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Muscat takes planned holiday after calling for country to vote early

Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat left for a holiday in Northern Italy last Friday soon after calling on the Prime Minister to call an early election given the prevailing political situation.

Dr Muscat joined his wife and children in Italy two days after they left for Italy and will remain there until Friday.

Asked about the timing of the trip, considering Dr Muscat’s view of the crisis, his spokesman said: “This was the time for a holiday because the situation will only get worse in the coming weeks.

“After all, the ball is in the Prime Minister’s court and his indecision is what is affecting the country.”

Just a day before going on holiday, Dr Muscat described the political situation in Malta as having a “hung Parliament” where the government had a “coalition partner” in its former MP, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

The latter’s fallout with the PN arrived after voting with Labour on a motion to oust Malta’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana.

While resigning from the party, Dr Pullicino Orlando still kept his seat as an MP and promised to “collaborate” in Parliament on the PN’s electoral programme.

Asked whether Labour would have tolerated a holiday by the Prime Minister at this sensitive political time, the spokesman indicated sarcastically that this could be a good idea.

“It would be better for the Prime Minister to take a short trip and come back with decisions that need to be taken,” the spokesman said.

President George Abela is also out of the country, carrying out voluntary work in Peru with a team of volunteers.

Asked whether Labour felt Dr Abela should return to the island in light of the political situation, Dr Muscat’s spokesman said the President was “responsible enough” to make decisions according to the country’s best interest.

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Emanuel. Vella.

Jul 24th 2012, 10:01

@ joe vella,23-7-12,23:52.
mhux ahjar is-saqsi,x'aghmlu ghal poplu malti u ghawdxi,
il-klikka RCC,AG,LG,u GP.
s'issa ha ihallu dejn ta 75% ghal poplu malti u ghawdxi xi ihallas,
sur joe vella,dak li jaf jghamel il-PN,SIEHBI.
u meta il-PL iggverna ghal-15 il-sena shah,u hadem ghal poplu
malti u ghawdxi,ghal kontra dak li jghamel il-PN,ghal 25 sena fil-gvern
il-poplu hadem ghal PN.
il-PL,f'dak il-15 il-sena li iggverna lil pajjizna halla 20% BISS,dejn warajh,
dik hi id-differenza bejn il-PL,u il-PN,habib taghna malti bhalna,sur joe vella.

Eddy Privitera

Jul 24th 2012, 21:30

Joe VElla: What a stupid comment ! Do you expect that Dr. Muscat and his family should not take a 1 week holiday when Dr. Gonzi has closed parliament for around 10 weeks ??? And do you think Dr. Muscat is not in daily contact with his Deputy Leaders and other officials ?? If you think not, then you have no idea about Dr. Muscat ! Suggest you listen to him next Sunday morning on One TV at around 10.30 up to 11.45 a.m. !

Donna Parnis

Jul 23rd 2012, 14:26

Thing is Gozni has caused the crisis not Muscat so how can you blame him for going away, The opposition can not do anything its all down to gonzi and Malta is in crisis due to Gonzis mistakes. Muscat has only gone for a week Gonzi has 10 weeks holiday, what good management from your leader. Hes away from parliament more often than hes in there. What a good caring leader you have.

Vince Piscopo

Jul 23rd 2012, 12:32

Mr Grima you made my day......this is really a good one and you could not word it any better hahaha lol :-) :-)

James Tyrrell

Jul 23rd 2012, 13:00

Actually it's the other way around as Mickey Mouse asked to meet Gonzi. Apparently Mickey Mouse wears a Gonzi wristwatch.

Joseph Micallef

Jul 23rd 2012, 12:24

Are you being serious George? Defiance? Dr. Muscat's defiance??? What about GonziPN?? He is being defiant in front of all these shameful events. Do you really think that the country is moving ahead? hehe yes, in debt!!! ahead towards a concrete wall at full speed!! Get a life mate.

ANTHONY PAVIA

Jul 23rd 2012, 12:32

Pray honour us with your opinion regarding our parliamentarians Prime-Ministerially invoked practically full time holiday in 2012.

victor bonello

Jul 23rd 2012, 12:56

lol.. what silly arguments George, have you not noticed the cat is now out of the bag? GonziPN has brought the country on its knees ( read to days article about national debt) and is crying to pass on the buck.
I would not be surprised Gonzi himself will vote PL.
There is little left to drain, and God give Joseph Muscat, should he be the next prime minister the force to try to sort this mess up.

Jay Grimaldi

Jul 23rd 2012, 13:07

Haha George you're hilarious ! You really made my day hahahaha

Robert Agius

Jul 23rd 2012, 13:32

So much progress made under PN that even a holiday (during a long long parliamentary break) has become a luxury.

George Cutajar

Jul 23rd 2012, 13:56

If Labour's claim that we are in a deep parliamentary crisis, that the PN Government is finished, that all is doom and gloom than yes going on holiday at this moment in time is an act of defiance.

If JM saw it fit to go off on his holiday good luck to him and hope he enjoys it but than that gives the lie to all recent claims that the PN Government is on the brink of collapse and that an election is near.

Deo Catania

Jul 23rd 2012, 15:08

George Cutajar, can you explain how on earth could we have an election this week when even the parliament is closed and the President is not in Malta? of course you won't answer, you are only capable of writing rubbish as instructed.

George Cutajar

Jul 23rd 2012, 15:47

@ DEo Catania - Just as much as I believe that once someone claims a constitutional, parliamentary or whatever crisis is ongoing ( which as things appear is not the case) then all the country's leaders should be present. Holidays can wait.

As regards your assertion that I write on instructions of somebody somewhere rest assured that that is not the case. I speak my mind, always have and always will. It just happens to be one of those rights I fought for back in the early eighties and believe me I cherish it more than anything else.

Karm Lughermo

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:06

In the meantime he has no concrete policies and no idea as to what the Labour incapable lot are going to do once they find themselves in government

Yes because we have very concrete policies at the moment from GonziPN and his hung government! What a joke!

Chris Mifsud

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:24

Very very well said!

William Caligari

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:41

@ James Dimech

James, if you have some concrete policies why dont you contest the
next general election? Let say with the "ghost party"
Don't ask me to follow you please.

Eve Axiaq

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:45

Mhux ta b'xejn il parlament ghandu 3 xhur wieqaf. Vera gvern fis sod!

Chris Mifsud

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:25

Who says that the country is going down ?

Angus Black

Jul 23rd 2012, 12:06

Joseph C Chetcuti, how you choose your office is YOUR business. How Malta is run is Parliament's business and Parliament INCLUDES the Opposition which is not there simply to Oppose and throw wrenches in the works. It is there to help and not hinder the administration.
Joseph just shows ineptitude, and a carefree attitude which do not bode well for a future prime minister. If, as his spokesman claims, 'things will get worse in the coming weeks', then it is even more important for Joseph to stick around instead as he previously has done a number of times, run away from problems.
He had better stayed, finished writing the electoral programme which one day he says it's done and the next that it is still being written and tell us what it is all about. I am curious what the front page will look like since one would expect that credit will be given to authors and co-authors and co-co-authors who tried their hand at scribbling it.

Franco Attard Trevisan

Jul 23rd 2012, 12:59

@ Angus Black


Parliament in in recess and it wasn't JM who ordered this....

Robert Agius

Jul 23rd 2012, 13:45

@Angus Black

Yes, sure, all PN members are wrecking their brains, working 24/7 bla bla bla. Get real!! You do know all MPs are on holiday till Oct, right? If things get worse in the coming weeks, then this is the time to enjoy a holiday. After all, it is the PN who are torturing themselves for a longer period and show no signs of leaving their beloved throne. Sucking the blood out of a nation till the last day.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Jul 24th 2012, 05:21

Angus, I hope that when the PL is in government you will repeat the same words: "[The Opposition} is there to help and not hinder the administration." I bet you won't!!

Joseph Brincat

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:13

Joseph Aquilina
If the country is in such a miserable state then how come this weekend thousands of Maltese crossed over to the sister Island of Gozo to enjoy a weekend break?

BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT AFFORD TO GO ABROAD !!!!!

Brian Portelli

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:26

because they cannot afford to go abroad.......ma' flahtx ma' nwiegbekx

Eddy Privitera

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:28

Joseph Aquilina: You see they cannot afford to go abroad, so they get the same kind of feeling by boarding a Gozo Channel vessel !!!!!!!!!!! Ha,Ha,Ha ! Thanks for the joke Mr. Aquilina !!!

M Grima

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:31

They have probably got fed up of Dr. Gonzi and his cronies, especially their antics to hang on to the power seat. Haven't you realised Mr. Aquilina that crossing over to Gozo is the last entertainment expenses the Maltese can afford because your beloved PN has drained out their pockets.

ANTHONY PAVIA

Jul 23rd 2012, 12:26

Are you expecting everyone to tear out their hair, put on sackcloth and join the Franciscans? What a childish attitude!

More to the point, you should have asked Gozo businesses whether their take was the same as previous years or much lower. Another question would have concerned overseas instead of local breaks. Thank god for LCC, at least the Maltese have been given some solace from their isolation due to far lower fares than previously available to them. And do not think you may thank Government for this. Professional opinion holds that LCC should have been in Malta much earlier.

Edward Curmi

Jul 23rd 2012, 12:54

@joseph brincat...beleive me going abroad is nowadays cheaper than GOZO!!

Franco Attard Trevisan

Jul 23rd 2012, 13:02

@ Joseph Aquilina


You must be joking!!... A weekend in Gozo costs more than a weekend in Italy!

David Galea

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:31

Totally agree

John L Galea

Jul 23rd 2012, 12:03

"Antoine Zammit: I think you need a very long holiday too.

Jonathan Camilleri

Jul 23rd 2012, 10:43

lol, exactly

Eddy Privitera

Jul 23rd 2012, 10:56

Mark Galea: Jekk int insejt, jien ma nsejtx ! Il-qawsalla l-ewwel li semmieha kien il-prim ministru meta l-inkwiet f'GonziPN hareg barra !

Mark. Galea

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:19

Jien qed nirreferi ghal-hafna snin ilu, pre 1987 budgets - tidher li insejt - ipprova ftakar - ha naghtik hint - LS

Victor Vella

Jul 23rd 2012, 11:29

Qabel veru kien budget tal-qawsalla taht tal-Lejber. Taht il-partit tieghek dejjem kien budget ta` ngann. Il-gas, il-petrol, il-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma qatt ma gew msemijja fil-budget, izda dejjem zdiedu barra il-budget biex ikun hemm xi cucc Malti jibla` il-lixka ta` gvern ipokrita u bla skruplu. Il-qawsalla tigi meta il-poplu jillibera ruhhu mill-PN partit tan-Ngann kif gralu il-JPO. Hemm tigi il-liberta ta` qawsalla gdida biex ninhallu mill-marmalja tal-klikiek darba ghall-dejjem.

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