Bartolo initially refused to step down but eventually resigned after the Times of Malta revealed that the police had received a report of a suspected €50,000 kickback that Muscat received over a six-month period in 2023.

She received this money from a private firm related to a Malta Tourism Authority contract.

Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri was also found to have breached ethics by the Standards Commissioner’s investigation.

As a result, the committee ruled that he was to apologise over this scandal.

The parliamentary Standards Committee asked Bartolo to make a formal apology in parliament and refund the excess money given to his wife.

So yesterday, he delivered a speech in parliament which heavily focussed on his achievements as tourism minister, specifically noting the successful recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scandal was not directly mentioned during his speech but he pointed out a former statement pledging to follow all of the committee’s decisions, including delivering a sincere apology.

He went on to criticise the Opposition Party’s reaction to the scandal, highlighting that the Standards Commissioner’s report did not use the phrase “phantom job” or word “fraud”.

Bartolo concluded his apology by listing several scandals associated with PN administrations, condemned personal attacks on himself and his family, and pointed out that the PN was initially opposed the appointment of the Standards Commissioner.

Do you think his apologies and statements have been sufficient?