Ray Bezzina (inset, right) denies he conspired during a meeting with an unnamed “fat cat” to torpedo the candidature of Albert Buttigieg (inset, left)
A probe into claims a PN official sought to scupper a candidate’s election hopes at the behest of a “fat cat” has recommended the party adopts a revolving door policy and protection for whistleblowers.
The recommendations by the party’s ethics commission, headed by Joseph Pirotta, came in light of claims that former party official Ray Bezzina conspired during a meeting with an unnamed “fat cat” to torpedo Albert Buttigieg’s candidature.
Buttigieg, who is the mayor of St Julian’s, claimed that he was sidelined during the March election campaign, possibly because of this “fat cat” meeting.
Sources familiar with the probe’s findings confirmed that Buttigieg presented an affidavit about the claims but declined to name the Nationalist official, understood to be Bezzina, or the “fat cat”.
Bezzina vehemently denied the claims. PN leader Bernard Grech and secretary general Michael Piccinino also denied there was any plot to sideline a particular candidate.
Piccinino confirmed to the commission that certain candidates were given more exposure than others as a result of the PN’s election strategy.
The commission noted that while Buttigieg had hardly any exposure during the campaign, there was no evidence to suggest this was done purposely to sideline him....
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