Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/832638
maltatoday, MONDAY, 5 JUNE 2017 News 8 German MEP: Elections do not replace investigations GERMAN Green MEP Sven Giegold has issued a statement reminding voters that Malta's election win for Labour cannot replace the necessary investiga- tions that must take place on the Panama Papers. "Congratulations to the La- bour government of Malta for its re-election. But, elections do not replace thorough investiga- tions. The accusations around the sale of passports, money laundering and corruption are a heavy burden for the reputation of the islands when it comes to the rule of law. In particular, the alleged facts researched by the FIAU deserve proper scrutiny. "The PANA inquiry commit- tee of the European Parliament will continue to ensure that ac- cusations of money laundering are taken seriously everywhere in the EU. Also the new Maltese parlia- ment could do its part and investigate the ac- cusations in a f a i r and thorough manner. "Lastly, the corporate tax system needs changes so as to over- come the image of Malta as a tax haven which will create a growing burden to its finan- cial sector as well as the gaming industry on the islands." People blinded by Labour's largesse, Marlene Farrugia says in video message MATTHEW VELLA Democratic Party leader Marlene Farrugia, whose fledgling party ran on the Nationalist Party ticket in Saturday's election, has claimed that the Labour gov- ernment spent taxpayers' cash to coax people into vot- ing for it. As the reality of a 36,000 vote majority sank in, Mar- lene Farrugia – who was not at the counting hall when the first results came in – posted a video on her Facebook wall in which she admitted that nobody could have predicted such a large victory for La- bour. "Who would have thought that the Maltese people would give its approval to a corrupt government?" the former Labour MP said. "But that is what the Maltese people wanted. Our mission does not stop here – this is just half the country," she said. "We will keep on choos- ing Malta, whether inside or outside parliament, to insist that we want a clean govern- ment, that our reputation in- ternationally is pristine once again, and that our country manages to attract more in- vestment thanks to our repu- tation." Farrugia, who broke ranks with Labour back in 2015 and became an independent MP, said her party would still work to "protect our country from the damage this gov- ernment is wreaking on it." "If this government bought everyone up using tax money, we cannot blame the people for having been blinded and having believed [Muscat]." Farrugia, whose PD also fielded former Labour min- ister Godfrey Farrugia, her partner, in the 'Forza Naz- zjonali' coalition, said the party would still remain ac- tive outside of parliament if it does not return a seat. Farrugia also said that she had been receiving abusive phone calls and that sup- porters had let off fireworks using gelatin from next to her house, a medieval Qrendi home. Sven Giegold