‘Abela might be satisfied with Galdes’ explanation; young people are not’ - PN
The PM has said he is satisfied with Roderick Galdes' explanation for his personal property acquisitions
The Opposition Nationalist Party has criticised the prime minister’s defence of Roderick Galdes, after he said yesterday he was satisfied with the minister’s explanation amid continuing questions over his personal property portfolio.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Prime Minister Robert Abela said he saw no reason to dismiss the affordable housing minister after reviewing information provided to him by Galdes concerning his source of funds.
Galdes has been embroiled in controversy over a string of property acquisitions, some of them from contractors providing services to his ministry. Former MP Jason Azzopardi has lodged a criminal complaint calling for an investigation into Galdes' “unexplained wealth”.
In a statement, the PN said, “If Abela is satisfied with Galdes’ explanation, the Maltese people certainly are not”.
“Especially not the young people who are trying to become homeowners but cannot find the deals and bargains secured by the minister for affordable housing – who is now also under police investigation”, the party said.
“The Prime Minister seems to believe that if he is satisfied, then everyone else must be satisfied too”.
The PN listed the recent controversies surrounding Galdes, which began when former Malita Investments chairwoman Marlene Mizzi accused the minister of “hobnobbing” with contractors that the company had engaged.
Days later, Times of Malta revealed that Galdes had bought a duplex penthouse in Victoria, including a garage, airspace and rooftop jacuzzi for €140,000 from Joseph Portelli’s Excel Investments.
The same year the promise of sale was signed, the Housing Authority, falling under Galdes, awarded a multi-million-euro housing contract to Portelli.
And on Sunday, it emerged that Galdes had bartered a Xagħra apartment for a plot of land in Għarb that was being bought by property magnates Joseph Portelli, Mark Agius and Daniel Refalo.
“Despite all that has emerged, the prime minister sees nothing wrong with the string of scandals emerging about a key member of his Cabinet,” the PN said.
“He has chosen to continue defending Roderick Galdes and to take him at his word, claiming that Galdes 'provided all the explanations he needed to decide that no action is required’”, the statement read.
“Meanwhile, Robert Abela appears – contrary to media reports – to be equally convinced that not a single MP within his parliamentary group feels uncomfortable about the deals and bargains secured by Roderick Galdes.”
“While Abela may be convinced about Roderick Galdes, the Maltese people certainly are not. Especially the thousands of young people who are trying to become homeowners, yet cannot find the kind of favourable deals that Roderick Galdes managed to secure.”