Councillor to serve as an independent after being kicked out by Labour
St Paul's Bay councillor Charles Cassar was told by Labour that he could not represent the party because of a serious court conviction
The Labour Party told a newly elected St Paul's Bay councillor that he could not represent the party on the council because of a serious court conviction, it was revealed on Tuesday.
Charles Cassar was elected to the council on Monday, having been the sole candidate in a casual election to fill the seat vacated by former mayor Alfred Grima, who resigned earlier this month.
A day after being appointed, he informed the council secretary that he would serve as an independent councillor, giving no reason.
But PL deputy leader Alex Agius Saliba revealed late on Tuesday that minutes after Cassar's election, he had told him that he could not represent Labour as a councillor because of a court conviction after an admission. Cassar had been handed a suspended jail term.
The court case was heard in August, two months after the local council election,
Agius Saliba said Cassar was given the choice of resigning or informing the council that he was not representing Labour. He opted to serve as an independent candidate.
Grima served as mayor until June, when the PL lost its majority in Malta's most populous town. He stepped down, citing poor governance in the council.
Following the June election, the PN won seven seats out of a total of 13 seats. ADPD leader Sandra Gauci also won a seat while the PL took five seats in the council.
Cassar got the least votes from the Labour ticket, 47, but his sole nomination meant automatic appointment to the council.
With Cassar's resignation, the PL's seat count is down to four.