UPDATED: Muscat offers cooperation with government on national issues
(Adds further comments by Dr Muscat and video)
New Labour leader Joseph Muscat had an informal meeting with the Prime Minister this morning when it was agreed that issues such as parliamentary business, including pairing, will be discussed once the MLP completes the election of its deputy leaders next week.
Drs Gonzi and Muscat met after the June 7 ceremony in Valletta.
Dr Muscat told a press conference this morning that the Labour Party was prepared to cooperate with the government on national issues, such as the situation at ST Microelectronics and Malta Shipyards, as long as it was seen as an equal partner.
The new party leader said his election marked a new chapter for the MLP. People his age were fed up of a situation where politicians said one thing and did another, or nothing at all, he said. The status quo had to end.
Dr Muscat paid tribute to George Abela, his main rival in the leadership election, and said he wished to entrust him with a major project for the MLP, but did not wish to say more until he had discussed it with him. He also thanked the other leadership contenders with whom, he said, he also looked forward to working.
Dr Muscat also paid tribute to all former Labour leaders, describing Mr Mintoff as the "father of the MLP" and Dr Sant as having been the party who made the party modern and well organised.
Charles Mangion will be staying on as leader of the opposition at least until the election of the new deputy leaders next week. Dr Muscat said several MPs had offered to give up their seat in Parliament so that he could take up his place in the House.
He also said he would be working for early elections of the MLP administration.
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Mark Pisani
Jun 9th 2008, 19:01
GranpaPN hehehe - now that MLP have a young leader Gonzi became Granpa. Mary Doris, get a life
I sincerely hope that JM will do as he is saying he will - that will mean that we will have a valid alternative to PN. Unfortunately I am afraid that JM only says what ppl want to hear and will end up being a more diplomatic version of Fredu. Time will tell, time will tell
Maria Dolores Fenech
Jun 9th 2008, 13:17
@Angelo Vassallo
You have to give Dr Muscat time to reunite the party first so that he can choose well the best people to work with. After all even GranpaPN promised many things before the election, but afterwards bye bye promises!
I, supported Dr Abela during 'it-tellieqa bejn il-hbieb'. Now Dr Muscat is the new MLP leader.
I was proud to see Dr Marlene Pullicino hugging and showing Dr Muscat that she is giving him all her support. She set an excellent example.Those who have the Party's and Malta's best interest at heart should do the same.
noel spiteri
Jun 9th 2008, 04:31
I think in 5 years time its going to be like a game between Mtarfa and Milan!
George Mifsud
Jun 8th 2008, 04:12
Good on you Dr Joseph Muscat - Finally some fresh ideas from the stagnant MLP for the last 30 yrs.
Mintoff's vision in the early seventies was great and he captured the nation towards a national pride but then lost the road map towards achieving this goal. Sant lost the prevoius election from the lack of direction of not following EU membership. From this speech Dr Muscat showed the orignal values of the modern Labour Party
JOHN CASSAR
Jun 8th 2008, 03:15
A NEW MAN, A NEW TEAM , A NEW LIGHT ON THE HORIZON. FOLLOW THE BEACON TO VICTORY AND HISTORY! CONGRATULATIONS DR J.M. AND TEAM.
Edwin Formosa
Jun 7th 2008, 22:36
Thank you for showing us how wrongly MLP was behaving until recent past.
Joseph Grech-Attard
Jun 7th 2008, 22:27
Young age, yes, but more mature not only politcally, but also humanly, than any other! Joseph, The country needs you to instill ethics and morality once again in Maltese politicians, thus ending the scandalous corrupt practices and deceit present in our small nation, and being a good example to our youth, the future leaders of our little, but precious, island. Let us pray God to instil knowledge and wisdom inside you, and not just craftiness and cunningness.
Angelo Vassallo
Jun 7th 2008, 21:49
History is repeating itself. In 1992, Dr. Alfred Sant was elected Leader of the Malta Labour Party. His first speeches all had a tone of cooperation with the Nationalist Party. In those years everybody thought that Sant will give a good challenge to Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami. And indeed he did as Dr. Sant won the 1996 elections.
But we all know what Dr. Alfred Sant stood for after that. He could not hold on to government for more than 22 months. He was told that he lost his social conscience. In opposition Sant turned his party into a NO party, criticizing practically everything the Nationalist Government did.
Sixteen years later, we have exactly the same thing. In his speeches Joseph Muscat is also using the tone of cooperation with the Nationalist Party. We saw Dr. Joseph Muscat extending a cooperative hand to Dr. Lawrence Gonzi. This is what Malta needs. A cooperative opposition and than let the best party win in the next general elections.
If Dr. Joseph Muscat wants to gain credibility quickly, he also needs to get rid of all the old school that already is trying to infiltrate and be seen with him wherever he goes.
J. Stivala
Jun 7th 2008, 21:12
Dr Joseph Muscat is a breath of fresh air to local politics. I am sure that he will bring about a new dimension in political administration.
Maria Dolores Fenech
Jun 7th 2008, 21:08
Well said Dr Muscat. MLP has always been nicknamed 'il-partit tal-le', but Dr Muscat is showing good faith if the MLP is seen as equal partners.
I would suggest Dr Muscat, to appoint Dr Abela as his private consultant or head of Administration, both fields in which Dr Abela is excellent.
martin saliba
Jun 7th 2008, 20:31
@ Maria Pace.
I am sure the JM is not , as you say merely cooperating with the PM.
Although cooperation is good i am sure that the proper description would be negotiating.
eric saliba
Jun 7th 2008, 19:12
well done joseph. the key phrase here is 'equal partners'. labour is back in business....united behind the new leader.
kevin abela
Jun 7th 2008, 18:26
Congratulations to Joseph.
That`s the way to go. keep it up, we are all with you. You are making us once again proud to be labour supporters
A Daley
Jun 7th 2008, 18:14
Maria Pace (4 hours, 43 minutes ago) said, quote - Well done Joseph..you're already showing maturity by co-operating with Dr.Gonzi - unquote.
Yes dear, he is doing exactly what EFA did after he lost of the 1996 election.
Isn't that what you ment?
Gerard Mangion
Jun 7th 2008, 17:59
Joe Muscat, now that won the leadership contest, and is the new Mexxej of mlp,should be working for the stabilty in his party, that is,
1, To work with Dr Gonzi, for the good of the Country is no sin at all.
2, People want's new faces under your Administration, with new bright idea's.
3, One t.v, need not be so arrogant to criticise anybody, today people eat's from thier mouth.
to criticise someone, indiviual or any other party too, is a very good thing for us, the man in the street do not want to see only black, or only white anymore, no we want the truth on all the mlp's media. I feel this is not a very big deal for a young and energetic new mlp leader.
who know's I might come back too.
Edward Zammit
Jun 7th 2008, 17:06
Great Joseph....there is enough intelligent resources surrounding you...now it's a matter of making ends meet and bring in who has been waiting outside to contribute not just to the party but also to the nation....Lets make out MLP - the Mediterranean's Leading Party. we have an important role within Europe for the mediterranean region. Joseph...You will never walk alone...we're behind you.
MICHAEL ZAMMIT
Jun 7th 2008, 17:02
LONG LIVE JOE AND A REBORN MALTA LABOUR PARTY.
Joe Grima
Jun 7th 2008, 16:42
At long last. A Labour Leader I can identify with and be proud of. All my good wishes to all the other contenders, George Abela, Evarist Bartolo, MLColeiro Preca and Micahel Falzon.I hope that all of them will find it in their hearts to cooperate with Joseph Muscat in order to make the MLP electable , guided by Joseph's real, new style of making politics.
Detractors exist in both Parties and , sure enough, more will continue to l emerge from the woodworks, possibly to make Joseph's mission an impossible one. But this no fallguy. This guy is tough and determined. Just what the Party and the country need.
joseph scicluna
Jun 7th 2008, 16:19
to anthony a mifsud
yes. as he measured the paola and imtarfa local counsils.
Charlo Pace
Jun 7th 2008, 15:32
well done jo! you finally make me proud to be an mlp supporter after years of dark! hope you keep it up!
P.Xuereb
Jun 7th 2008, 15:12
This augurs well for the future of our country... but there's a difference between saying and doing things. Unfortunately for Joseph and for us all, it could be payback time for all those who supported him in the contest... that would mean he wouldn't be able to be his own man. After all the party machinery is still in the hands of the same few.... need I say more?
Elaine Sultana
Jun 7th 2008, 14:55
Well well well. Finally a political leader who has guts. Way to go Dr. Muscat, the perfect speech for the perfect occasion. I really hope that in you we will no longer see through blue tainted glasses or red tainted glasses, but that we will live la vie en violette [life through purple tainted glasses].
We need someone who unites this small insulated island and makes us forget that being a blue is a sure winner and being a red is always a looser. Political life in Malta needs a complete new breath. And i hope you will prove to be our hurricane of change. Good luck
T Pace
Jun 7th 2008, 14:32
At last ... this is indeed some fresh air!
To cynics, may I add: "What's wrong with genuine enthusiasm?"
There will be difficulties, but ... do persist Joe!
anthony a mifsud
Jun 7th 2008, 13:34
That a boy, Hit good and hit hard.
I just could'ent agree more with dear Joseph, this bull**** have to come to end as these so called MP have abaide with the promises they feed us before any election.
Alfred Sant was right when he measured the activity in the local councel in terms of %
Go for it Jo Boy
A.Attard
Jun 7th 2008, 13:28
good job JM!!! we need abela also ! this is the new labour! this is the winning team!
Silvan Cutajar
Jun 7th 2008, 13:27
Prosit Joseph. already you are starting to bring about change. I appeal to GA and his supporters: accept JM hand of cooperation.
Maria Pace
Jun 7th 2008, 13:25
Well done Joseph..you're already showing maturity by co-operating with Dr.Gonzi.