Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1518643
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 APRIL 2024 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt JOSEPH Muscat, Konrad Miz- zi, Marlene Farrugia, Simon Busuttil, Edwin Vassallo – which former MP from the last legislature was the highest earn- er after leaving office? Under the Income Tax Man- agement Act, the editor of a newspaper can request tax re- turns of Maltese MPs for up to two years after they stop being members of the House. MaltaToday requested details of income in respect of 2021 and 2022 - as well as 2023 when available – for MPs who left of- fice in the past legislature. The controversial figures One of the most controver- sial figures who left office in the past legislature was former prime minister Joseph Mus- cat, who in 2020 netted a sum of €361,540. Muscat resigned from parliament in October 2020 after having stepped down as prime minister in Jan- uary that year. The former Labour leader re- ceived an MP honorarium of €139,488, as well as declaring a profit of €222,052 in person- al income. No declarations for 2021 and 2022 were made avail- able. Another controversial figure who saw his political career end during the past legislature was Konrad Mizzi, who formed part of Muscat's inner circle of min- isters. In 2020, Mizzi declared an income of €132,368, and an in- come of €139,315 in 2021. No declaration was made available to MaltaToday for 2022. Mizzi declared a profit of €109,070 in personal income, and an MP honorarium of €23,811 in 2020, and a profit of €115,128 and an honorarium of €23,187 in 2021. Silvio Grixti, who resigned in December 2021 after being questioned by the police over his alleged involvement in the disability benefits racket and is currently facing court charges over the same case, declared an income of €110,573. Grixti declared an income of €57,948 from his profession, and a further €21,825 from his employment with Malta Strate- gic Partnership Projects Limit- ed. He also received an MP hon- orarium of €30,800. In 2021, former Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi declared an income of €12,787. Decla- rations for the years 2020 and 2022 were not provided by the Clerk of the House. A controversial figure from the last legislature was Marlene Farrugia, who was elected to parliament following a coalition between the Nationalist Party and the Democratic Party. She declared an income of €119,231 in 2020, €177,030 in 2021 and €101,320 in 2022. In- come stemmed from bank in- terests, profession, rents and the MP honorarium. Highest earners Together with her husband Godfrey Farrugia, Marlene Far- rugia was among the highest earners. Godfrey Farrugia declared an income of €24,643 in 2020, an income of €113,945 in 2021 and an income of €114,406 in 2022. Apart from the former Dem- ocratic Party MPs, the highest earners were all Labour MPs. The highest earner was for- mer minister Emanuel Mall- ia who declared an income of €186,516 in 2020 and €254,428 in 2021. His income stemmed from his personal profession, employment with the Occupa- tional Health & Safety Author- ity (OHSA) and the Office of the Prime Minister, a treasury pension, social security pension and MP honorarium. Gavin Gulia, who won the casual election for the 7th Dis- trict seat vacated by Edward Scicluna after obtaining 2,216 votes in a runoff with Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando in 2021, re- signed from parliament min- utes after being sworn in as MP. In 2020 he earned €125,496 from his employment with Ozo Services Ltd, the Malta Tourism Authority, Housing Mainte- nance and Embellishment Ltd, Wasteserv Ltd, and also part- time employment with Ozo Services Ltd. In 2021, he declared an income of €110,739 having been em- ployed with Ozo Services Ltd., the Malta Tourism Authority and also part-time employment with Ozo Services Ltd. Former Nationalist MP Ed- win Vassallo, who was among the longest serving MPs in the House, was also among the big earners. In 2020, he declared Who was the biggest earner after leaving Joseph Muscat received an MP honorarium of €139,488, as well as declaring a prof it of €222,052 in personal income