Francine Farrugia resigns from 'all' roles within PN
Former Siġġiewi councillor is charged with embezzling €2.3 million from MCAST
Updated 7.13pm
Francine Farrugia on Thursday “resigned from all roles” within the Nationalist Party after she was charged in court with embezzling millions of euro from MCAST.
A brief statement issued by the PN said that “following the court developments related to the case of Francine Farrugia which took place earlier today, the PN contacted her legal counsel and was informed that Farrugia has resigned from all roles within the Partit Nazzjonalista, as well as from her position as local councillor in the Siġġiewi Local Council.”
Farrugia, 31, was a councillor in Siġġiewi and unsuccessfully represented the PN in the 2022 general election.
She stands accused of fraud and embezzlement of €2.3 million from MCAST, where she took care of payroll.
The PN added that it “demands the highest standards from its representatives”.
Education minister Clifton Grima has reacted with "anger" and "disappointment" at the news, adding MCAST will "continue to safeguard the principles of good governance, accountability, and transparency".
In a statement on Thursday evening, the Labour Party criticised the PN's due diligence process in the wake of the arraignment of the former PN councillor.
"If the due diligence of the Nationalist Party leads to a person involved in alleged fraud becoming a candidate and councillor of the PN, it is understandable why the same Nationalist Party is keeping secret the names of those who are doing due diligence on the two candidates for the PN leadership," the PL said.