Josie Muscat says AN's vision led him to stay on
Azzjoni Nazzjonali leader Josie Muscat said today that he had decided to stay on as party leader because he strongly believed in its role to end Malta’s political dichotomy and give the citizen a louder voice.
Speaking at a press conference, he explained that after the general elections he told the media he would not retain the post because he felt he failed to achieve the desired results for the party.
However, after having reflected on AN's aims and in view of the support he had been given, be decided to stay on.
Azzjoni Nazzjonali, he said, wanted a stronger voice for the people, a President elected by the people, a smaller parliament and fewer ministers, regional rather than local councils that were not based on politics, and a better law on referenda. While Ireland had consulted its people over the Lisbon treaty, Malta decided this issue, that would impact on its s sovereignty, in one parliamentary sitting.
He said AN was convinced that there was need to change the mentality that the government was the “big daddy” who was there to solve all problems, take all decisions and decide how to spend people’s money and citizens were to be given more responsibility.
During the elections AN has also addressed the issue of illegal immigration and the dangers it posed to a small country like Malta. Recent interviews with the Commissioner for Refugees Mario Friggieri and with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who spoke about the issue, reinforced AN’s concerns. Therefore AN’s visions were on the right track and this, coupled with the support of those people who backed up and believed in the party made him realise that AN had an important role to play, Dr Muscat said.
Dr Muscat said AN was now in the process of drawing up a new strategy based on political accountability, leadership that encouraged the people to take action rather than impose it, and on a country that operated because the people worked with the government and not merely obeyed it.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
Updated: Shot migrant in critical...
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Yana Mintoff: Family speaking to...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
5 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
F. Camilleri
Jun 15th 2008, 01:22
@ M. Mercieca
Your 'six commandments' are self-contradictory; not to say anything about your awful basic English grammar!!
You either must be pathetically naive, blind to the realities facing the Maltese society today, or brainwashed by those who ‘rush in where angels fear to thread.’
Note that the issue here is illegal immigration and not immigration.
Those who see the bizarre realities facing our country are coming into the open. They may not answer your pathetic dictatorial comments. Definitely, they do not disappear when contested by serious well-researched comments.
History shows that the Maltese always came to the fore when necessity to defend their liberty was threatened; and History tends to repeat itself, in spite of the presence of traitors disguised as saintly ‘do gooders.’
Note also that the issue of illegal immigration is serious both re is consequences and its solutions. Taking a 'quick look' at this probem as you suggest is irresponsible
Your reference regarding the fate of those including myself who do not agree with you, namely that ‘we will be flushed into drainage’ is rather childish and short sighted.
We must all unite to openly defend our own country for ourselves and the generations to come.
mark Tanti
Jun 14th 2008, 22:32
Josie Muscat should be awarded the Tapiro D'oro twice. One for his success in the last General Election and the second for his U turn.
M.Mercieca
Jun 14th 2008, 20:39
A QUICK LOOK AT ANI- IMMIGRANTS PARTIES.
1. ALL ANTI IMMIGRANTS PARTIES would dodge to give an answer on how to solve any issue including immigrant’s issue.
2. ALL ANTI IMMIGRANTS PARTIES claims to be patriots
3. ALL ANTI IMMIGRANTS PARTIES use same technique and sentences: Immigrant will change our culture - Invasion - Harm our kid’s future - Taking tax payers money - Terrorists etc.
4. ALL ANTI IMMIGRANTS PARTIES would blow any issue out of proportion just to scaremonger, increase racism and xenophobia
5. ALL ANTI IMMIGRANTS PARTIES talks volumes, do almost nothing
6. All ANTI IMMIGRANTS parties will eventually disappear and when contested, they will be flushed into drainage, similar to what happened in Malta.
Joe Tabone-Adami
Jun 14th 2008, 15:34
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. So would that of the 'vision'.
How many decided to taste AN's 'vision' on March 8, 2008? Numbers, please!
azzopardi e
Jun 14th 2008, 13:41
So who cares that you are a great leader of so few. You can wake us up in 5 years time.Snooze