Live: Nationalist Party’s 1st of May mass meeting in St Julian’s

The PN is holding its 1^st of May mass meeting, commemorating Workers Day as well as the anniversary of Malta's accession to the EU.

The meeting, which will be addressed by PN Leader Simon Busuttil, is being held in Spinola Bay, St Julian's. Currently, speculation that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will call an early election is rife, and both parties have already geared up their electoral machines and are in overdrive.

Malta's embattled Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, is currently at the centre of Malta's largest scandal, alongside his Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Minister Konrad Mizzi. The Prime Minister's wife, Michelle Muscat, has been accused of being the ultimate beneficial owner of Egrant inc, a company based in Panama - an allegation that Muscat denies.

Egrant Inc is the third Panamanian company that was acquired by Nexia BT, whose managing director is Brian Tonna. He facilitated the acquisition of three Panama-based companies, Hearnville Inc, Tillgate Inc and Egrant Inc,  through the services of Mossack Fonseca. The first two belonged to Minister Konrad Mizzi and the PM's chief of staff Keith Schembri. Panama is a financially secretive jurisdiction, with the Panama Papers scandal exposing of the world's elite conceal their wealth.

Daphne Caruana Galizia alleged that one of the daughters of the Azerbaijani leader, Leyla Alijeva, transferred US$1.017 million to Egrant through an offshore company. Calls for the Prime Minister's resignation have been made, however he refuses to step down from his position. In addition, Dr Busuttil has alleged that Keith Schembri received kickbacks through Brian Tonna for citizenship sales, and the PN Leader has called for the arrest of the OPM Chief of Staff. Mr Schembri denies these allegations.

Amidst PN flags and banners, the odd Panama flag could be seen in front of the Centru Laburista club - a clear reference to the current scandal. People began arriving at around 2 pm., and PN Executive President Ann Fenech could be seen walking around the crowd.

from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2pAltEm
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