Moran, Micallef back Coleiro Preca
Former Labour ministers Daniel Micallef and Vincent Moran this morning endorsed Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca in the MLP leadership contest.
Both spoke at a breakfast meeting hosted by Ms Coleiro Preca for delegates and members of the MLP’s Veterans’ Section.
Dr Micallef, a former Speaker and Minister for Education and the Environment, praised Notary Coleiro Preca for her principles, particularly her honesty, but also for her role as a mother.
Dr Moran, a longer serving Minister of Health, recalled MsColeiro Preca’s work as general secretary of the Labour Party in what, he said, were difficult times. Dr Moran urged party delegates to vote wisely at the leadership election and to heed the lessons of the past.
Ms Coleiro Preca praised the Labour veterans fr their service to the party, as well as the service they continue to give the country, particularly in voluntary organisations, an area, she said, which was close to her heart.
She also underscored the need for today’s young to be told of the Labour Party’s role in the social, economic and political development of Malta, fearing that what the young knew of the past of the MLP was what they were spoon-fed by the PN.
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michael catania
May 29th 2008, 22:30
@Joe Vella your political party is a CONSERVATIVE by any other name . You have to love your country to be called a nationalist and by your own admission you willingly sell the country assets to any foreign bidder,As for privitisation I have another name and thats prostitution of our country's assets. After all MONEY is the god of conservatism. As to left or right leaning you have not given any examples , as usual the conservatives try to bluff the ignorants with fine words but no substance.
Joe Vella
May 29th 2008, 20:50
@ Michael Catania
On the issue of privitization I have the following to say. 1) Governments should not be in the business to run business. The private sector does a better job at that. 2) If it is foreign capital that is buying these enterprises it is a good omen. It only reconfirm to me that all is not gloom and doom as Alfred Sant and the MLP are preaching to be. It only confirms that in Malta we have stability that the investors are confident to invest. My friend capital only goes where stability and the infrastructure is to be found.
I am glad that you mentioned that mostly it is foreighn capital that is being invested in Malta, because that is a certificate that Malta economicily is a vital place to do business indeed.
I trust, with this post and the previous post, I have answeared your querries.
Joe Vella
May 29th 2008, 20:38
@ Michael Catania
First you cannot compare the two issues together that you referred to.
Secondly, you cannot call the PN as a conservative Party in as much as you can call the MLP a Socialist Party. If one look at both parties one will see that the PN is more to the left of the political spectrum on certain issues than the MLP; on the other hand you will find that the MLP is more to the right of the political spectrum that the PN. Refferring to the PN as Conservatives is not going to win you any browny points.
I take issue with Martin Shulz endorsement of Joseph Muscat for two reasons.
1) because Ethics dictates that as head of an International organization of which the MLP is affiliated with he should not take sides, After all all five are members of the MLP.
2) I believe that the internal affairs of a political party should not be influenced by citizens of another Country. A Political Party and its' leader should be loyal only to its' members and the Country if given the mandate to govern and not be held hostage to a foreign entity sometime in the future.
JOHN SCERRI
May 29th 2008, 19:43
Quote from article..... 'what the young knew of the past of the MLP was what they were spoon-fed by the PN'.
This statement by Ms Coleiro Preca is very incorrect to say the least .
The young are already experiencing what state the MLP is in today and also wonder what would happen if MLP had won the elections. They are not stupid.
The young today learned about the past of MLP through their parents experiences, some good & some bad.
MLP did a lot of good and also did mistakes like any other party did since we had self government on these islands.
The BIG misfortune for our young and not so young generations is that NON of the two large political parties has the courage to tell the truth the WHOLE truth and nothing but the truth about their party.
The attitude is still ........ 'If its good I did it .....if it's bad the others did it'.
Stop insulting peoples' grey matter for once .
This MLP leadership election should not have taken so long to be finalized.
Now it is been reduced to a pathetic level of...... Who of the candidates will self distruct first ?
Michael Catania
May 29th 2008, 17:42
@ Joe Vella Why are you so against a foreigner nominating Joe Muscat. I thought the conservatives were bedfellows with what is foreign. After all the conservative goverment has sold almost all its Maltese enterprises (which were created by an MLP Goverment ) to foreigners.
Michael Debono
May 29th 2008, 17:07
@Mr.Sergio Vella. You are absolutely, 100% right. No interference by foreigners in Maltese politics.
Do you remember the interference of a certain Signor Flaminio Piccoli. Do you remember the interference of an Italian Radio Station in Maltese affairs? Do you remember the interference of a whole Italian Political Party in Malta’s politics and elections? I am not referring to interference by Mussolini in the 1930. That is recorded in the book of history. But I could also refer to the interference by a notorious Italian Cleric(Rotondi, if I remember ) who was brought over purposely for the purpose, or that English or Irish person who from Communist converted into a staunch Catholic who was also brought to Malta to interfere in local politics. Many other interferences subtle or overtly could be named by those who had lived that epoch
Joe Vella
May 29th 2008, 16:09
@ Maria Barbara
I agree we came a long way since the day that Malta was put under the hands of the Colonial Keeper in 1958.
A Child is not born running, it has to learn to walk first. So when commenting let's put everything in prospective and take stock.
Joe Vella
May 29th 2008, 15:35
@ Michael Catania
In terms of the Endorsements by Dr. Moran and Dr. Moran, you should direct your anger at your fellow Labourites not at the Nationalist. They are the ones rediculing Miss Coliero Preca for accepting their endoresment; after she with the other three leadership canditates, rightly so objected to the endorsemet of Joseph Muscat by that FOREIGNER by the name of Martin Schulz.
Joe Vella
May 29th 2008, 15:29
@ Ray Borg & D. Buhagaiar
Malta is still a Soverign State and the EU, and any other State for that matter, have NO say or juristiction in regards to the internal matters of any Member State.
Internal Political Matters are still within the realm of the Members' States.
@ Joe Galea
I could say the same thing about you Mr. Galea. But I come to the point.
The Principle here is that One, who have ethics, should not get involved in the internal matters of a Political Party in another Country, Period.
Ray Borg, given the Soap Opera that is unfolding infront of our eyes on a daily basis, we need saving from the MLP and its' hard core supporters as they do not know what they are doing.
michael Catania
May 29th 2008, 13:36
These consevatives are like a bad vinyl record stuck in the same groove over and over again. To them history begun in the seventies and eighties. Probably they were the "privileged few" who could not bear to see their fellow countrymen improve their lot so they come up with all sorts of excuses about how badly treated they were in those days. As I wrote in previous times maybe they should look further back to the 30's. Maybe by looking at the sins committed by their predecessors they will come to a realisation that the 70's and eighties were not so bad. Finally we come to the endorsement subject. Both Dr. Micallef and Dr. Moran are two who worked their heart out for the good of the nation and are entitled to their opinion.
They are also two gentlemen who are great credit to this island. Nothing in the conservative camp can come anywhere near their credibility and decency.
Joe Galea
May 29th 2008, 08:15
God save us all and save us from people like Joe Vella.
@Albert Gauci Cunningham, I agree with you this time.
Most of the blog posters on many articles are just anti-MLP venom-spitting machines, no matter what the case is. Why don't we comment about serious problems afflicting this country? Why for example from 20Euros Diesel we pay 9.21Euros in Govt. Taxes incl. VAT. (just a small but important point)? But what's the point mentioning these things? What matters most in this country is to eliminate any trace of existence of what has to do with MLP. PATHETIC!!!!
Maria Barbara
May 29th 2008, 05:13
To all of you who want to keep saying, remember the 70s and 80s? Of course we remember and how!!! Do you rememebr the poverty of early 70s? Do you remember people knocking on the door asking for alms? Do you remember people and children begging at the Valletta entrance? Or do we not? Do we remember the wages of 2 pound sterling a week for hard work in a factory?? This is early 70s you know. I know I remember all the ugly things. But I also remember, and everyone should as well, the introduction of higher wages, introduction of minimum wage,intro of children's allowance, intro of University for all, and I do say ALL . Let us not forget that we were colonised and very subservient. Now we all expect to be equal to the British, the French and all others. Why not? But remember where it all started. Coleiro Preca, Moran and Micallef were there. By the way I am not a Labourite. I am Liberal or you may call me a floater.
Frans Sammut
May 28th 2008, 19:24
Thank you, Mr Borg. Your informed reply saved me the need to answer Mr Vella who can be as pesky as they come. He cannot see reason any more than he is ready to admit evidence. Dr Daniel Micallef and myself are very good friends. I admire him a great deal. I can see no reason why he should not endorse a contender to the MLP leadership. Likewise, I cannot imagine any valid reason for Martin Schultz not to endorse any contender in the same pool.
Albert Gauci Cunningham
May 28th 2008, 17:20
Sorry but I thnink this Shultz affair is just going a bit too far......I understand (and I stand to be corrected) that the 4 contestants did not have problem with Shultz endorsing Muscat on a personal level, they are against Shultz endorsing Muscat in the name of all the PES!!!!.........so before some of you start calling Coleiro Preca a traitor too and before attacking her and those who endorsed her please, PLEASE get your facts right!!!!
..........to all Nationalists and labourites---Censu Moran and Daniel Micallef, love them or hate them, gave what they could to the country........what is it with some of you Bloggers?? Did the world start existing after 1987 or 1992?? Why do you persist in rubbishing all politicians who have a few wrinkles in their face?? The people who really got the MLP in the mess it is today are not its forefathers but those who led the MLP for these last 16 years and those who gave these leaders standing ovations!!!!!!!!!
Ray Borg
May 28th 2008, 14:26
@Joe Vella
The "foreigner" you are referring to is a European citizen just as much as all Maltese are since we became members of the EU. Check this out in the Maastrich Treaty if you are in doubt. Our five MEP's sit in the same European Parliament with the "foreigner", share the same currency and travel within the European Union without border frontiers and checks. In poche parole, Martin Schulz who came to endorse Joseph Muscat is a fellow European citizen. This is the European reality we are living but,strangley enough, this reality seems to be escaping most of the ardent PN Europhiles.
D. Buhagiar
May 28th 2008, 14:23
Joe Vella's comment gives us a lot to reflect about...are the Nationalists turning anti-European? Are the Nationalists again finding their natural place as a right-wing party?
Is Malta part of the EU? and is the Malta Labour Party part of the European Socialists Party?
The 'foreigner' argument does not fit here!!!!!!!!! Please do not forget that now we are all EU citizens!
Joe Vella
May 28th 2008, 12:58
From the post that are posted it is easy to see what is wrong with the MLP. If they cannot distinguish an endorsement from a fellow citizen to that from a Foreigner, God do help US and save us from the MLP.
Ray Borg
May 28th 2008, 11:25
On Friday May 23, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca added her signature to a letter addressed to Mr Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the Party of European Socialists after Martin Schulz came to Malta to express his backing for Joseph Muscat. Dr Michael Falzon, the author of the letter, Dr George Abela, Mr Evarist Bartolo and Dr Marie Louise Coleiro Preca told Mr Rasmussen: “We are sure you agree that it is deeply offensive, totally irregular, and highly unethical (and uncalled for), to have an official of the Party of European Socialists endorsing one particular candidate, to the detriment of the other four Party members contesting for that same post within our Party”
Speaking in Gozo last Sunday, May 25 oleiro Preca said that she did not carry endorsers around in tow. Twenty four hours later, two highly respected former Labour ministers Vincent Moran and Daniel Micallef endorsed Dr Coliero Preca during a public event in Balzan.
Could it be that she realized that there was nothing wrong in Mr Martin Schultz endorsing his European Parliament PES group colleague Joseph Muscat after all and signed the letter to Mr Rasmussen in a very hasty rush?
Joe Galea
May 28th 2008, 08:27
To all those who criticised Joe Muscat regarding the endorsement by Schultz, . If one sticks to the point either no one gets endorsed by anyone or else the candidates can be endorsed by whoever they want being local or foreigner, because ultimately it is the same thing/principle.
So even the other contestants that filed a complaint against Dr. Joe Muscat, in my opinion is pure jealousy. Coleiro Preca now is boasting to be endorsed by 2 former MLP ministers. Gorg Abela was also endorsed by a couple of figureheads. So what all this fuss?
Is all this controversy creation a manipulation by someone who wants to distort the attention from the real serious problems currently in this country? Is it a distraction from the breaking of pre-electoral promises? ...from industry, environmental, inflation, etc...problems?
Mario Borg
May 28th 2008, 08:25
@j.Mifsud
"Moran and Micallef may be gentlemen, but they still formed part of that labour government that inflicted so much terror"....give me a break and stop being so baised. Describing everything that labour stood for or did in past, and not only, as evil and bad is childish at best... stop this non-sense please
Christina Borg
May 28th 2008, 00:40
I would have expected something better from the MLP intelligentsia. What does the endorsement of Dr. Joseph Muscat by a foreigner who only knows Dr. Joseph Muscat have to do with the endorsement of Dr. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca by two fellow MLP members who know all five candidates?
Joe Vella
May 28th 2008, 00:38
@ Frans Sammut
The issue is not that of endorsment; as it has clearly been pointed out to you by a number of people. The issue is that Mr, Martin Schulz is a foreigner and as such should not interfere in the affairs of a political party in another soverign state.
J Mifsud
May 27th 2008, 21:43
@ Micheal Debono
Moran and Micallef may be gentlemen, but they still formed part of that labour government that inflicted so much terror.
Frans Sammut
May 27th 2008, 20:19
So Mrs Coleiro Preca changed her mind about endorsement of candidates to the MLP leadership. What's wrong with that? Earlier on I asked: If Mintoff why not Schultz? A deep sense of coherence prompts me to add: If Mintoff why not Daniel Micallef and Vincent Moran? It is a good sign that Mrs Coleiro Preca has changed her mind on this matter. It shows a lot of good sense. Let us have more of this return to common sense after a brief pause of confused thinking.
Michael Debono
May 27th 2008, 15:02
Mrs., Miss, for short Ms Mifsud. How old are you? Sorry, Women do not reveal their age.
Without doubt you rely on what you are fed by the media be it news papers, radio, T.V. or hearsay.
Of all former M.P.s your criticism is wrongly addressed. Two true gentlemen.How I would be elated to know personally Dr. Moran and Dr. Micallef who I only know through reputation and through my living when they were leaders within the MLP.
Don't even try to write or refer to the past that you don't know.
adrian sammut
May 27th 2008, 14:08
Wow, what a blast from the past!! Just what the doctor ordered for the MLP! 'Nibnu fuq il-passat glorjuz' as declared during the last election campaign. The report just handed to the MLP adminstration states clearly that the MLP has to accept that it is still haunted by the 80's image and must take remedial action. Enough said.
n zammit
May 27th 2008, 13:31
to mrs. j mifsud
dear friend I have lived in those days as you did,there was things to say as much as today.
remember lorry sant and the police force the most. could you explain any wrong doings about moran cause he is very much respected.I am a person who voted for both parties in the past so my feelings are of anh onest floating voter and wonder if you are I wish that you reply and do not try to poison young readers.
thanks
Mark Anthony Portelli
May 27th 2008, 13:26
I would haved liked to comment but J. Mifsud took all it needed to comment on the above article..Proset
karen grech bellotti
May 27th 2008, 13:08
As the meeting was with Labour Veterans, and they worked with Marie Louise in the past, I wouldn't have expected anything but praises. They can truly tell what she is like, a woman of courage and determination.
Walter Gatt
May 27th 2008, 13:08
If I'm not mistaken, yesterday on Smash TV Realta`, Coleiro Preca said that she doesn't need or want "parrini" and endorsers (referring to the Schulz endorsement).
C Calleja
May 27th 2008, 12:32
whats different from schultz endorsment ?
Arthur Borg
May 27th 2008, 12:21
Ghosts of Christmas past!
D. Buhagiar
May 27th 2008, 12:11
Didn’t Ms. Coleiro Preca just last week sign a letter complaining about an endorsement to another candidate?
j.mifsud
May 27th 2008, 11:50
With friends like them who needs enemies. My My, what do we have here Moran, Micallef and Coleiro Preca, too much of a reminder of the 70's and 80's.