Tommy Vella described Joseph Muscat’s decision to present the no-confidence motion as “a knee-jerk reaction” (January 31). He came to this conclusion because Dr Muscat had decided to do so after learning that Lawrence Gonzi would be visiting Tunisia and Qatar. And so he did not consult his party before deciding to table the no-confidence motion.

At least, Mr Vella admitted that the party had given Dr Muscat a carte blanche to act as he deemed fit due to the speed at which events were unfolding. And, yet, Mr Vella accused Dr Muscat of “impetuosity”.

He wrote that “impetuosity is a characteristic of youth”, asking if this is the style of leadership Dr Muscat would be offering if the Labour Party is elected to govern.

It seems that the correspondent forgot that when the no-confidence vote on ministe of failures Austin Gatt, presented by the opposition last November, had resulted in a similar tie of votes – 34 in favour and 34 against – and was negatived by the Speaker’s casting vote, Dr Gonzi took only 10 seconds (he said this!) to instantly table a confidence vote! In this case, “impetuosity” by the Prime Minister cannot be regarded as “a characteristic of youth”!

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