Ariadne Massa
Stepping down for Muscat is tough - Cuschieri
Labour MP Joseph Cuschieri yesterday said he had taken the "tough" decision to step down from Parliament to make way for leader Joseph Muscat because of his "love and loyalty" towards the party.
"Let us forget our ambitions and personal glorifications and work together... Our country needs a Labour Party in government," Mr Cuschieri said during his official announcement last night.
Since Dr Muscat announced that he will be stepping down as MEP to take his position as Opposition leader in Parliament, there was much speculation over who would step down - though Mr Cuschieri was long considered the most likely.
The House Business Committee on Thursday announced that Dr Muscat will be co-opted to Parliament on October 1, and that a Labour MP elected in a casual election will announce his resignation to vacate his seat.
Mr Cuschieri wrote to Dr Muscat to announce he will be resigning on September 29, when the House meets again after summer recess.
Saying he believed in his leader's vision, Mr Cuschieri stressed that this move did not mean he would be retiring from the political scene. On the contrary, he assured constituents he would be working in their interests.
"This is simply a necessary pause in the party's and country's interests," he said.
Dr Muscat replied with another letter yesterday accepting this "extraordinary and generous decision", and marked this gesture by last night jointly addressing a party celebration at the Montekristo Wine Vaults, Luqa.
"(Mr Cuschieri's) decision is a sign of absolute loyalty towards our ideal. It shows the ideal is bigger than the person," he said, taking the opportunity of Independence Day celebrations to criticise Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi for a "double-faced leadership".
He highlighted how Dr Gonzi said one thing before the election, but did another once he was voted into power, referring to the shipyards, and the explosion in the cost of living, among others.
He also called on the government to remain strong in its stand to refuse the deal on the new EU immigration pact if there was no clear reference to burden sharing.
"We have to be strong with the politicians and not the desperate immigrants. If Malta is not given the necessary resources and the system is not equipped to deal with this emergency, the government should not agree to the new regulations," he said.
However, on his own party he said: "We are showing progressives and moderates in Malta that we have clear ideas and are prepared to take a stand. We are capable of being the foundation on which a new movement can be built."
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V Fenech
Sep 22nd 2008, 00:16
@ Joseph Schembri
Please note that the picture showing Muscat and Caqnu you mentioned is edited! I think there is no need for all this fuss; the venue is appropriate for such events. The fact that Labour often criticised Polidano have nothing to do with the place. As long as the relationship between the MLP and Polidano Group is kept as something functional, one does not need to worry. Or do you think that Labour should launch a consultation process regarding the ideal choice of a venue????
Remember that such areas are usually owned by business people like Mr.Polidano.
Joe Vella
Sep 21st 2008, 22:41
@ Jeremy J. Camilleri
Charles Camilleri point is not a question whether the MLP is democratic or undemocratic.
It is a question of judgement and hindsight. I think Cahrles Camilleri last sentence says it all.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 21st 2008, 20:20
If the Labour party had not accepted EU membership, Charles Camilleri would be harping about how undemocratic Labour is.
People like him can never be taken seriously.
Joseph Schembri
Sep 21st 2008, 20:09
No one seems to have noticed that the 'celebration' by the labour leader was held on the estate of a businessman associated with PN who has been in the past repeatedly lambasted by the MLP (rightly so most of the time). He has ruined large parts of Malta and wanted to ruin more. I find it very confusing that Joseph Muscat chose this venue. There is even a picture of this guy with the MLP leader in one of today's papers. Sorry Joseph but my respect for you has gone down a notch!
@victor fiorini: How right you are about the other politician you mention. To my mind he is everything that is abhorrent and slimy in a politician. Had he resigned instead of Cuschieri it would have been a very good plus for the MLP in the eyes of intelligent people.
Franco Farrugia
Sep 21st 2008, 18:17
@ Charles Camilleri - What do you expect? That the MLP does not field its own candidates for the EP? Is that what you deem as democracy?!!!!!
l Galea
Sep 21st 2008, 16:54
"We have to be strong with the politicians and not the desperate immigrants. If Malta is not given the necessary resources and the system is not equipped to deal with this emergency, the government should not agree to the new regulations," he said.
The only resources that we need is the determination of politicians to repatriate ALL illegal immigrants.
We Maltese citizens do not want them here, we do not want them to integrate with us and we want to see the last of them leave once and for all.
All those who do not respect the Maltese citizens wishes will get their answer at election time.
We shall only vote for the party that declares that it will expel all illegal immigrants within one week of coming to power.
The other parties can forget about our votes.
You are disregarding us now, we shall disregard you at elections time.
Charles Camilleri
Sep 21st 2008, 16:10
Joseph you and yr party did your maximum to keep Malta out of the EU. But you were one of the first to taste the fruits of our entry into the EU by being an MEP. Is that not double face action ? Where is your consistency? Now you are for EU. Better late than never. Hope that you do not make similar mistakes in future.
Victor Fiorini
Sep 21st 2008, 11:20
Don't know too much about Mr Cuschieri, so I will refrain from commenting about him. It is, however, a pity that it wasn't Adrian Vassallo who stepped down... maybe he's waiting for the MLP to take a pro-divorce stand and switch to AN?
Joe Vella
Sep 21st 2008, 11:11
@ Franco Farrugia
Lino Spiteri reffered to the tears and hugs as theatrical not politics.
Franco Farrugia
Sep 21st 2008, 09:59
Fanfares, fanfares!!!
Come on. After all, Cuschieri WAS elected through a bye-election, so it's not as if the seat was actually his.
Actually, I am surprised at the choice. There were others, who in my opinion have by far served their time in Parliament, who should have stood up and offered THEIR seat.
Oh well, it seems that tears and hugs in public and in the media count for nothing, in certain contexts!