A Maltese court has dismissed a case against former economy minister Chris Cardona, effectively halting a magisterial inquiry into allegations made by former MEP Marlene Mizzi. The court ruled that the case was barred by the statute of limitations, as the alleged incidents occurred in 2013 and 2014, exceeding the two-year prescription period for private criminal complaints.
The inquiry was initiated based on Mizzi's claims that Cardona had used his position to pressure her into withdrawing from the 2013 European Parliament election race. She alleged this was done to favor another candidate, Cyrus Engerer. The court's decision on prescription means the underlying merits of these allegations were not examined.
Chris Cardona, who resigned from cabinet in 2020, has consistently denied the allegations. The court's ruling brings a legal conclusion to this specific case, though it does not adjudicate on the truth of the claims themselves. The case highlights the procedural timelines that can limit judicial review of historical political allegations.
