Update 3: Muscat does not take part in OPM Budget debate

MICHAEL CATANIA

Dec 4th 2009, 12:21

I am beginning to believe that according to the conservatives the world begun with the coming of EFA. How conveniently their memory is so short .
IF the conservaitves want a history lesson about their party they need to look no further to the newsreel of when Musollini declared war on France and the UK (Malta) AND SEE WHO WAS CARRYING the Maltese banner and how the announcement was greeted. The newsreel was shown on the Geographical GHN.

Anthony Castillo

Nov 28th 2009, 15:40

@ Muscat Pat. It looks like you either you live in the MOON or you'r too young to remember becaose when you start meditate the differnce of what happened to the Maltese people and the Maltese islands you should see that thier is no comparison between the MLP and the PN in government. In the last 25 years because if you don't know thats how much we've been in power(qourter of a century) the country was changed from a Third World Country to a Well Sivilized, Prospective and well Economical and with a Bright Future in the EU. A very BIG THANKYOU goes to a very great Maltese very WISE and GREAT POLITICIAN EDDIE FENECH ADAMI and with a continuation of another GREAT POLITICIAN something that the PN always produse Dr LAWRENCE GONZI.

Muscat. Pat

Nov 27th 2009, 19:17

It is not by words that we count the success of Parliamentarians, because otherwise, Gonzi would have already solved-(on his own)- Malta's problems! We always see him talking and preaching on TV: but where is the beef?

Joe E Galea

Nov 27th 2009, 15:05

This useless news just show that the budget had no real substance.

Mary Ann Borg

Nov 27th 2009, 14:48

Maryanne Zarb wrote: 'I mean for crying out loud trying to use this non-issue to discredit Muscat will only add to his popularity...mark my words!!' Yeah sure, I'm sure we all marked your words when you were sure Labour was going to win the last general election with Alfred Sant as leader.
Inhobbkom Joseph seems to be having huge difficulties with his diary because he either doesn't turn up for meetings, or he's late. Yesterday's totally unacceptable delay in meeting the King of Spain speaks volume of the man. Perhaps he was tucked in some corner eating his favourite burger again? The leader of Malta's opposition party portrayed Malta in very bad light with his delay in meeting the highest representative of the kingdom of Spain.
I have my own opinion of people who are repeatedly late for meetings, none of them are good.

Carmen Galea

Nov 27th 2009, 14:28

@ Victor Laiviera & K. Tanti - kieku fehmtu sew x'ridt nghid ma kontux tippruvaw taghmluha ta' teachers mieghi. Ergghu aqraw dak li ktibt li fi kliem iehor kien iffisser hekk. TANT KIENET GENWINA L-LEGALITA' TA DIK IR-REBHA etc etc. Mela jiena QATT ma ddikjarajt li dik ir-rebha kienet ILLEGALI. Issa nixtieq nistaqsi lilek Victor, bhala Laburist veteran u li tant thobb il-partit tieghek : DAK IN-NHAR, INT KONT KOMDU BIL-PARTIT TIEGHEK FIL-GVERN ? Naccetta kull risposta, pero' nitolbok tkun sincier. Grazzi

C. camilleri

Nov 27th 2009, 13:28

Rise in unemployment
Rise in deficit
Less tourist visiting Malta
Less tourist visiting Malta by cruise liners
Dark cloud on the power station tender ( which the government do not want to discuss in parliament )
Power station failures
higher water - electricity-gas tariffs
Refusal to eliminate the prescription on Parliamentary deputies
Shortage of medicine and over inflated prices. etc.etc.

Yet, what's bothering the pn apologists is JM giving space to his elected party deputies to discuss the budget.

Always the same old tactics when they are against the ropes.

Adrian Archer

Nov 27th 2009, 10:25

Well Dr. Muscat can be quite disrespectful at times (being late at King Carlos' meeting is an example), however I think that we need to change practices regarding the budget. Why does it take for the parliament weeks on end to comment on the budget? Why does parliament halt to speeches that actually amount to little less than nothing?

Mind you the important decisions are always left out of the budget. In England, the Prime Minister gives out the budget speech, a reply is given by the opposition and the PM replies back all in the same day. Parliament is there to change and improve legislation not to go into endless debates that mean nothing to the people.

Now this can either be interpreted as arrogance or as a showing that budget speeches are useless or both.

Roderick Bajada

Nov 27th 2009, 09:48

It's funny or sad (?) how the PN supporters condemn the PL leader for not speaking, and excuse the PN Government for too much speech and no action!

Mario Bonnici

Nov 27th 2009, 09:06

@M.Camilleri
ARROGANCE at it's best??!!
Are you sure you're talking about Dr.Muscat or maybe about the Nationalist Government??

@all PN bloggers
It's better if you worry about the much more serous scandals that have hit our country during these last months...

p.grima

Nov 27th 2009, 00:51

@-Charles J. Buttigieg-

"I support Labour because the PL thinks this way, logically not traditionally."

Yeah, great, now go tell that to Iceland now.

M. Camilleri

Nov 26th 2009, 17:32

This school-boy politician has no respect whatsoever. His supporters might interpret htis as being showing trust in the other PL memebers of Parlaiment by delegating them to speak on his behalf. Well, he could have been present just the same and he could have delegated them to speak on his behalf in his presence. The core of the argument here is that he shows arrogance towards the office he one day hopes to hold. He thinks that because he is still a young politician, the world goes around him. Arrognace at its best. Pity there are people who still believe in his political gimmicks.

Joseph Scicluna

Nov 26th 2009, 14:36

so he did it again! running as .... from his responsabilities.

first he ran away and hid from the icelandic repporter.

then he shied away from the press questions.

after that he did not confront Gonzi on the budget.

now this.

.

joanna farrugia

Nov 26th 2009, 11:50

to all blue eyed in here what you accept from joseph?how many times gonzipn was rude towards the opposition? pointing fingers is not worth it.arrogance and incompetence gov we have and all this article is another farcade to save gonzi face.why doesnt the times try to publish the new tarrifs instead of all this? and you all blue eyed ppl instead of trying to blame pl for everything why dont your gonzipn start cleaning the mess from his cabinet?no one mentioned nothing but miskin gonzi jos kissirlu qalbu :)

K. Tanti

Nov 26th 2009, 11:31

@ Carmen Galea
Dazgur li kienet rebha legali. Jekk hux fair jew le dak argument iehor. Infakkrek li kieku ma kinux ftit voti, fl-1971 kienet tigri l-istess haga bil-PN kien johrog rebbieh. Imma dakinhar ma qaghdtux tghidu li l-MLP kellu maggoranza tajba, izda ntalbu recounts. Bilhaqq dak iz-zmien id-distretti lanqas kienu kollha bl-istess ammont ta' deputati

M.Bonaci

Nov 26th 2009, 10:55

He truly believes in his Parlament members not like others.

Marianne Zarb

Nov 26th 2009, 10:53

This morning ,wherever you go, everyone is speaking about this horrendous act by this "superficial" Leader!! Grocers, banks, buthcers, bakers, schools, buses, church parvises, homes are all buzzing in one collective voice of condemnation and shock at how Joseph fled from parliament because he was afraid of facing the Emperor, the one who is always right, the strong pair of hands on the rudder!!!

I mean for crying out loud trying to use this non-issue to discredit Muscat will only add to his popularity...mark my words!!

Muscat. Pat

Nov 26th 2009, 10:32

@ A. Castillo
If Malta's present predicament emanted from lack of speeches by Dr Gonzi, the problems would have been easy to remedy ; indeed the problem lies with too many speeches and rhetoric, and , unfortunately too little action. The truth is that Gonzi does not make things happen.

laurence schembri

Nov 26th 2009, 09:29

What? Are still talking about the Budget? Next one will be due soon.

Roderick Bajada

Nov 26th 2009, 09:27

Whats all the fuss about a spech?

We want action not words Dr.Gonzi!

Everyone knows you like to talk. Well done??

G.Micallef

Nov 26th 2009, 09:18

How immature and puerile!

Charles J. Buttigieg

Nov 26th 2009, 08:13

Traditions, conservatism, the way we where, my granny used to do it thus etc. are the poison for progress.

The Finance Minister reads out the countries annual estimates for the upcoming year; the Leader of the Opposition reacts and the PM counter reacts. The projected estimates are then subdivided and each divide is scrutinised and debated with the respective shadow minister. No problem to accept that.

Our PM is directly responsible for more than one ministry due to his ‘new idea ’to have a small cabinet. To me it makes much more sense to listen to the different opposition MPs, who shadow the PM’s different portfolios, levelling their particular area of criticism than the leader of the opposition following an old tradition for the sake of it. If a thing doesn’t work, change it.

I support Labour because the PL thinks this way, logically not traditionally.

Victor Laiviera

Nov 26th 2009, 00:08

@ Mr Mike Seychell

I'm glad you noted thet the present PL team is a balanced mix of experience and youthfull energy and innovation. With a young leader bringing in fresh ideas.

And the person you disparagingly refer to as the "ex Ms Malta of some years back" is now a Ph.D. Not many of those on the PN benches.

Shaun Bonello.

Nov 25th 2009, 22:08

@ All MLP bloggers,
Ghaliex dejjem tgergru? MLP doesn't exist exist any more. Miet malli il perit irrezenja. So if you feel down and depressed, join the glorious PN, li qied fil gvern bil barka ta Alla, u jkollkom biex ticcelebraw. Hallu warajkom dak il partit tellief, and join the main Maltese Party=PN. Harsu madwarkom, u taraw kemm ghandkom gid. Pajjiz benestanti. So ghaliex tgergru? Il PN ghamilkom sinjuri, u ta il futur lilkom, u lil pajjizna. Pajjiz li huwa wihed mill ahjar fl EU.
So, ejjew nirringrazjaw lil PN, ejjew nivvutaw ilkoll flimkien lil PN.
Grazzi,
Shaun Bonello.

Paul Ciantar

Nov 25th 2009, 21:00

marie lee cauchi ... il pn ghandu jirrigrazza lilek li bosta nies bhali baqu jivvutaw pn

Victor Laiviera

Nov 25th 2009, 20:55

@ Ms Carmen Galea

You need to brush up your political history.

- Yes the Labour win of 81 was perfectly legal and constitutional. The PN boycott of parliament, on the other hand, was not - it verged on the seditious. Bear in mind also that 10 years earlier - in '71 - the PN had tried to do EXACTLY the same thing and only failed by a whisker.

- The constitutional emendments of '87 achieved two aims:

- It made the gerrymandering of elections (started by the PN in '71) no longer possible, and

- it forced the PN to accept the neutrality clause, which made it impossible for them to make Malta a NATO base again, as they would surely have done without it.

Anthony Castillo

Nov 25th 2009, 19:50

It looks like Joseph Muscat could not find any of his advisers to write him the speech because no body could say anything after the GREAT SPEECH THAT WAS DONE by the PRIME MINISTER when he answered Mr Muscat's speech.

Carmen Galea

Nov 25th 2009, 19:17

@ Mary Lee Cauchi - Legali sabih ir-rebha taghkhom tal- 1981 . Tant kienet legali li ghadkom tbatu l-konsegwenzi sa llum. Min jinghi ? In-Nazzjonalisti ? Ghal-liema raguni? Talli ma nafx kemm ilhom fil-gvern ? Lahqet twielditli tifla ( Victoria, 1987 ) u ghamlitni nannu ta' tifla ( Bella, 2008 ). Ghamilna snin ma nidhlux il-parlament ghal-raguni valida u fl-ahhar ikkonvincejnijkhom u biddiltu r-regolamenti tal-maggoranza. Kellna ragun. Domtu ma tajtuwulna. Sadattant intom sa llum ghadkom ma accejtajtux li tliftu r-referendum. Se ddumu biex tidhlu Kastilja, b'dawn l-atteggjamenti ! Serrah rasek !

Phil Humphries

Nov 25th 2009, 18:56

Unconventional ? Disrespectful ? No, Joe, just plain theatrical ?

Dr Muscat can afford to take the centre stage ( or decline it for even greater effect ) while his party is in opposition, so I expect we will be seeing many more carefully rehearsed performances from him before (and after) the next election.

Sadly, however, a good government also needs a good opposition to keep it focussed and accountable. Regrettably, Malta appears to have neither at the moment.

Never mind, we still have Dr. Joe's unique brand of political comedy to cheer us through the recession... Bravo, Joe.

Joe Cassar

Nov 25th 2009, 18:43

Another pathetic spin meant to deviate attention from the disarray in the PN camp.

We should be discussing the way Joe Borg has been cast aside like a squeezed lemon and John Dalli kicked upstairs to make Gonzi;s shaky throne just a bit more stable ,,,,

J.Borg

Nov 25th 2009, 18:15

How pathetic and funny in teh same instance.....i take it that PN blogers don't have anything to say against Joseph Muscat that they grab every opportunity to write about....
what's the fuss about Joseph Muscat not speaking during the debate.....this should have also come from the PM and let backbenchers to speak.....
Why is it that as things were always done like that, we cannot change them.......one thing in question is that like what happens in the reply to the budget...we have a 2 hr speech then the leader of opposition has to endure an other 1hr speech in which as happens repeat most of the things already said and answers some questions from the media....from me just a waste of precious time...

R. Caruana

Nov 25th 2009, 17:34

@ lawrence gauci

Quote: "At least he was present unlike certain PN MPs who fail to attend parliament"

You spoke too fast mate, The final vote this morning passed by 35 to 32! Guess who were the ones that were absent from Parliament!!

mary lee cauchi

Nov 25th 2009, 17:31

Hawn min ghamel is snin ma jidholx il parlament,wara telfa li kienet legali 100 percent skond il kostituzzjoni,ha toqodghu tinkwetaw ghax JM ma tkellimx...Halluna,tkomplux tinghu

R. Caruana

Nov 25th 2009, 17:24

First JM reads a speech word for word which could have been written by anyone, and now he leaves others to speak for him.

Not quite the stuff of a 'prime-minister in-waiting'.

J. J. Borg

Nov 25th 2009, 17:19

As my American friends friends might say, this cowboy is all hat and no cow.

M.Farrugia

Nov 25th 2009, 17:08

maybe his new advisor has advised that the less talk the better. Or maybe recent annoncements on new business and investments and on low unemployment rates when compared to other much bigger countries, whilst he continues to criticise govt for doing nothing, left him speechless

U mbaghad mur ara kieku tkellem x'kien ha jghid mhux dejjem l-istess diska, gholi tal hajja, korruzzjoni, nies ma jlahhqux mal hajja, nies bla xoghol, koppji bla divorzju , prim ministru u ministri ma jaghmlu xejn bla bla bla

Mario Muscat

Nov 25th 2009, 16:55

haha Noel...soooooo blinded. I didnt notice gonzi out of breath at anytime taa. Please leave Gonzi's age out of the picture and take a good look at yourself in the mirror cause in my eyes your comment qualifies you to be at most 13 years of age. Good day

Ivan Scicluna

Nov 25th 2009, 16:47

Wonder of wonders how conservative commentators resist any attempt to change the status quo in this country. Why should a young Labour leader follow the norms of tens of years when the leader of the opposition used to repeat in Parliament what he had already said a few days before when answering the Budget Speech? Everybody can go through Joseph Muscat's reply and find out that he raised his points on all sectors that fall within the remit of Prime Minister Gonzi, whether its tourism, the environment, etc. etc. This is the team work that Joseph Muscat has instilled in the Labour Party, no less than 9 mp's, all specialising in their particular sector, aired their views on the financial estimates of the Office of the Prime Minister. Keep it up Joseph! The enemies of CHANGE are at work, again!!

Muscat. Pat

Nov 25th 2009, 16:19

Not answering questions on day to day administration, and not being present for most of the time at Parliament-sending ministers who defer answers-is not exactly a homage to Parliament!
I find it more serious when ministers take" free tickets to ride", are not accountable for massive fraud at their VATdepartment, and yet no one ever resigns.
And still, works at Bahrija are progressing , notwithstanding the massive protests by the public, on such a prestine land.
These are far more dangerous indications of undemocratic behaviour...... No wonder, Malta (under Gonzi) is fast sliding in the index of "Transperancy International"!

eric saliba

Nov 25th 2009, 16:18

@ gonzipn apologists. had joseph muscat spoken yesterday as well instead of leaving time to the official spokepersons you would now be saying that PL is a one man show.
after all the OPM has parliamentary secretaries as well as the PM. no one is suggesting that it was the PM who had to reply to the opposition speakers!!
trying to belittle Joseph only goes to show how afraid you all are of the man and maybe how disillusioned you all are with the par idejn sodi who seems to have lost control over his own parliamentary group!!

Sandro Galea

Nov 25th 2009, 16:11

As the old sage has it: Once bitten twice shy !!!

Noel Abela

Nov 25th 2009, 16:01

a storm in a teacup. All these Nats trying to make an issue out of non-issue. The truth of the fact is the Dr Muscat said what he had to say on Wednesday, left Dr Gonzi out of breath and showed the country how a true leader should behave in Parlament. ,

Pity that two days later Dr Gonzi , no matter his age, was so immature and unbelievably unethical in the way he spoke.

Mike Micallef

Nov 25th 2009, 15:40

It is perfectly understandable why Joseph Muscat did not speak in the discussion re the Office of the Prime Minister, but did as Leader of the Opposition. While he has taken to the latter role like a fish to water, he falls far short of the requirements needed to actually run the Office of the Prime Minister, where one needs to deliver and not just criticse the sun becaise it creates shadows!

lzammit

Nov 25th 2009, 15:26

I wonder whether JM knows about his job at all. I feel that he replied to the Budget speech the other week simply because he had the time to discuss the subject with the big heads of the PL and follow their instructions. I do not feel he is as yet prepared to face impromptu questions. Once Mr Mintoff instructed his finance minister Dr Guzi Abela with 'Ahleb Guz'. Now it seems that the advice given to JM is 'Ahrab Guz'.

Alex Debono

Nov 25th 2009, 15:26

@ R Portelli....

Budget ma kienx reali... Inutli thabbaq fuqu... jekk lanqas biss nafu kemm se jkunu l-kontijiet... Kif tista titkellem... M'ghadux iz-zmien li toqoghod tghid hafna kliem sabih filbudget.. Imbghad ma tatix widen tan-nies tijghak stess....Ilum kulhadd sar jimpurtah kemm se jibqalu flus fil-but hu... U din ma nafawix... Ax la naf kemm se joghla d-dawl u l-ilma... u l-medicini, u il-prezz tal-haxix... ect ect ect... Nista nibqa sejjer insemmi l-lista. It could be it was a good budget... But in reality are people having more spending power in thier hands or all this spending power is ending to the gov again.. ??? Everybody will see his pocket... the answer is there

Michael Seychell

Nov 25th 2009, 15:22

@ Victor Laiviera - You ended your comment " New people new thinking. This augurs well for future debate in Parliament."

If I did not know so well, I would have thought that you were an apolitical person who does not even know the M/LP MP's.

Considering the fact that five out of eight speakers have been MP's when you an me were much younger, your statement holds no water.

It suffice to mention that Joe Debono Grech is about your and my age - nearing 70, whilst Alfred Sant , Karmenu Vella, Leo Brincat, and M.L. Coleiro were all in the fray either in Parliament or holding important positions during the Mintoffian/KMB regime. Than there is
ex Ms Malta of some years back Helena Dalli who has been active in the M/LP years before the last 3, i.e. the not so young new MP's, Gino Cauchi, Rodrick Galdes and Stefan Bountempo, who served the M/LP in Local Committees & Councils for quite some years.

I opine that most, if not all of them, are not worthy to shadow the PN Ministers, let alone running our country three/four years from now.

Coaraggio Fuggiamo JM.

Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta

Joseph Camilleri Bowman

Nov 25th 2009, 15:15

If he really wants us to take him seriously the supposedly next Prime Minister should not only have responded to the Estimates of his future Ministry.

Hallina Guz

A Borg

Nov 25th 2009, 14:46

You see that is what the PN supporters consider Unethical.

They see nothing wrong with Tonio Fenech travelling on a private jet with the businessman who could be taking over yet another casino worth millions of Euros.

They see nothing wrong with the Tonio Fenech not making a statement in parliament about his trip opting instead for a newspaper interview.

But if Joseph allows his team that is specialized on the topics discussed to do their job than…

Christine Mallia

Nov 25th 2009, 14:36

Was there any need ? The Labour spokesman said that a very well prepared team ( ! ) spoke on the various sectors. I happen to have listened to Joe Debono Grech's speech. It definitely amazed me. Wonder of wonders. I will vote Labour the next time round !!!!!

Jim Hamilton

Nov 25th 2009, 14:29

Dear me, why is it that some people never read the article properly before rushing off to print?
Please read the last paragraph, and in particular the last sentence where you will find all is revealed.
Why try to make an issue from a non-story?

deo micallef

Nov 25th 2009, 14:26

INSTEAD OF FOCUSING AND COMMENTING ABOUT EVERY MOVE THAT J.M. DOES, WE BETTER START FOCUSING AND DISCUSSING ABOUT REAL THINGS LIKE HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY BACK THE MOUNTAIN OF PUBLIC DEBT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO UPGRADE OUR ROADS TO EUROPEAN STANDARD, ASK QUESTIONS LIKE WHY OUR SALARIES ARE MISERABLE COMPARED TO OUR EUROPEAN NEIGHBORS WHILE ON THE OTHER HAND TAXES AND PRICES OF GOODS AND SERVICES ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO STOP THE DECLINE IN TOURISM, HOW TO REDUCE POLLUTION AND STOP ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION ETC ETC. THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE OF INTEREST TO JOE PUBLIC AND NOT WHAT GOES ON IN THE PARLIAMENT!!

A.Gauci Cunningham

Nov 25th 2009, 14:24

Wow what a piece of news this is!! I'm sure we're all the more clever now and I'm sure that soon in one of the comments we'll get a "taparsi" laburista telling us that "taparsi" she/he will not vote labour again because he didn't talk in the OPM "debate". I think that Joseph's 2 hour speech and the press conference were more than enough for him to explain the opposition's criticism ,which by the way remains largely unanswered and mainly ignored by editors and news bulletins who have plenty of time to talk about sisters, processions, the 80's and obviously the infamous cikcifogu but not about projects that have been promised in the previous budgets but haven't taken off yet for reasons known only to the PM and his coterie!!

D Farrugia

Nov 25th 2009, 14:22

Taking part in OPM debate or not and irrespective of the comments being made hereunder, if an election is held right now Dr Muscat and his party will be elected with flying colors. No one can deny that. Even the various PN inclined columnists in the Times admits this in their various reportoirs. That is the reality. The party in Government is fast losing popularity and they should get their act together in a proper manner before they lose it big time.

Dr Muscat is acting the way he does because he knows the popularity he currently enjoys and attending the OPM debate or not is a trivial matter so let us not be naive in convincing ourselves otherwise.

eric saliba

Nov 25th 2009, 14:10

@ joann bugeja. it is interesting to note that you only replied to a small part of the genuis comment. am i to assume that all the rest is therefore correct?
re medicines.....the pharmacy of your choice scheme was a total failure and yes many medicine is out of stock. ask around and you'll get a confirmation of this.

J Martinelli

Nov 25th 2009, 14:06

The many 'cooks' in the LP will eventually spoil the broth!
The many 'captains' will again sink the ship.
Joseph may run, but cannot hide.

@ Joe Cassar

Easy to explain Dr. Gonzi's occasional absence from Parliament - he is out there getting jobs and foreign investments and maybe saving your job if you still work.

@ M Farrugia

"Mature enough to trust his team"? Which team? The anti-EU or the pro-EU team (because it has no choice)?

@ C.R. Taliana

Forsi ghax 'it-team' ma jhalluhx ipacpac fil-vojt ghax kull darbe li jitah halqu johrog b'xi cucata?

@ ALEXANDER ENUIS

Still cannot get rid of that sour taste of last five elections, eh? Oh, yes, less 22 months!

alexander genuis

Nov 25th 2009, 14:02

Joan right?well,first of all Genuis,not enuis,your mum takes medicine for free?good,thank labour for that,yes medicines are not all available,if they are they cost more than all countries in the E.U.Lies????I want to win election without corruption,unemployed people,better mepa,no vat's scandals,no mitts adventure,want more???alienate people??me??wow!!!that's deep,so deep,half the opp in parlament!!1better than boycot the parlament for a year!!!!!!alienate people,like bieb il-belt,opera house,family doc,meal on wheels,better transport!!!!!MUR GIBKHOM GHAMILTU L-AIR MALTA JEW GIBTU L-SGS!!!!!!!BREAKING NEWS,INVESTMENT,30 WORKERS PER YEAR!!!!!!BETTER THAN NOTHING RIGHT????

Gianninu Saliba

Nov 25th 2009, 13:32

Joseph Muscat is still trying to recover from the knock-out blow the Prime Minister gave him. But then it might be that Joseph listened to what I told him the day afterr his reply to the budge: "sit down, shut up and listen... hopefully you will be able to learn".

Twanny Muscat

Nov 25th 2009, 13:31

If this is what the "NEW LABOUR" and the guy at its helm is all about, Joseph Muscat is dooming his defunct PL, aka as the MLP, aka as the Partit Socjalista Malti to at least another 20 years in opposition.
Well done Joseph! The less we hear from you, the better!

joanna farrugia

Nov 25th 2009, 13:29

@ hubert paul farrugia and in few words you are saying that gonzipn is a team??? unbelievable to say this when pn is divded in two and with dalli for eu even more.

R Portelli

Nov 25th 2009, 13:25

TAL-MISTHIJA!

MUSCAT SHADOWS THE OFFICE OF THE PM SO HE SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN!!

IT WAS HIS DUTY TO SPEAK AND COME UP WITH SERIOUS PROPOSALS AND ARGUMENTS BUT HE FAILED TO DO SO .... HE ABDICATED FROM HIS RESPONSIBILITY AND THIS IS SHAMEFUL

NO MATTER WHAT THE LABOUR APOLOGISTS ARE WRITING IN THIS BLOG FACT REMAINS THAT MUSCAT HAS SHOWN HOW IRRESPONSIBLE HE CAN BE !

LAST TIME HE SOPKE IN PARLIAMENT HE SAID AD NAUSEA 'I'M YOUNG' .... I'M AFRAID HE IS MORE IMMATURE THAN YOUNG FOR THE POST OF OPPOSITION LEADER!

ARA FIL-KAZIN TAL-LABOUR IL-HADD FILGHODU HEMMHEKK HE SPEAKS FOR HOURS ON END GHAX HEMMHEKK THE CROWD WILL CLAP AND SAY 'KEMM HU BRAVU L-LEADER'!

IF THIS WAS SOME STRATGEY THEN HIS ADVISORS HAVE MADE YET ANOTHER BIG MISTAKE! SLOWLY BUT SURELY JOSEPH IS LOOSING IT .... SEWWA QALET DIK IL-.KARIKATURA TA' THE TIMES LAST MONDAY LI THE GUY IS ALL HATS......IMMA SUSTANZA ZERO!!!!!

WHAT A PITY AND WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT THIS GUY IS !

C. Busuttil

Nov 25th 2009, 13:14

@ Danika Vella
Look at what your 'experts' brought our courtry to.

Mary Mizzi

Nov 25th 2009, 13:07

Ghalfejn jitkellem aktar Joseph Muscat?

Il messag waslu ghal min irrid jisma' .

Issa spicca iz-zmien tal-paroli fuq il-budget, issa nigu ghal kontijiet, imbaghad la jkun hemm il-kontijiet fl-idejn nitkellmu . Issa naraw liema paroli kien fil fatt paroli fil vojt

Joseph Cauchi

Nov 25th 2009, 12:54

This news does not augur well for the Leader of the Opposition Joseph Muscat as it sends the wrong message that he is not capable to suggest and debate the subject unless of course it is an already prepared speech (presumably by others), which he can read from it.

Unfortunately, this kind of attitude is not appreciated by the majority of the Maltese electorate as it clearly demonstrates that this “guy” is merely not up to the job!

Pity!

JC.

Noel Abela

Nov 25th 2009, 12:53

@Joann Bugeja

Your Mum must be luckier then Me.

I am entiltled to my tabs for high pressure AMLODIPINE 5mgs and has had to buy them for the past three months and I am from Naxxar and fall under the Pharmacy of Your Choice Scheme.

Lies? Lies MY FOOT, Grow Up and face the facts if you have any common sense!!!

carmen camilleri

Nov 25th 2009, 12:52

@ blue eyed apologists

Why are you taking JM to task for not participating in yesterday's debate in parliament?

Where were you when recently the Finance Minister said that he has nothing to say to parliament because he said what he had to say to the Times?

Azammit

Nov 25th 2009, 12:51

This is lack of leadership on Muscat's part and proof that he is still immature to occupy the post of Leader of the Opposition - and the guy is gunning to be the next Prime Minister !!!!!!

J Brincat

Nov 25th 2009, 12:51

As a politician who is still young despite the high postion held he is showing the way forwad in maltese politics.

Galea. L

Nov 25th 2009, 12:50

Joann Bugeja (20 minutes ago)
@ L.Gauci: Don't you know that during PM's budget speech, half of the oppostion members were absent !?

Who want to be bored by lies?

edgar gatt

Nov 25th 2009, 12:48

There is a very popular song entitled YOU SAY IT BEST WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL.

Galea. L

Nov 25th 2009, 12:47

Din bhal tas-segretarju ta' kull kumitat. Jekk jaghmel xi haga ghax ghamilha, jekk ma jaghmilhiex ghax ma ghamilhiex.

Jekk Dr Muscat jitkellem tgergru li ma tkellimx u jekk ma jitkellimx tgergru ghax ma tkellimx. Sirtu partit tat-tgergir ghax issa sibtu dak li hallejtu ghax hsibtu li se titilfu l-elezzjoni u ghamiltu stragi bl-ekonomija imma irnexxilkom tisirqu l-elezzjoni bi zbrixx. Imma kif jghidu, minn xarrbu kielu l-bakkaljaw ghax inthom stess sibtu l-problemi li ghamiltu u hallejtu ghax flok ma wicc il-Labour sibtuhom ma wicckom.

Joann Bugeja
Il-gideb huwa ta' dawk li jridu jqarrqu bil-poplu.
Staqsi kemm hemm medicini li huma out of stock ghax il-Gvern ta' Gonzi ghandu jaghti l-miljuni lill-importaturi tal-medicini.
Ghax ommok sabet il-medicini li kellha bzonn ma jfissirx li kulhadd qieghed jinghata l-medicini.
Isthu jekk tafu tisthu.

Joe Vella

Nov 25th 2009, 12:45

@ Victor Laviera

Can you cite anywhere where in a Parliamentary Democracy is practiced where the Leader of the Opposition failed to respond to the Budget when the Estimates of the Office of the Prime Minister are being debated?

Adrian Cachia

Nov 25th 2009, 12:43

This one made me laugh!!

So we are blaming Muscat for being absent from what a Budget Debate which he discussed last week.

Why don't we all ask how many of all members from the Side were present??

How many times during the year nearly half / 3/4 of the parliament seats are left, leaving only the speaker and 4 members of the house asking questions to each other.

John A. Zammit

Nov 25th 2009, 12:40

This bit of 'news', if it may classified as such, is the least of concern to me. What conerns me and ought to bother all of us is the short news item that in a supposedly top security place as the prison or what is now called correctional facilty there were 59 finds of drugs this year. If drugs seem to be so freely available within the prison buildings what about the streets? This is really worring and not the fact that the leader of opposition opted not to speak in parliament; maybe today, like me, he is hoarse and cannot speak. Has any of your bloggers checked about this before rushing with their comments. Or if this is the case such matter ought to have beeen splashed across or the media to avoid any possible criticism?

hubert paul farrugia

Nov 25th 2009, 12:32

im not amazed at all. Joseph Muacat never ever understood what basic protocols are anyway. The reply by the PL that they have a "team" sounds too similar to the then MLP during the last general election which they lost.

Joann Bugeja

Nov 25th 2009, 12:28

@ L.Gauci: Don't you know that during PM's budget speech, half of the oppostion members were absent !?

Joe Cassar

Nov 25th 2009, 12:28

What we should be asking is why Dr Gonzi is regularly and persistently absent from Parliament when he is due to answer questions from the opposition MPs, leaving the task to the Parliamentary Secs who simply say they are not in a position to answer.

What is he afraid of?

Joann Bugeja

Nov 25th 2009, 12:26

@ Enuis- I'm disgusted with your lies ! no medicines ?!!??!?!? My mum for eg takes medicine free of charge ! Enough said ! All lies...just a pack of lies to alienate ppl..is that the way you want to win the next election !?!?!

M Farrugia

Nov 25th 2009, 12:25

Joseph Muscat is mature enough to trust his team of MPs to do the job of breaking to pieces the OPM budget.

What should be concerning to most of us all is that most of Dr Muscat's speech remained unanswered by the PM.

The €15 million in efficiencies that would go into our water and electricity bills.
cost of living
The long list of unfulfilled promises
The long list of dubious cases such as the power station/tonio fenech etc.

What's the use of having a PM speaking every day when he doesn't address our real concerns.

Joseph Muscat spoke for 2 hours and pressed all the right buttons. Enough said.

C.R. Taliana

Nov 25th 2009, 12:23

Meta jitkellem "ghax jitkellem?" meta ma jitkellimx "ghax ma jitkellimx?", jekk hass li ma kellux jitkellem ghax jafda n-nies li ghandu madwaru so what??? U din news tal-headlines?

lawrence gauci

Nov 25th 2009, 12:18

At least he was present unlike certain PN MPs who fail to attend parliament on a regular bases for lack of interest. I do not think he is obliged or expected to speak in every debate. What Joseph Muscat did was give chance to other LP MPs to speak their minds. Well done Dr. Muscat for giving a good example of freedom of speech with PL MPs unlike Gonzi PN's iron fist over his MPs

Mario Azzopardi

Nov 25th 2009, 12:17

Dr know it all is leaving the discussion to others who have more experience (Dr Sant) or who have a better contribution to the highest institution. This is unheard of in recent history! Why do we pay you a good salary Dr Muscat and then you do not contribute to this debate?

ALEXANDER ENUIS

Nov 25th 2009, 12:17

WELL, THE "HMAR" WON THE EU ELECTION,YOUR DEAR BABY IS OUR BABY NOW,TWO ELECTIONS LOST IN A ROW!!!!!!!!"HMAR" 5,"EXPERTS" 2!!!!!!WE HAVE "EXPERTS" WITHOUT MAJORITY!!!!!!FIRST TIME IN MALTA'S POLITICAL HISTORY!!!!!!50,000 VOTES,D PEOPLE LISTEN TO MUCAT!!!JOSEPH ASKS TOO,ABOUT MANY ISSUES!!!!!WANT ME TO REMIND YOU OF SOME????EH???ANY ANSWERS????NO,WE JUST SHUT OUR TRAP!!!!!!!4 MILLION COMMISION,SMART CITY,FOOTBALL GAMES,8,000 UN EMPLOYED,CORRUPTION,4 DAY WEEK JOBS,NO MEDICINES,ENOUGH????DREAM ON!!!!!

Victor Laiviera

Nov 25th 2009, 12:16

Most of the comments here show a very poor understanding of how parliament works.

Today, the discusion was about th nitty gritty, day to day operations of the office of the PM - which includes many diverse fields - so much so that no less than 7 or 8 opposition MPs cover the OPM.

Muscat did well to leave all the time avaibale to the shadowing MPs to make their criticism, rather than take it up, as is usually done, with generalised comments mainly done for the gallery.

New people, new thinking. Ths augurs well for future debate in parliament.

Mario Azzopardi

Nov 25th 2009, 12:07

Is Muscat now speechless?

M. Busuttil

Nov 25th 2009, 12:03

ummiiiiiiiii x'ghageb ta nies!!!! What kind of news is this??

Issa billi jitkellem il budget mhux diga lest u min jaf x'ghad irid jigri matul is sena li gejja!!
Din tajba bhal tal-pre-budget forums biex jiddiskutu x irid isir umbad kollox ikun ilu preparat. Meta jirrispondi tghidu li dejjem kollox hazin u meta ma jghid xejn tghidu li new politics u hallunaaaaa!!

Ahjar taraw it travu li hemm f'ghajnejkhom milli it tibna ta haddiehor!!

GENUISALEXANDER

Nov 25th 2009, 12:02

WELL,HERE WE GO!!!!!KEEP ON GOING GUNNING JOSEPH MUCAT!!!!I DO NOT BLAME YOU ALL!!!HE LISTENS OF COURSE,EVEN THE PEOPLE LISTEN TO HIM,REMEBER LAST JUNE???YOU ALL GOT OVER IT OR STILL?????THE EXPERTS???OF WHAT??LIES?CORRUPTION???DEFIcITS???EH??CALL HIM "JAQQ"" U "HMAR"???WELL,THE SO CALLED "HMAR "DEFEATED HEAVILY THE EXPERT,RIGHT?????HALLUNA,BETTER THEN BOYCOT THE PARLAMENT FOR A WHOLE YEAR!!!!!!!!EXPERTS!!!!!!!!

S. Fenech

Nov 25th 2009, 11:52

Making a mountain out of a mole hill .. thats what most of you just love doing! So what? If recent head of oppositions did it, why should he do it just the same? Is there some kind of law that thats the way it should be done? Halluna nghixu ...

Danika Vella

Nov 25th 2009, 11:51

Leave him alone poor guy!!! Maybe he finally learned his lesson: it's better to speak only when you know you have something worth saying, otherwise, it's better to just close your trap and listen to the experts!

He needs to train for when he is elected, you see.

J.Abdilla

Nov 25th 2009, 11:39

A new way of doing politics.. U hallina Muscat!!

M.Azzopardi

Nov 25th 2009, 11:38

Many times it's better if he just listens!