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Wednesday, September 19, 2012, 20:51

Gonzi dismisses reports that he will step down

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this evening sought to dismiss reports that he would resign his post of prime minister if the PN won the forthcoming election.

Reacting to the reports, made in the Labour media, Dr Gonzi said at a PN discussion on the Granaries that he would continue to serve for as long as he enjoyed the confidence of the people and the councillors of the Nationalist Party - and he pointed out that the 97% of the councillors had renewed their confidence in him last February.

To enjoy the confidence of the councillors was a privilege Dr Gonzi said, and it was a greater privilege to be given the people's mandate to lead the country, something which could not be ignored.

Later during the discussion, held as part of the Independence celebration, Dr Gonzi also accused the Labour media of 'inventing stories'.

He said the PN always had confidence in the people and the country and the PN would continue to be the agent of change.

He said the PN and himself would go for the general election proud of their track record, shown in Malta's performance despite economic problems abroad and problems within.

When asked about the PN's troubles and the no-confidence votes in parliament, Dr Gonzi said he continued to have full confidence in former minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and the former permanent representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana. He said that his reply whenever he was asked about the PN's internal troubles was that despite those troubles, the people should see what the country had been able to achieve, especially as compared to its neighbours. Malta had the highest ever number of gainfully occupied persons. It did not have the financial problems of other countries and the economy was moving forward.

Questioned on the promises to reduce taxation, Dr Gonzi said that although, because of the economic situation, the top rate had not been reduced to 25% the government had worked to put more money in the people's pockets and to protect jobs. This was evidence by the tax cuts that had been announced, as well as tax incentives for various sectors such as women who returned to work.

When questioned on criticism of the Cohabitation Bill and calls for the recognition of same sex marriages, Dr Gonzi said that for the PN, marriage was between a man and a woman.

However this was a subject which had to be treated with sensitivity and one could not ignore the reality of new forms of relationships. One of the purposes of the Cohabitation Bill was to give protection to those involved in the different forms of relationship, Dr Gonzi said.

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Paul Giordimaina

Sep 20th 2012, 11:38

How do you know Doreen the election will tell and his words where as long as he got the confidence of the PN councilors if you know how to read

Paul Giordimaina

Sep 20th 2012, 11:41

No mr j brincat when 54 per cent voted for europe and your party still voted against in parliament.

M Grima

Sep 20th 2012, 14:49

@Paul Giordimaina

And when in the divorce referendum, 53% of 72% voted 'yes' in favour of divorce, Dr. Gonzi votes against its in parliament. You really have a short memory Paul!!

Anthony Falzon

Sep 20th 2012, 10:45

GONZI NEVER SAID THAT HE WILL STEP DOWN, IT WAS THE M.L.P. SO CALLED PROPAGANDA MACHINE THAT INVENTED THAT STORY, IN FACT THE ONLY PRIME MINISTER WHO EVER STEPPED DOWN AFTER WINNING (WITHOUT THE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE MALTESE VOTERS), WAS M.L.P. PRIM MINISTER DOM MINTOFF.

George Camilleri

Sep 20th 2012, 11:21

@ Anthony Falzon

Caps lock does not add validity to your argument or inches to your.... insomma.

And yes, actually he did hint several times that he might step down, u lilna il-floaters jaghmlilna pjacir kbir kieku.

But that's all he does, he hints, u wara ta rasu jaghmel. Clearly the guy never had any intention to call it a day.

Power is one hell of a drug, apparently.

But a drug will always bring your demise... and the longer this demise comes, the worse its hit will be.

M Grima

Sep 20th 2012, 14:51

@ Anthony Falzon

Goes on to prove that Dr. Gonzi is obsessed to keep himself glued to the power seat!!!

Gianninu Saliba

Sep 20th 2012, 10:26

Yes William, I do have a comment. Lino Spiteri used, I repleat, used to say that even the man on the moon could beat him. Obviously that's not what he is saying now. Maybe, Lino realized that Joseph comes from Mars (something we were deprived of when Mintoff was in government) as Joseph is showing one and all that he is alien to what's happening around the world and does not realize that Malta is doing far better than most of the countries... the number of gainfully employed has never been so high, the number of tourists visiting Malta has never been so high, the number of new schools has never been so many, the number of unemployed has never bee so low, democracy was restored by the PN, political violence has come to an end, thanks to the PN, Valletta looks like a newly built city, the fortifications have been restored, the economy was never as strong and because the people know that this government can deliver, they want more.

Eddy Privitera

Sep 20th 2012, 11:48

Gianninu: " the economy was never as strong" ! So, according to you, the bigger the national debt, the stronger is the economy !!! So Greece should be regarded as the strongest economy then !

William Caligari

Sep 20th 2012, 13:03


Gianninu I have my comment too;
The bigest mistake by Gonzi was the honoria they gives to
themself, of 500 ewro weekly and for the labour they give them 1 ewro
and 16 cents only? that was the bigest mistake that nobody from the
moon can't do it.!!!!
And what about the price of fjuwil, gas; and Water & Elec.??
The people here outside still to give there verdict, that's why I agree
with Mr. Lino Spiteri
Your comments about Mr.Joseph Muscat, you must, still in time
to follow 'Il-Kungress tal-Partit Labourista'at Ta' Qali

Gianninu Saliba

Sep 20th 2012, 13:35

Mr. Eddy Privitera, now I know why you are a socialist and support Joseph's Malta Labour Party. Before that you supported Fredu Sant, before him it was Karmenu z-zero, before him it was the one who deprived us of everything we used to enjoy, water, electricity, decent choice of food, private banks, private hospitals, even traffic lights were removed by this person, whom I do not like to mention his name. Your consistancy of supporting mediocre leaders makes me realize that you have no clue as to what policies, vision and political ability is all about. Sorry, Mr. Privitera, at your old age, you must by now have realized that your competence was effected by the lack of the repeater class, when you used to go to junior school.

Paul Giordimaina

Sep 20th 2012, 11:45

Thats the old MLP record fred

George Camilleri

Sep 20th 2012, 11:30

Dr Gonzi should simply thank his lucky stars that we have strict banks with rigid policies on money-lending.

That, and only that, kept Malta from falling into financial abyss.

But wait, the defecit is still there. 25 years in government and all they have to show is a whopping debt, pointless projects, terrible administration, shoddy management, an increasing unemployment and illiteracy rate, shattered promises and a string of scandals.

I wonder if anyone has the guts to shout "imma Mater Dei...", a state of the art hospital run by a third world country administration executing politically influenced policies.

How does all this contribute to good governance, particularly on the economy?

I dnt like to be a pessimist, but let's call spades simply as spades, as you rightly said.

Susan Cassar

Sep 20th 2012, 11:30

It is true that PN aligns tends to align its policy to Catholic teachings however given the fact that most of the country is Catholic it is merely reflecting this fact and at the same time basing its policies on what its people want i.e being democratic-- at the same time it never imposes Catholic beliefs on anyone and only aligns the general principles of Catholic faith

Paul Giordimaina

Sep 20th 2012, 11:47

Franco why put the church in this subject and then you blame the PN for using the church,leave it alone please

George Camilleri

Sep 20th 2012, 11:58

@ Susan Cassar

General principles of Catholic faith?

L-arroganza ministerjali? il-klijentizmu? il-gideb u fabrikar ta stejjer fuq MPs ta l-opposizjoni? L-attakk persistenti fuq min jitkellem kontra l-ingustizji u id-diskrepanzi ta l-amministrazjoni? l-iskiet fuq attakki personali lil ex-mexxejja Maltin li, hazin jew tajjeb, hadmu hajjitom kolla ghal-pajjiz? is-serq ta' fondi pubblici, a.k.a. honoraria?

Dawn huma il-principji Kattolci tal-PN?? Fejn iridu huma biss jaghmluwa tal-qaddisin, Kristu kien ihobb juza frazi OQBRA IMBAJDA

C Falzon

Sep 20th 2012, 09:34

Hehe...JM is promising everything to everyone? I think you are very wrong Mark. Mela nsejt x ghamel GonziPN fl ahhar elezzjoni...weghdek li ser inaqqaslek l income tax u llum qed jghidlek eeee ma nistawx ghax zmien differenti. Ara x PM ghandna ta kemm jara fil boghod biex ma rax ricessjoni gejja. Jekk tisma sewwa il kliem ta Joseph Muscat tinduna li dak li ghidt int huwa gidba shiha ghax JM mhux qed iwieghed affarijiet li ma jistax iwettaq.

Anthony Paris

Sep 20th 2012, 09:36

Yes you do know where you stand. Today they take a 500 euro a week payrise behind your back, tomorrrow they say they give it back. Today they tell you that income tax will be reduced, tomorrow they say income tax cannot be reduced. Today they tell you the deficit will be reduced, tomorrow they tell you the deficit cannot be reduced. So stick to the PN.

Vincent Cassar

Sep 20th 2012, 10:47

In Malta you boast that you have a high level of education. Sorry but I beg to differ. With comments like yours, who do you think you're kidding? Isn't it obvious that you are a staunch PN supporter. You have every right to it but please stop (and others like you) making these comments as you tend to offend people's intelligence. If you think the PN is a better alternative vote for it in the privacy of the voting booth. But to keep saying "I was going to vote JM and now JM has no values, bla, bla, bla" is, excuse my language, not only infantile but also pathetic. This country boasts of Independence and freedom...but alas, the people's mental repertoire is still caught in the past.

Besides your argument does not hold. If you were going to vote for the PL, it is because you do not know where you stand with the PN. You do not change a winning formula. But then, you say you know where you stand with the PN (last sentence)...hence the logic does not hold which gives away your real sympathies.

George Camilleri

Sep 20th 2012, 11:42

@ Mark Spiteri

You were either ordered to write something like that, or you're not living in Malta and you don't watch the news (or only watch Net News, which amounts to the same thing)

Gonzi once said "iggudikawni fuq dak li naghmel", and that's exactly what we'll do and thereby we know exactly where we stand with him, and the standing is far, far, far from good.

Muscat so far gave all indications that he simply means business, colour-blind business. Of course, you challenge him for proposals, but I'd say to Muscat, keep your cards close to your chest until it's time for the manifesto to come out. This present government does not deserve to borrow/steal any worthy ideas from you.

Is it possible that the scandals that are surfacing did not even make you question this tired government?

Some people remain oblivious even when the truth kicks them in the teeth. The power of brainwashing is something impressive.

Brian Gatt

Sep 20th 2012, 14:48

Well said George Camilleri....couldnt have said it better myself. But note that the PN bloggers (lackeys) in their defence have to write something, and without any valid arguments available they resort to this kind of foolish comments.

Guys (PN Lackeys) you are not folling anyone anymore...

M Grima

Sep 20th 2012, 14:53

You had one moment of intelligence and you blew it away!!!

Paul Giordimaina

Sep 20th 2012, 11:52

At least he got a bit of majority your party didnt have but still govern for five and a half years so you got nothing to say

Franco Attard Trevisan

Sep 20th 2012, 09:01

true .... but I think in cases of adoption, where a child has no parents at all, 2 men or 2 women, as long as they are loving, caring parents are surely an improvement to the child's life.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Sep 20th 2012, 10:40

Fronco,in some ways I agree with you but since there's a lot of heterosexual partners waiting to adopt children should be adopted by them. It is indisputably natural for two same sex persons falling in love and wanting to build a life together but nature does not provide for them to have children.

Anthony Falzon

Sep 20th 2012, 10:53

SO FRANCO DO YOU REALY BELIEVE THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF A SIX YEAR OLD CHILD TO BE ADOPTED BY TWO GAY MEN???

Susan Cassar

Sep 20th 2012, 11:02

@ Franco once legally introduced one cannot make a distinction whether the adoption is for the childs benefit or simply because gay people want to adopt for their own benefit rather than the childs -- if their ultimate motive is seriously for the childs benefit then they can opt to sponsor a child rather than adopt one -- adoption by a gay couple will be seriously detrimental to a childs future sexuality and it will make the next generaion even more tolerant to crazier ideas--- for example what is to stop gay couples, rather than adopting parentless children pre planning a child by IVF through a mutual agreement with a women--and rather than solving the problem of parentless children you now have two problems --stop the bug in the early stages--this is NOT normal--

Charles J. Buttigieg

Sep 20th 2012, 13:41

Franco,why opt for " an improvement" when a better solution is available. The key word will always remain 'child best interest'.

C. Bonnici

Sep 20th 2012, 15:00

@Susan Cassar: VERY WELL SAID!!! I agree, perfectly. Let's stick to what is NORMAL.

Andre Grech

Sep 20th 2012, 08:02

Joseph let us enjoy our great prime minister. You keep voting labour no problem. But we need a great leader to keep taking care of our country's finances. And in the end the majority will realize that Gonzi is still the best at the moment.

Jessica Smith

Sep 20th 2012, 08:13

Take care of finances?
DO you know about the more then 6 BILLION € debt more than half of which has been caused by Gonzipn and God only knows how much more hidden debt will be found?

Joseph Micallef

Sep 20th 2012, 08:59

I'm sorry for having hurt your sentiments Andre. I fully understand your plea to carry on enjoying your great prime-minister till the very end... as most probably you won't be able to carry on enjoying him for too long. And to top it all, the biggest joke of the century: " a great leader to keep taking care of our country's finances ".

LoooooL... tell it to the marines. Uzgur great leader of finances care, his €500 a week imma!! Vote for him and he will take them back from your pocket!!

Lawrence Fenech

Sep 20th 2012, 09:02

@Mark.

Try betting on Gonzi and his clique you will loose your bet 100%.

Susan Cassar

Sep 19th 2012, 23:14

Whatever you say on the dire state of the country...PL does NOT have the solution --remember compared to other countries we did well-- i'd like to see how Muscat would have sailed through such a crisis--what by introducing gay marriage? by getting us out of Europe? by giving away free medicines and increasing the debt?

J Busuttil

Sep 19th 2012, 23:23

@ Victor Vella

Can you and the Maltese seeing Joseph trying to tackle all you have mentioned.

What a mess he would put us in.

Le My Choice vote PN

A Trapani

Sep 20th 2012, 01:23

Victor... You obviously been watching too much one news and listening to one radio too frequently.... Probably it's too late now for you to change channel and face reality as it really is. Most of your points are incorrect or simply false and your last sentence on poverty simply confirms your obliviousness.

Victor Vella

Sep 20th 2012, 09:24

@ A. Trapani
Thanks a lot for your comment. It seems that you listen to One radio more than me because if you are criticizing me for listening to one radio you also listen to One radio more frequently than me. Continue listen to One Radio to hear the truth. If you want to know the high level of poverty that GonziPN brought to this nation ask those PN candidates that are entering the kitchens of the Maltese. They will tell you What poverty this nation is passing through and Why? If most of my comments are incorrect you said nothing Where you are correct? Have a good life under a regime of change to destruction and corruption!!!!

Joseph E Briffa

Sep 20th 2012, 11:35

@ Victor Vella...Gratuitous assertions apart...and plenty of them. Re the national debt....you say that this is Eur11 000 per capita..right. If you care to compare this figure with that of other EU states and the US, you will be surprised, hopefuly pleasantly surprised, to find that our debt per capita is only a fraction of that of these states. Moreover it is practically all local debt, which makes a big difference. So each Maltese citizen owes Eur11 000 to other Maltese citizens; the owners and the owned are the same. It's like I owe money to myself. So, were is the problem? When the MGS loans mature, they are paid back to the investors, and what do the investors do with the money? They either put it in their bank accounts and get a very low interest or, if the government floats another loan, they buy MGS. The money in the bank is lying idle and yielding a very low return. Buying government stocks results in a much higher return, and enables the government to carry out capital projects which generates jobs and increases economic growth and therefore generates wealth and prosperity. The Exchequer recoups 15% of the dividends at source; the rest goes into the pockets of the Maltese who use a good part of this money to purchase goods and services, which again results in 18% VAT, higher sales and profits to sellers, which again result in more revenue to the Exchequer by way of income tax. All this besides the creation of jobs.

Paul Giordimaina

Sep 20th 2012, 12:01

Victor what poverty you are talking about.You call poverty people buying cars going overseas for holidays buying houses mobile phones going to restourants and a lot more.

A Trapani

Sep 20th 2012, 01:37

Seems like the meaning of common sense is not so common for you

Andre Grech

Sep 20th 2012, 07:59

Mr. Schembri Dr. Gonzi said that if he won the election he will stay on as prime minister. So it will mean that he will have the majority of the people behind him and a new parliamentary majority. Read the article well before you post ignorant comments.

A Trapani

Sep 20th 2012, 01:36

The captain is just fine ..... Gonzi managed to steer the country in the right direction in diffficult international times with many injuries in his team and no substitutes.... He would do much better if all the team mates are loyal and if given a chance with a full squad.

Edgar Gatt

Sep 19th 2012, 21:48

Mr. Paris, have you forgotten that we are in the EU and foreign staff and foreign companies have a right to be here, same as Maltese companies and staff have a right to work in the 26 other EU countries

J Busuttil

Sep 19th 2012, 22:09

@ Claudio Cilia

Don't insult the floaters.

Susan Cassar

Sep 19th 2012, 22:50

PN takes a stand and sticks to it that it why you can trust them! It is democratic but clearly states its values--With PL you have no clue what its values are -- JM keeps promising things to people with opposite ideas to win their vote-- Gay marriage is pretty extreme for quite a strong catholic country like Malta who just accepted (unfortunately) divorce ..where not even countries like UK have it were most of the country will not have any resitance due to religious beliefs...PN might introduce gay marriage but think about all the other good things that it will do for you and don't just focus on one that you can't get which is pretty extreme

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Sep 19th 2012, 22:51

Claudio, why is the PL unreliable? Where is the proof?

Susan Cassar

Sep 19th 2012, 23:17

@Joseph Chetcuti --maybe if you look at some of the news when PL last governed for some serious time (in the 80's) you might get a small idea why PL is not so reliable

Claudio Cilia

Sep 19th 2012, 23:30

Susan, Malta is the country of Maltese and not Catholics who want to occupy a whole nation and make it theirs. I am catholic and Maltese and I have the right to follow my dreams and instincts which God blessed me with , that I don't like women and that I would want to spend the rest of my life with my future true love. There is nothing extreme about it , maybe it is for you and a bunch of others who do not realise that there are people out there that need to be taken care of. I might consider PN to be more stable however the fact that Gonzi is telling me straight in my face that he will not give me the opportunity to live my personal life as I wish BUGS me a lot!

Mark Spiteri

Sep 19th 2012, 23:31

Joseph Labour is unreliable because it has no values. It tries to please everyone all the time...

A Trapani

Sep 20th 2012, 01:43

@ Joseph chetcuti ... If you remember Sant's days you will automatically get your answer on that one

Richard Caruana

Sep 20th 2012, 06:38

@ Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

How can the PL be reliable if we do not have an inkling of what they plan to do if elected? This congress going on right now is a farce, 'dreams', by show of hands, questions from the floor unanswered.... It's a waste of time.

One was hoping that at least some sort of plan for the future of Malta would appear, but nothing has sprung up.

As the saying goes: 'Better the Devil you know'.

Ramon Casha

Sep 20th 2012, 06:45

@Susan Cassar: Yes, PN takes a stand - a wrong one - and sticks to it, which is why you can trust them to always do the wrong thing. Whether it's about the roofless theatre, or divorce, or IVF, or cohabitation, they don't care what the people need, they take a decision and plough ahead with it.

Marriage - gay or otherwise - is something that you can choose not to participate in. The legalisation of gay marriage will not force you or anyone else to marry someone of the same sex. Religious people should realise that matters of religious belief are highly personal and should never be imposed.

John L Galea

Sep 20th 2012, 07:40

@ Susan Cassar: What is unfortunate for you is fortunate for the majority of the country. you are a typical PN stuck in the middle ages in which the church used to burn people alive and torture them because they were scientists or did not conform with its tyranny. The PN is doing the same in 2012.

If you alsop try to open your eyes and ears and maybe you change channel other than NET TV and try to follow what is going on with the PL, you realise that JM is doing the opposite of what you're saying..he stated clearly that he won't promise anything which is not sustainable as the PL knows in what financial situation it will run into if elected. Just to let you know the PL is drawing up a roadmap/business plan for 10 years and this roadmap is being devised byt hte people for the people themselves...the PL is just listening and base its roadmap on what professionals, what the business community and the rest have to say. To the contrary the PN gives us a monotonous monologue by GONziPN whining and trying to scare people with old dirty tactics and propose nothing new. Listening to people?..no way.

By the way the difference between the PL and the PN si this: Yesterday when GOnziPN was asked about gay marriages (for which he is categorically against)..the PN supporters present started booing and laughing. During the PL congress session about equality when there were interventions about same sex marriages/union, there were applause, consent and concern for such a delicate issue.

Susan Cassar

Sep 20th 2012, 08:55

@ Casha so by your reasoning PL should legalize drugs then because after all its peoples choices and using your words 'you can choose not to participate in' if you so wish --why stop there... PL could introduce the death penalty because after all its a persons choice whether to kill or not ... PN obviosly did introduce propositions when a vote was taken what do you mean 'they don't care what the people need, they take a decision and plough ahead with it.' --we have divorce no?

A Trapani

Sep 20th 2012, 09:08

@ Ramon.... How can you say that ? There were no bad decisions on divorce... The referendum was one be the Iva and we now have divorce. IVF and cohabitation bill, you can't say that as its a bill and still in discussion. The PN has made no bad decision here either. Roofless theatre... Matter of opinion. However, you can say that bad decisions were taken by the MLP and Joseph Muscat on several issues whilst in opposition... Issues like the No to EU, like the devaluation of the lira, the VAT/CET waste of time, the closing of private schools and MCAST, the claiming of a win on EU referendum when it was lost and getting people on the street to celebrate and clash, being against the local councils and now n favour, sending students to take up loans after promising to keep their stipends.... Etc etc etc

Susan Cassar

Sep 20th 2012, 10:41

@ Claudio...firstly Claudio although you say you are catholic gay marriage is a serious sacrilege against the catholic faith and you can't say you are catholic and at the same time go against its teachings head on---that is being double faced and you HAVE to make a choice between one and the other ---secondly by all means live with your partner its your choice what difference does the fact that you are married make --- you are definitely not going to get a catholic marriage i.e 'God is never going join what He didn't intend to join together i.e two men or two women together' --whilst i respect your sexuality i do believe what you are asking for is not essential-- in that you can still commit between each other to spend your lives together if you seriously love each other and what does a piece of paper mean... after all with divorce introduced --he can divorce you in a second nullifying your much fought after legal marriage ---

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