Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/591015
JURGEN BALZAN TWO PN members have been suspended over their freemasonry links, after they were found in breach of the party's code of ethics. But PN deputy leader Mario de Marco has told MaltaToday he was unaware of the par- ticipation of two close political aides in a ma- sonic lodge, and urged them to disassociate themselves immediately. Last week, MaltaToday revealed that former magistrate Carol Peralta, who re- tired from the bench in August 2015, had appeared in a list of Maltese freemasons summoned to a meeting in France. The list included businessmen Olvin Galea and Jonathan Pace, who are De Marco's long- time campaigners. In comments to MaltaToday, De Marco said he has known Galea and Pace for many years, but that he was "never aware or made aware of their alleged participation in any Masonic lodge or similar association prior to the article that appeared in the MaltaTo- day last Sunday." Galea and Pace, both from Hamrun, spear- headed De Marco's leadership campaign in the wake of the PN's 2013 defeat. The two men were pictured with De Marco and other PN political exponents, including new lead- er Simon Busuttil on numerous occasions. On one occasion, Galea and Pace were pictured together with Busuttil and former Telemalta Corporation CEO Tony De Bono, who was also pictured with Galea in mason- ic lodge events. "I strongly disapprove of any such partici- pation even if related to their personal or private lives," De Marco said, adding: "I urge them to immediately disassociate them- selves from any such lodge and desist from any fur- ther participation." YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT maltatoday Newspaper post SUNDAY • 25 OCTOBER 2015 • ISSUE 833 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY SAVIOUR BALZAN PAGE 7 GAFFARENA INQUIRY FINDS LAND VALUES WERE 'ILLEGAL' EXCLUSIVE IAID inquiry reveals trend since 2008 of expropriations in excess of legal 30% variation over land valuations • Marco Gaffarena got compensation far in excess of legal limit • Inquiry could kickstart demand to take back lands granted in expropriation deal FULL STORY • PAGE 3 Freemason aides to De Marco suspended from PN 19 €1.40 FREE WITH MALTATODAY 'My open letter against online hatred' The Old Mint Street building Marco Gaffarena (inset) got €1.65 million for: the controversial deal could be reversed SUMMERTIME'S OVER Don't forget to move back the hour hand