Konrad Mizzi scandal features today in Switzerland’s most influential newspaper
Switzerland’s most influential broadsheet newspaper, Tages Anzeiger, today carries a large article about the most significant people embroiled in the worldwide Panama Papers scandal, categorising them by country. Thanks to the highly illicit activities of its Energy Minister and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Malta finds itself included with Angola, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Brazil, Pakistan, China and Guinea. No other countries feature in the article.
There is also a graphic that is extremely embarrassing to Malta. The harm that is being done to the fragile reputation of this island, because of the corrupt activities of the Prime Minister and his closest henchmen, will soon be beyond repair. At this point, the Prime Minister can no longer pretend that he is not involved, or that his henchmen’s activities are licit.
I have asked a native speaker of German to translate the bit about Konrad Mizzi. The translation follows beneath.
THE MINISTER AND THE SHELL COMPANY
A self-confident Joseph Muscat last week appeared before government officials gathered from around the world at an anti-corruption summit in London, and promised a new openness. Malta will participate in the EU information exchange on the true owners of shell companies and also bar Maltese citizens from hiding their wealth in tax havens, the Maltese Prime Minister said.
But it was only in passing that Muscat mentioned how his own government has been thrown into questionable light through revelations in the Panama Papers. His chief of staff, Keith Schembri, had helped Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi to set up an offshore company. What exactly is behind remains unknown.
Thousands took to the streets in little Malta to protest against the government, and the Opposition tried to overthrow Muscat with a vote of no confidence in his government. After all, this is the only government of an EU country which has a minister in the (Panama Papers) revelations.
Muscat remains in office, and plays down what his political party colleagues have done. “Corruption is not only found among politicians,” the Maltese prime minister said in London. “It also affects sports and the economy, the judiciary and even international aid organisations.”
Malta’s importance as an international financial centre is confirmed by the Panama Papers database: 49 law firms in Malta make their money through setting up offshore companies. The (Panama Papers) documents alone show that they have set up more than 700 front companies.
