Cuschieri now having second thoughts about becoming an MEP
Joseph Cuschieri appears to be having second thoughts on whether he still wants to go to Brussels to take his seat in the European Parliament.
In surprise comments this evening, Mr Cuschieri said that he still has to decide whether to take up his seat in Brussels or not.
“I have not yet been informed on when the sixth seat for Malta is becoming available. When I’m informed, I will decide whether I still want it or not. I am not going to take this seat just for the money involved. If there is no time to deliver politically, I won’t take the seat,” Mr Cuschieri insisted.
The Times last week quoted an EP spokesman stating that the new 18 MEPs from 12 member states who are to be added to the EP following the ratification of a protocol annexed to the Lisbon Treaty are now expected to join the Brussels chamber as fully-fledged MEPs by January the latest.
Asked to state clearly whether he will take his seat if this becomes available in two months’ time, as expected, Mr Cuschieri still didn’t want to commit himself.
“I can’t tell you yet as I have not taken a final decision. When I take it, I will inform everyone with my position.”
Mr Cuschieri won the right to become Malta’s sixth MEP when he finished in the runner’s up position after the five elected MEPs – three for Labour and two for the Nationalist Party – in the June 2009 elections.
As Mr Cuschieri now seems to be re-thinking his position, his declarations to ditch his MEP seat in Brussels might be welcome news for two other Labour candidates in the 2009 MEP elections – Marlene Mizzi and Claudette Abela Baldacchino – who ended up with the biggest number of Labour votes after Mr Cuschieri.
Mr Cuschieri had contested the last MEP election on the Labour ticket after resigning his seat as an MP to make way for party leader Joseph Muscat, himself a former MEP, to be able to join Malta’s Parliament.
Since then, Mr Cuschieri had been given a job at the PL headquarters.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Second group of migrants arrives
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
38 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
j brincat
Nov 16th 2011, 12:40
@Schembri Ray
"Nispera li Joseph ma jagħmilx bħalu u meta xi darba jitla' fil-gvern joqgħod jaħsiba!"
Seems we are surrounded by comedians!
(jb)
mark borg
Nov 15th 2011, 22:02
Joseph jahassra dak is-siggu haddu min halq in nazzjonalisti imsieken ...kien ikollhom iehor kieku jghix ta Re go Brussells...,lanqas haqq khemm thambqu u baghtew biex ikonvincew lil poplu, li l-ahjar trieq ghal Malta li jdahhluna Fil Genna ta l-art ta l-unioni Ewropea, li issa qed igibu skuzi u jghidulna kemm qedin tajjeb komparati maghhom, ghax li pajjizi kollha falluti !!
Schembri Ray
Nov 15th 2011, 19:09
Nispera li Joseph ma jagħmilx bħalu u meta xi darba jitla' fil-gvern joqgħod jaħsiba!
K. Vella
Nov 15th 2011, 12:07
These are our future parliamentarians?!?
Now I am even more worried than ever.
Charles Sammut
Nov 15th 2011, 12:04
Well,if he is he is having second thoughts,it could be because he must have realised that by his going to Brussels, he would be making a complete and utter fool of himself and would be a great embarrassment to the island in the sun.
However, me thinks that he WILL accept this cushy job together with the obscene pay packet and lerks and perks that are included.
By his stating “I can’t tell you yet as I have not taken a final decision. When I take it, I will inform everyone with my position.”..is'nt it obvious that he WILL say " yes thank you, thank you, I will accept!".
The island will wait with bated breath for Guzepp's decision, in the same manner we all waited with bated breath for the Speaker's decision as to how he was voting in the austin's Arriva comedy......with guffaws of laughter and sceptiscism!!
I guarantee, there will be no nail biting for the next two months whilst this guy ponders his YES or NO !
...and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on.....
m. borg
Nov 15th 2011, 15:08
Obviously Mr Sammut you sound a very superior man than many of us including Mr Cuchieri it is a shame you did not run as an MEP yourself.
Charles Sammut
Nov 15th 2011, 17:17
@ M.Borg...
I thank you for your compliment.
Yes ,it is a shame I did not contest for MEP, quite frankly I think I would have been a good ambassador for the island in the sun.
I appreciate your opinion of me,but I humbly beg to differ. The comments I post on this column stem from my experience in life and from all that which happens in our little world.
It is quite refreshing that you have not labelled me a blue eyed boy. In most of my past comments where I criticized the doings of members of the gonzi regime, I usually get replies that I am a PL and joseph lover!
...and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on.....
DAvid Aquilina
Nov 15th 2011, 10:57
Typical Maltese gemgem. If he will go for it, rest assured that all of you will say that he went for the money given that new elections are near......
I agree with him 100%, what is the use to have a seat when he wont have the time to deliver??
Joseph N. Attard
Nov 15th 2011, 10:51
It's all right for you fellows to deliver humorous, sarcastic, scathing, etc, remarks, but please do not forget that Mr Cuschieri was elected by the Maltese voters. Ah well, you reap what you sow.
Ramon Saguna
Nov 15th 2011, 10:41
I think Mr Cuschieri should be left free to decide whether or not he wants to take the position without pressure from voters or anyone else saying that he should do his job. We have way too many politicians that take their position for the wrong reasons and if we have at least one that is feeling he might not do it, everyone would be better off without him.
Alfred Falzon
Nov 15th 2011, 10:39
Mr Cuschieri should by now make up his mind definitely!
Procrastination will only harm his credibility as a politician.
In the European Parliament there is very little to deliver individually since most of the MEPs vie for the stylish seat for reasons best known to them!
Take the former May 1968 Paris student revolt leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit, nicknamed "Dany le Rouge", now a Green MEP as an example.
Today, he looks more like a cosy bourgeois upper Middle Class representative than the one he used to pretend to be in his student rag days! To hell with outdated slogans and revolutionary catch-words!
Enough said for those who want to understand today's global politics and gimmicks!
m. borg
Nov 15th 2011, 10:39
He does have a point, what's the use of taking up the seat if there is no time to deliver. Mr Cuschieri might not be able to improve his position with the little time he has till next elections unlike the other five.
Let's be honest some of us would give a darn if we would be able to deliver or make an impact as long as we get our hands on a MEP's salary for the next few months which for most of us would need ten to fifteen years to make the same amount of money.
Alfred Attard
Nov 15th 2011, 10:20
No surprise. A confirmation of the skepticism the Labour Party has always shown and still shows towards EU.
Roderick Camilleri
Nov 15th 2011, 11:43
Does this argument still holds in 2011? I mean look at the Eurozone, look at all the problems surrounding the european union. Are you still sure regarding who was on the right side of history Mr. Attard?
Martin Bonello
Nov 15th 2011, 10:18
"................................, tis folly to be wise"
Josef Borg
Nov 15th 2011, 10:02
Dan jaf x'irid jew lanqas hu stess ma jaf?!!!!
Karl Abela
Nov 15th 2011, 10:00
These are the kind of incompetent people who aspire to take Malta forward after the next election.
OH MY GOD !!!!!
Mr Joe Micallef
Nov 15th 2011, 09:22
"Deliver Politically" big talk beyond the chap!
Joseph Agius
Nov 15th 2011, 09:10
This is unbelievable !
.....who knows how Joseph Muscat would return his favour after the next general election? Guys wake up !
Anthony Portelli
Nov 15th 2011, 09:03
Well you never know.
I think that with a bit of soul searching and some advice, especially from our meps who have taken their jobs so much to heart, he will be convinced that the right thing to do is go and do what he was chosen by the people to do.
As an aside I think the the European parliament should reduce the number of mep,thus falling in line with the Euro economies and trim off the fat.
Having said that, our own parliament should have no more than two members elected from each district.
That would help keep finances reasonable.
A Cordina
Nov 15th 2011, 08:44
"I am not going to take this seat just for the money involved. If there is no time to deliver politically, I won’t take the seat"...so Joe if it's not for the money don't take it, because politically you won't deliver anything in Brussels!
Peter Murray
Nov 15th 2011, 08:24
Yeah ok we believe you and what does it mean precisely "enough time to deliver politically?"
joseph gaffarena
Nov 15th 2011, 07:09
IS THIS A JOKE??????????
Joe Mallia
Nov 15th 2011, 05:45
That he has nothing to offer might be just about right, that Cuschieri will drop his seat is not. I'l bet my two front teeth he will be on the first plane to brussels as soon as he gets the chance. And then London for some fitted suits. Then back to Malta as an European parliamentary member, something which his party was totally against and which even he probably voted No.
W Cassar
Nov 15th 2011, 09:37
The Blinkers are blue and you know who.
Saviour Sam Agius
Nov 15th 2011, 00:28
Għandu biċċa raġun, imma la riedha jrid joqgħod għaliha issa. Anki jekk jagħtuh is-siġġu jumejn qabel l-elezzjoni, għandu jmur hemm u jitkellem dwarha din il-bużullotta.
Claire Busuttil
Nov 15th 2011, 00:27
OMG...!!
Mr A. Mifsud
Nov 15th 2011, 00:27
I suggest that Mr. Cuschieri should step away from politics. Being a scapegoat is not to be considered a virtue in politics. It perhaps is for the PL but not in the eye of the electorate!! Even though sometimes people vote through their hearts with whilst their brains are shut down!
Mr Alan Zahra
Nov 14th 2011, 23:27
Ma nistax nifhem kif in-nies jibqghu jivvutaw ghal nies inkompetenti u immaturi, li meta tigi s-siegha tal-prova ma jafux x'ser jaqbdu jaghmlu. Vot seta jinxtehet fuq persuni aktar kapaci u li kellhom esperjenza (kemm li raprezentaw lil PN, MLP u l-AD u li ma telghux sfortunatament) li zgur setghu jaghmlu diffierenza ghal pajjizna fil-parlamnet ewropew.
Meta ser nitaghllmu nivvutaw ghal pajjiz u mhux ghal-partit qisu xi tim tal-futbol.
Ms Maria Vella
Nov 14th 2011, 22:58
Is this guy for real???
Well i'd rather have Marlene Mizzi replacing him any day...well anyone else for that matter
Peter Murray
Nov 15th 2011, 08:26
I'd rather have Marlene Mizzi for Prime Minister!
Alfred Cassar
Nov 14th 2011, 22:55
Two possible reasons for not accepting to go after all:
1) he doesn't feel up to standard; or
2) he is making way for someone else, again
Mark Vassallo
Nov 14th 2011, 22:46
You chose to stand for election.
We voted for you.
You (finally) got your seat.
Now you must live with the consequences of your choice.
Remember that you are free to choose but you are not free from the consequence of your choice
Noel Spiteri
Nov 14th 2011, 22:45
Min jaf jekk din hijiex gimmick biex jerga' icedi postu.... povru Joseph
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 14th 2011, 22:30
He might be realizing that it is not an easy job after all.
Joe Grech
Nov 14th 2011, 22:23
Why not send Austin Gatt instead - that would solve many problems for everybody especially the present administration :) Commissioner John Dalli and Financial Controller Louis Galea would certainly welcome him!
Peter Murray
Nov 15th 2011, 08:27
Dear Joe,
Don't you thing the EU has enough problems?In any event,that wouldn't be solving the problem merely shifting or onpassing it!
Alfred Cassar
Nov 14th 2011, 21:41
Boqq mur ifhmu, ilu jeqred snin li jridu dal-imbierek siggu. Forsi qed jistenna 'l Joseph jigbidlu l-ispaga?