA went dark on Tues- day, 26 November, at 3pm. The national power supply, provided in part by the Elec- trogas consortium, went on tilt nationwide. It was only fitting that only a few minutes later, the former energy minister Konrad Mizzi – the brains behind Malta's power plant revolution that gave Malta cheaper rates in 2013 – announced his resigna- tion from the Cabinet. Soon after came the resigna- tion – euphemistically termed 'suspension' from Cabinet – of economy minister Chris Car- dona. And before that, in the morn- ing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced the resig- nation of his chief of staff, and personal friend, Keith Schem- bri, architect of Labour's mas- sive electoral victories of 2013 and 2017. The meltdown began. Only last week, a hitherto- unknown taxi driver and loan shark arrested as part of a money laundering operation, Melvin Theuma, was said to have requested a presidential pardon to spill the beans on the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Less than 24 hours later, the Tumas magnate Yorgen Fenech – one of the shareholders in the Electrogas consortium – was arrested by police and held as a person of interest in connec- tion with the assassination, as he left the Portomaso harbour at 5:30am on Friday. Reports yesterday even sug- gested that Schembri had been in contact with Fenech before his arrest. When Fenech requested a pardon on Saturday, all hell broke loose. A parliamentary group meet- ing of Labour MPs gave Joseph Muscat their vote of confidence on Monday, but strong words were said about the future of Labour with Schembri and Mizzi. That day Mizzi himself was defiant in the face of out- right criticism by education minister Evarist Bartolo, stand- ing his ground and insisting he had done nothing wrong and refuting any association with 17 Black, the mysterious Dubai firm whose owner is Yorgen Fenech. But Schembri was taken in for questioning by police yesterday morning, where police later fol- lowed with a search at his villa in the swanky Santa Marija es- tate in Mellieha. Yesterday, a subdued Joseph Muscat announced that he had met Schembri the night before at his Burmarrad home, and confirmed that his chief of staff had resigned. "I had various dis- cussions with Keith Schembri, and he said he would be resign- ing in the day. I thank him for the contribution he gave… he had a crucial role, and I thank him for shouldering this bur- den." Muscat said his new chief of staff will be Mark Farrugia. "I take responsibility for the fact that I have kept him as chief of staff, yes... he has now decided to move on. It's a con- versation we've had for some time… he had signalled to me that it was a matter of time." Asked whether he regretted not probing the 17 Black alle- gations, Muscat shrugged off the questions: "I am criticised for acting like an 'investiga- tor'… there is an independent probe that has started already… I never turned a blind eye, and what is happening now and last week, with the operation lead- ing to, hopefully, solve the as- sassination, shows the institu- tions are working." Muscat said he would not step back, and said he would not seek re-election beyond his second term. "My role now is to navigate this time in the best possible manner." "I will keep on taking deci- sions that I must take for the sake of the country. This coun- try needs stability, and all de- cisions I will take in the hours and weeks to come must be tak- en for the sake of the country, to ensure this stability." Mizzi and Cardona resign Mizzi was hounded by the press all day, and despite his defiant stance, it was only af- ter 3pm, as he emerged from a Cabinet meeting at the Au- berge de Castille flanked by a handful of MPs and ministers, that he announced he was step- ping down. "In light of the political cir- cumstances, I personally feel that in terms of political re- sponsibility and duty, the right thing for me to do is to step down, to ensure government can continue serenely to gov- ern for the next years, to re- spect the general sentiment, and support the change that this government will continue to be make. While I have taken this step, there is no associa- tion, direct or indirect, with 17 Black, with Mr Fenech – the Electrogas deal was reviewed by the European Commission, the National Audit Office, and due process was followed. In addition to that, I would like to thank people of good will who sent me encouragement over the last few days. I will continue supporting the prime minister." Mizzi emerged to the sound of heckles and boos from dem- onstrators who were setting up a protest, the fourth one in as many days, outside the Office of the Prime Minister. "Out" and "corrupt" were shouted as Mizzi gave his press conference and then walked to Parliament, accompanied by some Cabinet colleagues. Muscat exited to the same orchestra of damnation, and entered his ministerial vehicle and swiftly driven out of sight. News that Cardona was 'sus- pending' himself from the Cab- inet – a term of resignation that did not imply finality – came soon after. Cardona said in a statement that he was "sus- pending himself with immedi- ate effect from his position as minister pending the investiga- A nationwide power outage. And the In the afternoon, on leaving a Cabinet meeting, tourism minister Konrad Mizzi announced his resignation Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced early yesterday the resignation of his chief of staff Keith Schembri