Herman Grech
'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."
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Petrol price up 6c
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
16 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Cynthia Genovese
Dec 15th 2008, 14:17
Dear Lino,
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.
V Fenech
Sep 25th 2008, 18:57
@ J Martinelli
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.
Carmel Fenech
Sep 24th 2008, 11:52
First of all, Hppy B irthday, I think you deserve it, but at that time, you were not an idiot. I think you were gravely irresponsible. I'm sorry if I offended you by writing open like you do, My advice is to let the MLP working for a better Government please, you know what I mean. Your fellow workers who voted you in Parliament deserve better.
ernest xauson
Sep 22nd 2008, 20:12
Happy Birthday Lino
Your classmate at the old Lyceum
Andrew Cumbo
Sep 21st 2008, 22:12
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."
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.
apgrech
Sep 21st 2008, 19:58
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINO. Lino deserves to be thanked for what he did for Malta. His intelligence and prudence mixed with a high dosage of intelligence made him the man he is.
I'd love to see him our next President - he has all the qualities to be one.
l Galea
Sep 21st 2008, 16:32
@Tom McCarthy
Dear Sir, honest politicians are an extremely rare breed
P Debono
Sep 21st 2008, 13:57
Agree with what Lino Spiteri is saying yet again. If only respected persons like him and George Abela stayed with the party (one of them being leader) then I would definitely have voted for Labour.
Nowadays I wouldn't even consider a vote for them. These people will never change.
J Martinelli
Sep 21st 2008, 13:08
Joseph Duca correctly states that everyone knew that the MLP (particularly Sant) was against VAT. However, as still is happening today, the MLP will tell you that it is against this or that, or that they will do things better, or that they will spend millions here and there but they will not tell you HOW and WHERE the money will be coming from. They do not have the guts to admit that their ways always end up with more taxes and less jobs. So, CET replaced VAT which proved to be a complicated flop and the author of all this later admitted that VAT was a fairer and better tax !
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.
Joe Vella
Sep 21st 2008, 12:57
@ Joseph Manduca
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.
Luis Gatt
Sep 21st 2008, 12:48
Some people like to get publicity in front of a camera while others prefer to get their share from newspapers' articles.
A.Dalli
Sep 21st 2008, 10:42
Why is everyone so intelligent with the benefit of hindsight ? Yes you weren't so shrewd by not leaving when the CET issues surfaced. CET was a joke, when it came into effect, prices went up, people didn't know how it worked (not even Dr. Sant and Mr. Spiteri knew). There were different tax levels depending if you were a wholesaler or retailer. the problem was when you were both ! It was crazy.
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.
Joseph Camilleri
Sep 21st 2008, 10:24
Joseph Duca seems to know more about Lino Spiteri than Lino Spiteri himself... amazing the extent some people go to defend their beloved party.
l Galea
Sep 21st 2008, 10:14
Congratulations Lino.
You have now admitted this yourself.
No wonder the MLP lost the election with columnists like these in the party.
joseph duca
Sep 21st 2008, 10:01
It seems that Lino Spiteri was the only person in Malta that did`nt know that the MLP was against VAT. It was made clear before the election that once the MLP is in power , the VAT will be replaced. Nothing was said or stated behind his back. If he was`nt against the introduction of VAT, he should have resigned from the party before the election.
Joseph Agius
Sep 21st 2008, 09:52
Would we eventually hear Joseph Muscat say he 'was an idiot' over the Europe issue?