A magisterial inquiry has been opened into the alleged irregular use of European Parliament funds connected to Alex Agius Saliba’s office, with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office involved in the investigation. Alex Agius Saliba is accusing the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, of framing him.
There has been no official communication about this investigation so far; however, Times of Malta has released some details. What the press has published so far is that the investigation concerns a 2020 contract awarded by Alex Agius Saliba’s office to Red Agency Limited, a company then co-owned by Rodrick Zerafa and Darryl Farrugia, for marketing and “communication services” (propaganda).
The contract was worth approximately €64,000 over one year and eight months, with Red Agency receiving around €3,400 per month. Under European Parliament procurement rules, contracts exceeding €60,000 require quotations from at least three separate providers. Red Agency was selected from three quotations submitted by Red Agency, Halo and Montage. Investigators are reportedly examining whether some of these quotations originated from the same source because two were allegedly generated using the same unusual accounting software, while descriptions of the services were also identical. Alex Agius Saliba denies any wrongdoing and says all the services paid for were actually provided.
The company is also run by Labour Party activists. Rodrick Zerafa has a long history of Labour Party activism, having been active in the Labour Youth Forum alongside Alex Agius Saliba, and was also a Labour Party candidate in the 2026 election. Darryl Farrugia describes himself as a government adviser. At face value, the contract therefore seems to be an award to individuals within the same political party circles.
The use of European Parliament funds to grease political parties has been long and extensive throughout Europe, and not just in Malta. Alex Agius Saliba feels that he is being singled out by his political rival, the European Parliament President. He claims that the anonymous complaint which triggered the investigation originated from President Metsola’s office. President Metsola’s office has categorically denied this allegation.
Alex Agius Saliba says that the European Parliament President has also employed long-time activists of the Nationalist Party, such as Gordon Pisani. Gordon Pisani is currently listed by the European Parliament as one of Metsola’s local assistants and previously served as the Nationalist Party’s information director.
Alex Agius Saliba, however, is incorrect in his comparison because there is a difference between employing trusted individuals with similar political convictions and using European Parliament funding to, at face value, ingratiate your home political party.
I am not accusing Alex Agius Saliba of any wrongdoing. I am simply stating the facts and putting them into context. I have no sympathies towards Alex Agius Saliba. He is an opportunistic grifter and a political parasite who has defended the worst elements in Maltese politics. His views on foreign policy as far-right, and he is genuinely conservative on women’s rights. On the other hand, we will not rush to conclusions about the ongoing investigation.
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