Tuesday, 8th July 2008 - 19:49CET
UPDATED: Government-Opposition agree on nomination of Auditor-General
The government and the opposition today agreed on the nomination of the Auditor-General and the Deputy Auditor General.
Informed sources said Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had nominated Anthony Mifsud as Auditor-General and Charles Deguara as his deputy.
Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat wrote to Dr Gonzi today to say that the opposition agreed with the nominations.
Mr Mifsud is Permanent Secretary at the Resources Ministry and Mr Deguara is Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs.
Dr Gonzi first proposed the names a year ago and reiterated his proposal in a letter to Dr Muscat yesterday.
Dr Muscat in his letter said the opposition also agreed with the Prime Minister on talks on reforming the Permanent Commission Against Corruption and suggested that the judiciary could also be involved in this process.
Dr Muscat said all this showed that Labour was truly determined to see a new political season in Malta.
He urged the Prime Minister to accept his request for urgent talks on proposals he had made in a letter yesterday, namely a party funding law, a law to regulate the activities of a caretaker government, resources for MPs, changes in the way the management and editorial boards of PBS are appointed, amendments to the the electoral law , justice for those whose cases were upheld by the Ombudsman and the Tribunal for the Investigation of Injustices, and a capping of government revenue on fuel duty.
Dr Muscat said the MLP was ready to discuss reforms to the electoral law mentioned by Dr Gonzi yesterday along with others such as the criteria for eligibility for a vote, which could possibly be linked to where people paid their taxes, the use of ID cards and a new definition of corrupt practices.
With the implementation of these proposals, the MLP would be ready to discuss parliamentary procedures, standing orders and the appointment of the Speaker, Dr Muscat said.
They could then pass on to other points raised by Dr Gonzi yesterday, and others he wished to raise, Dr Muscat said.
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1. June 2007: PM Gonzi writes to Hon Sant regarding appointment of Auditor General and Deputy Auditor General;
2. July 2007: PM Gonzi writes a reminder to Hon Sant about the same subject;
3. April 2008: PM Gonzi writes to Hon Sant regarding the appointment of Auditor General and Deputy Auditor General;
4. April 2008: Hon Sant asks for two months for the MLP Opposition to decide;
5. Last Monday: Dr. Joseph Muscat writes to PM Gonzi with no mention of appointment of Auditor General and Deputy Auditor General;
6. Same day: PM Gonzi writes to Dr. Joseph remind him, amongst other things, of the importance of the appointment of Auditor General and Deputy Auditor General;
7. Yesterday, Dr. Joseph from his Brussels home, agrees to PM Gonzi’s proposal of 13 months ago, which he had forgotten about in last Monday’s letter.
Oh yes, we really have to believe in you Dr. Joseph, because believe is necessary when the empirical evidence is not there.
Hallo!!!! Are you aware of the changes that took over recently in Malta? MLP is getting stronger. We are not living a year ago. We are living now and we are looking towards our future.
You are part of the new political season in Malta, so it is better to get prepared!!! You are becoming outdated dears, don't you see??? I have already noted that PN has not yet understood its concepts after and unfortunately, followers seem to actually follow too blindly, ey!! Well ... there are "unusual" and "original" ways of interpreting the greatness of Joseph Muscat. (Maybe you are still under shock with how he acted? I don't blame you) He is ACTING!!!!! He is DELIVERING!!!!! As he always did! We believe in you Joseph! Thank you for being who you are!!
Do you remember all those caricatures on Labour newspapers, and Mintoff calling Eddie a baby? The same is being done today by all those calling Joseph Muscat "boy kid", "kid" etc. Eddie, very young at that time turned the PN fortunes around and from 1977 to 1981 he made the PN the majority party in Malta.
Joseph has been leader of the MLP for 36 days and he's moving on. Is there something wrong if a year-old pending issue about constitutional nominations was resolved in 24 hours and the prime minister's nominations were accepted? This is really a new political season!
Dr. Joseph Muscat have been an integral part of the MLP leadership for the last 10 years. He was the choosen one to represent the MLP at the EU.
Can you plese remind the Genious, Dr. Joseph Muscat that Duty on Fuel is based on Volume and not Price. In plain english it means that the duty on fuel doesn't rise when fuel prices go up.
In other words it doesn't matter how much you pay for a barrel of oil. The volume doesn't change.
Early election?!?!? Dream on..............
Now 'Little Joe' has confirmed the names within 24hours from being prodded once more... So much for Joseph Muscat and his new political season!
What is pathetic is that the MLP took over a year to agree to a couple of names that the Government had proposed over a year ago.
Can you tell what is the MLP position on Pension Reforms?
Please do take a break and thank God that in Joseph Muscat Labour has found a leader who really believes in a new way of doing politics. Do not forget that Joseph Muscat was elected leader on June 5 and he is not responsible for decisions taken by Labour before that date.
Joseph Muscat is showing great leadership skills and Labour and the country as a whole should than the delegates who were inspired to cast their vote in his favour.
According to your personal Gospel, you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. Oh well ce la vie.
Did you watch the Wimbledon Final? - Great Match and the Young Gun won.
You're 100% right. JM is acting, and a real good actor at that.
It's a pity that Maltese politics is being turned into a theatrical act. Sant has blurred the fine line between the fiction of his own own books and Maltese reality, and now we have a new kid actor with continuous stage managed performances
I told you yesterday wait and see! Is now Joseph still in kindergarden? Swallow what you said!
Saliba, your comments are contradicting! Yesterday saying that Dr. Muscat is in kindergarden and he should address Gonzi proposals, and when he accepted the nomination of the Auditor-General, you are trying to 'iddur mall-lewza'.
just pathetic
Then call an early election
So we may finally have a government that is factually representative and draws credibility.
DR J.Muscat is acting not just talking he means business..........
It took the MLP a over year to agree to nominate the Auditor General and the Deputy Auditor General. The same two individuals that the Government put forward over a year ago. Very good indeed Dr. Muscat.
How long it is going to take the MLP to put forward it's view on Pension reform now.
I won't be surprised if they justify ''l-ghaggla'' ta' Gonzi in his accusations towards our great Leader.
Another one bites the dust!!!!!
KEEP IT UP JOSEPH !!
Day by Day with your new way of doing politics you are gaining the support of more and more people who lost faith in politicians and the political sphere in general ! .
Its amazing how this KID is growing BIGGER and STRONGER by the DAY .
JOSEPH...... YOUR THE MAN !!
I guess Dr Muscat gave you an answer to your accusations!!!! Shame on PN who are not only reluctant to see a new political season in Malta, but they do not even understand the meaning behind it!! It is about time you listen to Dr Muscat's vision and follow.
Well done for all this Dr Muscat ... well done!