Sunday, 21st September 2008
'I was an idiot' over VAT issue - Lino Spiteri
Former minister Lino Spiteri says he was "an idiot" for not having resigned at once in 1994 when Alfred Sant decided, without consulting anybody, to commit Labour to replace VAT once it was returned to power.
Mr Spiteri, who was shadow finance minister at the time, tells The Sunday Times in a frank interview (see pages 10,11) that he learnt of Dr Sant's decision from friends over dinner.
"It was news to me. I felt like an idiot. On the morrow I confronted Dr Sant about it and told him: 'how could you have said something like that?' He told me: 'I know you disagree with it, I wanted to commit you'".
Mr Spiteri, who turns 70 today, reveals that he did not vote for the Labour Party in 2003 because he was in favour of EU membership. The respected politician had resigned in 1997 shortly after the party was returned to power.
The widely-respected former politician delves back to the past and speaks of the way he was physically threatened by an unnamed minister in the Socialist Cabinet of the 1980s and says he had recommended to Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici to replace three ministers, as violent elements swept the party.
Mr Spiteri says he has turned down Joseph Muscat's request to return to the MLP, saying his days in politics are over.
"I won't be a returning trophy. It's up to the former ministers to move forward in the way they think best. I don't happen to agree with that - you don't go in front of the camera with all that embracing and emotion. That's not politics, that's theatre."
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Sorry to try and contact you trough this comments page but I have not found another way of doing so. I would like to purchase the book Lino Spiteri Memoires and I have not found it in bookshops anywhere. Could you kindly let me know how I can obtain a copy please? I would need it rather urgently.
Many thanks.
In those 22 months the Labour party had started certain initiatives that today the PN is trying to obtain their merit. One famous example of such shameless attitude from the PN are the cruise liners' issue started by a Sant government. Noone can deny that there were certain disputes in the MLP. Unfortunately, pn ones are still going on.
For you, the pn does everything perfect with nothing to criticise about. And try to understand that if any labourite behaves himself in your way, I would be speaking the same at this moment.
Your classmate at the old Lyceum
But it seems that Mr. Lino Spiteri want to act at back stage by writing the way he did today. I think at the moment he is enjoying being praised from those that in the past wanted crucifies him.
I'd love to see him our next President - he has all the qualities to be one.
Dear Sir, honest politicians are an extremely rare breed
Nowadays I wouldn't even consider a vote for them. These people will never change.
Lino's episode decribes vividly how Alfred Sant's brain works and his attitude towards those who were supposed to be part of his 'team'. He did not face Lino but made a decision which clearly fell within Mr. Spiteri's file for the latter to find out from friends during dinner!
How can the public ever trust elements within the party who insist in continuing a cloak and dagger operation very much like that of twenty or thirty years ago?
As Lino stated, supporting some MLP elements is idiotic.
From what I read is that the decision to remove the VAT was taken unilaterally by Alfred Sant without consulting anybody in the MLP. Lino Spiteri, who then was the Shadow MInister for the Finace Department only found out through a third party. Lino Spiteri clearly states that he regrets the fact that he didn't resign then which menas prior to the Election.
I think the underlining issue here is the way the decision was taken by Alfred Sant to remove the VAT. Clearly, Alfred Sant show lots of co towrds his own Shadow Minister responsible for Finance and others withen the MLP by not consulting with them.
History repeated itself with Dr. Muscat and the EU/ EUROZONE/ etc.. he remained in the party when Dr. Sant was doing crazy things like not accepting the referendum clear outcome. Now Dr. Muscat is leader of the oppostion. It was obviously easy to get voted in as party leader. But when he faces Malta (not just labour) to take the helm of Malta how am I convinced that he can take the correct decsions when, when it counted he took the wrong (he thought popular) ones ? He knew throught polls and referendum what people wanted, but he chose the party, Dr. Sant, his God, over Malta ! He sold his soul for labour. How will Malta vote with that hindsight when Dr, Muscat starts imploring.
You have now admitted this yourself.
No wonder the MLP lost the election with columnists like these in the party.