Claims that V18 artistic director Mario Philip Azzopardi threatened to use political connections to block artists' access to public funding ought to be investigated in the interest of good governance, the Nationalist Party said.
It said in a statement this behaviour was totally against any form of best practice in any democratic western country.
Mario Philip Azzopardi
"Mario Philip Azzopardi is the artistic director for the Valletta European Capital of Culture 2018 and is expected to show responsible behaviour at all times. Behaving as he did is unacceptable because he is seen as the ambassador of Valletta 2018 in whatever he does.
"It also goes against the ethic of what a European Capital of Culture is all about. It is becoming increasingly evident that Mario Philip Azzopardi does not have the capacity to work in a manner that is conducive to the responsibility he shoulders," the PN said.
It said that the problem was deeper than just the behaviour of Mr Azzopardi.
"It shows a corrupt foundation that is totally incompetent, irresponsible and politically controlled in a very negative way."
The foundation fired Wayne Marshall and his group of competent assistant directors for political reasons only to replace them with an unsuitable alternative based solely on political patronage and cronyism, the PN said.
"It is not surprising that persons who work in the cultural and creative sectors are furious at the lost opportunities from no artistic legacy, no vision and no sustainability, and all this at the expense of millions spent in vain from tax payers' money," the PN said.
STOP ATTACKING ARTISTS, GOVERNMENT TELLS PN
In a reply the government accused the Opposition of attacking artists by questioning the legitimacy of the financial grants. These, the government said, were given in a very transparent manner and were a clear example of good governance.
The Opposition, the government said, had not yet found the time to appoint a spokesperson for the sector following the resignation of the spokesman because of the donations he had been given by the Gaffarena family when he was minister.
Why was the Opposition attacking the foundation now that the country was being scrutinised by the European Commission because of the forthcoming European Cultural Capital, the government asked.
It called on the Opposition to stop attacking artists and the foundation at such a delicate moment and to work hand in hand with the government for the benefit of the country and its artists.