Updated - Adds Julian Galea's comments - PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier recalled today that when a year ago during the local council elections, the PL media issued a tape recording of comments made by Sliema PN candidate Julian Galea, the PN immediately took action.

In contrast, the PL was taking no action over the comments recorded on tape by its deputy leader Toni Abela.

Dr Borg Olivier noted that while Mr Galea had been heard commenting about not employing Labourites, a Works Council subsequently found he had not actually done anything wrong.   

Dr Borg Olivier, who was speaking at a press conference, also reacted to comments made yesterday and this morning by Dr Abela about alleged illegalities at Mosta PN club. He said the PN cooperated fully with the police, closed the club and kept it closed until the police gave the go-ahead.

In contrast, in the Attard case, Dr Abela had gone to the police asking them not to take action, Dr Borg Olivier said.

And Dr Abela had acted in his capacity as a politician, not a lawyer, Dr Borg Olivier insisted.

Asked whether Dr Abela had done anything illegal, Dr Borg Olivier said that what Dr Abela had done was politically unacceptable. He had influenced the police not to take action.

Asked whether the PN had taken actions against Vince Farrugia over incriminating phone calls, PN Deputy Leader Simon Busuttil said the case was still ongoing in court.

On the oil procurement case, Dr Busuttil said the PN and the government had zero tolerance to corruption and everyone had to shoulder his political responsibilities.

However a reference in an e-mail to AG or Aust did not mean that the minister had done something illegal.

The government had gone to the police asking them to investigate and gave them the tool to do so. Dr Gatt himself had given a statement to the police.

JULIAN GALEA'S COMMENTS

In a reaction, Mr Galea said he was present during all the meetings and in no case was he ever put any pressure to resign or leave the party.

"After being elected I took the decision with my family that for correctness sake I should resign. Not because I did anything illegal as was proven, but because I was morally incorrect, even though only a fraction of the whole conversation was released to the press.

"My decision was discussed only with the Prime minister in his office and David Agius. The Prime Ministers words on my resignation were that I was always welcome within the party and he concluded by saying ‘ li kieku min hu fil politica hu ragel daqshekk’