Borg Olivier’s blame game continues
Nationalist Party general secretary Paul Borg Olivier will not let go of the “who leaked what” blame game on the Mistra scandal.
For the second time in as many days, he yesterday called an urgent press conference to say that Labour leader Joseph Muscat had informed the PN of Labour’s plans to use the Mistra scandal in the last days of the electoral campaign four years ago.
In a repeat performance, Dr Borg Olivier again refused to comment on the scandal itself and whether then-Labour leader Alfred Sant was right in alleging corruption.
The Mistra scandal was about a tract of land owned by MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who last week resigned from the PN Parliamentary Group, which was being touted for an open air disco.
“This press conference is not about the Mistra case but intended to unmask Joseph Muscat’s deceit,” Dr Borg Olivier insisted.
He pointed out what Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil told newspapers yesterday, that Dr Muscat, at the time still an MEP, had given him strong hints on the Mistra campaign during talks on a flight to Brussels.
Dr Borg Olivier said the PN had passed political judgement on the case soon after the election when the Prime Minister did not appoint Dr Pullicino Orlando to the Cabinet.
In a reaction, Labour said Dr Borg Olivier was more interested in playing “children’s games” than concentrating on real issues.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Marsa murder - Police looking...
Update 2: Three arrests after flamingo...
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
Update 4 - Eddie Fenech Adami stable...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Updated - Two bodies, capsized boat,...
Franco Mercieca doing routine eye ops at...
In Discussion
Update 2: Three arrests after flamingo...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
Chinese company to study Malta-Gozo...
Updated - PM reacts to Labour anger on...
Franco Mercieca doing routine eye ops at...
No appeals board for first part of power...
Updated - PM comments as Franco Mercieca...
BBC site highlights illegal hunting in Malta
17 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 27th 2012, 05:35
@ Pat Hobson, yesterday at 18:51.
Alfred Sant took the bull by the horns, as you say, but he was then tossed into the air and gored by the bull - not a very laudable achievement I would say.
Dr L Gonzi is not a coward because he will face the electorate at a time of his choosing. The fighter pilots of the last war had a very useful motto - "He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day". That is preferable to being eliminated in the first dogfight. Think about it.
Angela Galea
Jul 26th 2012, 16:28
I like to answer the journalist's question whether Alfred Sant was right about the Mistragate. If he was so right - why did he cover and run away? Why didn’t he face JPO? People who are right and believe in what they maintain face the music not run away. Only cowards and liars do.
Pat Hobson
Jul 26th 2012, 18:51
@Angela Galea. By trying to stick to the rules is cowardly? Then you don't really know Dr. Alfred Sant. Much unlike your Gonzi. During these four years Gonzi tried every to quell the revolt in his ranks but to no avail. Dr. Alfred Sant took the bull by the horns and called the elections. And you dare called Dr. Alfred Sant a coward. Dr. Gonzi is the coward because he doesn't want to face the people's verdict!
Angela Galea
Jul 26th 2012, 16:00
It is evident that while Joseph Muscat betrayed Alfred Sant and the MLP, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando was also dishonest with his Prime Minister and the PN since he never told them about the Mistra contract. However, there is no doubt that the then PN’s strategists dealt with the situation fast and flawless. Many do remember how, when Alfred Sant was faced with JPO at the news conference, all he could do was cowering and run away. Today, I ask – did his performance show any signs of leadership? Definitely he had no leadership qualities just like his successor. Had it been Lawrence Gonzi or Eddie Fenech Adami, armed with such a vital piece of evidence in his hands, he would have had a meal out of JPO.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 26th 2012, 15:46
Dear Kurt Sansone.
It is not a "blame game" about an authenticated Mistra development abuse.
It is about who tipped off the Nationalist Party, just before the election, that the MLP was planning to spring a surprise on the Nationalist Party by disclosing JPO's contract and involvement.
It is about keeping an intelligent public informed - not about journalists acting as if they were a cog in the wheel of any political party's propaganda machine.
Frans Aguis
Jul 26th 2012, 12:08
I love how PN apolgists consider Simon Bussutil's claims(not even under oath) as evidence...that is not evidence...it will be a sad day when we take a politicians word as evidence.PBO has of yet given NO evidence to back his claims merely seeing what might stick. But he has made a grave mistake opening this box again and making people realise Alfred Sant was right all along.
Tony Agius
Jul 26th 2012, 13:44
If Alfred Sant was right , why did Joseph Muscat slip out his Leader's ( Alfred Sant's ) intention on Mistra campaign to attack JPO ?
Pat Hobson
Jul 26th 2012, 10:12
If PBO admits that Alfred Sant was right, he would be opening Pandora's box!
He would admit that the PN machine was an accomplice to corruption because it knew of JPO guilt!
He would admit that the PN embezzled the Maltese voter out of his vote!
He would admit that the election was stolen!
Tony Agius
Jul 26th 2012, 11:45
Was the election stolen by anyone , or it was given away for free by Joseph Muscat stupidly ? or maybe on purpose to betray Alfred Sant and the Party ?
John L Galea
Jul 26th 2012, 13:03
@Tony Agius: What does it matter now? You as PN blue eyed lackey you should thank JM assuming that JM leaked unintentionally the news.
victor caruana
Jul 26th 2012, 09:57
The PROBLEM is GonziPN has lost all credibility!!
Few weeks ago he had gloriously declared unconditional support from the parliamentary group. NOW he is in a coalition with one of the ex-parliamentary group!!!
Is it yes or is it no.....nobody believes what the PN dishes out....not even if repeated ad nauseum and making a fools of themselves in the meantime.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 26th 2012, 11:52
@ Victor Caruana.
You do not seem to understand that JPO is NOT GonziPN, that he has resigned from it, and therefore criticising JPO is not the same as criticising the Nationalist Party. The NP Executive has condemned him (and others like him) in no uncertain terms.
It is the LP that is today consorting with him at his every devious twist and turn. If anyone is losing credibility it is the LP and its involvement with the JPO (and others') recent shenanigans.
victor bonello
Jul 26th 2012, 13:38
at Francis Saliba.. no matter what happened, the PN took advantage. The election was won by the thousands spent to import votes from uk.not because of JPO.. if Joseph Muscat made a slip of the tongue, the PL had received the information from some one with in the PN.
Trying to dirty Dr Muscat cannot be achieved as even if he slipped on this one, it is nothing compared to what Gonzi @ Co have done in these 25 years..
L. Chircop
Jul 26th 2012, 14:39
All M.D.'s and you didn't even understand what Victor Caruana wrote ... I think you should re-read what is written it is only simple English do not see why it confused you !
Emanuel Farrugia
Jul 26th 2012, 16:43
@Francis Saliba M.D. First you state that JPO is NOT GonziPN and you take pains to make sure that you disengage JPO form the PN so he is now an independent MP.
Then you lambast the PL for today " consorting " with an independent MP. At the same time, maybe NOT unintentionally, because you seem dead set and very biased against the PL, you forget that JPO has formed a coalition with the PN and is keeping the PN in Governemnt. What ingratitude. What blinkered comments . And did you notice that the NP Executive seems to have gone silent about JPO since the coalition was formed ? PBO should tell you to shut up because you are rocking the boat.
You seem to be one of those persons who want to light the candle at both ends and you get angry if you burn your fingers.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 26th 2012, 19:02
@ Emanuel Farrugia today at 16:43.
Dr. Paul Borg Olivier, very wisely ignores your advice about telling me to shut up. If he were so stupid as to take your advice I would tell him where to get off in no uncertain terms. But as I said, he is not so stupid as try to make him out to be. And the only thing that makes me angry is the rank stupidity of comments like yours.
I do not owe any gratitude to JPO (and the others) - I have no illusions that their motivation is pure self-interest and self-advancement, not the interests of the Nationalist Party, not the interest of parliament and the nation as a whole. They receive support only from the LP, again from self interest only.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 26th 2012, 20:12
@ Victor Bonello, today at 13:38.
You cannot blame the Nationalist Party for “taking advantage”. It showed political skill by turning to its advantage a potentially devastating Santian last minute surprise disclosure of a gross JPO environmental abuse of which the NP had not been aware. I do not agree that the premature leakage of that hidden trump card, from the MLP to the NP via Joseph Muscat, was a “slip of the tongue”. It was a calculated political manoeuvre in true MLP style recalling the technique used by Mintoff to topple Dr Paul Boffa.
@ L Chircop.today at 14:39
Victor Caruana’s comment remains incomprehensible no matter how often it is re-read. And, please, before vaguely criticising my standard of written English, re-write the beginning of your comment in syntactically correct English.
Please choose the reason of your report below: