Editing Simon Busuttil (section)

==Controversies==
Busuttil was subject to criticism on a number of direct orders that he was awarded from previous Governments under the Nationalist administration. Replies to a series of parliamentary questions revealed that a total of €49,015.56 were awarded by the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure and its entities to Europa Research and Consultancy Services Ltd, of which Opposition leader Simon Busuttil was the founding director. Additionally, contracts amounting to Lm82,144.13 between 1999 and 2004 were also awarded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Nationalist Party had said that these direct orders were related to contracts that have been awarded to his firm between 1999 and 2004 related to his services rendered in the run-up to the EU referendum.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PN says direct orders awarded to Busuttil related to EU expertise|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/37317/pn_says_direct_orders_awarded_to_busuttil_related_to_eu_expertise|access-date=2021-07-24|website=MaltaToday.com.mt|language=en}}</ref>

Additionally, Busuttil benefitted from more than €1,500,000 {{clarify|date=March 2024}} which was also confirmed by the Court of Justice, losing a libel case against Partit Laburista.{{When|date=March 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-01-25|title=Il-Qorti tikkonferma d-direct orders ta' Simon Busuttil|url=https://www.one.com.mt/news/2018/01/25/il-qorti-tikkonferma-d-direct-orders-ta-simon-busuttil/|access-date=2021-07-24|website=One News|language=en-GB}}</ref>