Strip Peter Mandelson of Ġieħ ir-Repubblika: Momentum
Lord Mandelson appeared in the latest release of files by the US Department of Justice on Friday
Momentum on Wednesday urged the local authorities to strip former UK MP Peter Mandelson of his Ġieħ ir-Repubblika following revelations linking him to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson appeared in the largest release of files by the US Department of Justice on Friday. Documents suggest Epstein made £55,000 in payments to Lord Mandelson in three separate $25,000 transactions in 2003 and 2004.
Earlier this week, he gave up his Labour Party membership.
The UK police have meanwhile launched an investigation over allegations of his misconduct in public office, while the European Commission is also looking into his tenure as a trade commissioner between 2004 and 2008.
Momentum claimed in a statement that, in 2016, "with the intention to curry favour with EU leaders", former prime minister Joseph Muscat bestowed Ġieħ ir- Repubblika on Mandelson.
"Now that we know what backroom deals Mandelson was involved in, Momentum shall be writing to the Ġieħ ir-Repubblika committee to strip Mandelson of the honour which Joseph Muscat had decided to bestow upon him.
"Malta must exercise significantly greater due diligence when conferring state honours to ensure recipients are of unimpeachable character."