Labour supports Frendo or Galea as successor
Louis Galea and Michael Frendo are the most acceptable to the Labour Party among those being mentioned as possible successors of John Dalli as European Commissioner, sources said yesterday.
When contacted, a spokesman for the Labour Party refused to name a favourite.
“We have not been consulted but we understand that this is the prerogative of the Prime Minister and he is in no way obliged to consult us. What we hope is that the Prime Minister keeps in mind the fact that this legislature is drawing to an end and there needs to be continuity, whatever happens,” the spokesman said.
However, sources close to the PL laid emphasis on Dr Frendo, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Dr Galea, a former Speaker and now member of the European Court of Auditors, as being the favourite candidates from among those being named.
This was because they have both proven they could “rise above partisan politics”.
Malta’s first European Commissioner Joe Borg, who is also being mentioned, would also be a non-controversial option.
“Obviously, we are being realistic. We are not expecting the Prime Minister to nominate a Labourite,” the sources said.
“We just hope the person chosen is someone who can ensure continuity if there is a change in government. It should not be someone who will refuse to work with the Labour Government.”
The sources added that Dr Galea and Dr Frendo had both proven themselves in the past, earning respect from both sides of the political spectrum. Dr Borg would be a close third favourite because of his experience.
The other main contender for the role is Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg.
The sources did not discount his candidature and said the PL would not object to him being appointed commissioner.
However, there were fears that his candidature could spell fresh controversy for Malta within the EU at a time when the island needs to clean up its image.
“The problem with Tonio Borg is that the more liberal elements in Brussels will give him a very tough time because of his conservative stands on social issues, such as gay rights. We think it is better to avoid this, especially at this stage,” the sources said.
Meanwhile, sources said that the Government’s preferred candidates were Dr Galea and Tonio Borg, although the Prime Minister has been careful not to give any indications or hints of who he would prefer.
Lawrence Gonzi has only promised that he would name a new commissioner quickly to close this chapter.
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Maria Barbara
Oct 21st 2012, 07:49
@ Zeppi Zammit. Jigifieri inti qed tghid li ghax LP b'xi mod semmew lil Frendo u Galea, issa dawn mhumiex denji li jkunu Kummissarju? Tajba din .. inti mid-dehra Nazzjonalist, u m'ghandix problema b'din, imma li ghax issemmew mill-PL inti tghid li tispera li l-PM jaghzel xi hadd sew mhux dawk li semmew il-PL .. ma nahsibx li jiehda gost bik .. la Louis Galea u anqas Michael Frendo. Thank you mela
Carmel Grima
Oct 20th 2012, 16:13
meta Dr. Galea kien ipproponut ghall-Board ta' l-awdituri, kien gie iggrilljat mhux ftit fuq il-condotta tieghu, ghax ghad hemm inkjesta miftuha fuq l-ghajbien ta' 3 milljun lira ta' zmien il-korpi, Dr. Muscat kien osserva: "ma nafx ghaliex iggrilljawh ghax kelna ftiehim li ma joggezzjonawx ghal Fule' ta' Ceca, (Soc.) u ahna s-socjalisti ma noggezzjonawx ghal Dr. Galea." Kollox hokkli dahari.
Zeppi Zammit
Oct 20th 2012, 14:51
Dawn insew kemm qalu kontra Galea u Frendo???
Nispera li l-PM jghazel lil xi hadd siewi u mhux skond ir-rieda taghhom. Ghadhom mhux fil-gvern - they should mind their own business!!!
Maria Barbara
Oct 21st 2012, 07:55
Mela ghax mhux fil-gvern its not their business. Inti sew jew! Mela PN skont il-bravuri tieghek qieghed hemm u jaghmel li jrid? Hallina ta dalghodu! x'affarijiet dawn ... mentalita tal-baq sorry ta'!!!!!!
Vincent Bezzina
Oct 20th 2012, 14:51
Frendo has his own history. His only qualification is loyalty to Gonzi.
Personally i think both choices are a joke - it just reflects the poor quality of people that Gonzi can call allies - as he personally admitted to the US ambassador.
S.M. Cuschieri
Oct 20th 2012, 14:46
Obviously, we are being realistic. We are not expecting the Prime Minister to nominate a Labourite,” the sources said.
If the PL were at the helm, would they nominate a Nationalist??? I think not......LOLOL!!!
A M Bonello
Oct 20th 2012, 13:42
Michael Frendo was involved in the bus ticketing fiasco.
Any one remember this?
J Busuttil
Oct 20th 2012, 15:24
A.M. Bonello and the outcome was ??
William Caligari
Oct 20th 2012, 13:36
Li naf zgur hu, li isem Malta dejjem ghan-nizla,
l-ewwel tnieha Richard Caruana Cachia min Ambaxxatur u
issa fiz-zmien tlett kwarti kellhu jdabbar rasu John Dalli.!!!
Angelo Vassallo
Oct 20th 2012, 13:26
@ What about Franco Debono?
Hawn xi hadd jahseb li franco debono mhux tajjeb ghal din il-bicca xoghol? Bic-certifikati biss ta' Form II nahseb li jkun bizzejjed !!!!!!!!!!!!
Angelo Vassallo
Oct 20th 2012, 13:20
@ j brincat
And why shouldn't it be so? Didn't Dr. Gonzi once SPOKE about what he termed 'as the new way of doing politics'.
Dr. Lawrence Gonzi "MHUX IPACPAC BISS" izda dak li jghid jaghmlu bhal ma ghamel bil-hatra ta' L-Eccellenza Tieghu l-President ta' Malta Dottor George Abela.
Joseph Micallef
Oct 20th 2012, 13:15
Well done Partit Laburista for being so mature and responsible. If GonziPN had just 1% of your decency, we would live in a wonderful country.
Charles Cremona
Oct 20th 2012, 13:12
Jobs for the boys, salary Euro 250,000 pa plus perks, and even then they are not satisfied with that, they still want more! No wonder Europe is near bankrupt.
Dominic Chircop
Oct 20th 2012, 12:48
I very much fear that if the PM insists on appointing Tonio Borg, he would seriously risk that the European Parliament will not accept him, the same as they did to Rocco Buttiglione in 2004. Dr Tonio Borg has even infuriated the liberal fringe of the P N, when he expressed himself in no uncertain terms against certain liberties where divorce and gay rights are involved.
Alfred Falzon
Oct 20th 2012, 12:27
If you want to know whether Dr Tonio Borg would pass the EU test just see what Dr Franco Debono said about him in parliament.
J Martinelli
Oct 20th 2012, 14:11
Franco, who?
Guido Farrugia
Oct 20th 2012, 22:01
@J Martinelli
Hon. Dr. Franco Debono LLD MP (Pn). A representative in Parliament and carries a vote.
N Camilleri
Oct 20th 2012, 12:24
What about Franco Debono? That would be a solution to get him out of the way in Parliament, Dr. Gonzi!
Anthony Mizzi
Oct 20th 2012, 12:24
L'Ewropa mhux Malta.... ji taccetta Malta mhux necessarjament jigi accettat mill -Ewropa - fejn hemm STANDARDS u jinzammu STANDARDS!
Hemm ukoll issir SKRUTINJU li Malta huwa accetabli li ma jkunx hemm - Kiri ta Sptar St. Philip , a case in point!
Joe Pace Asciak
Oct 20th 2012, 12:22
The MLP’s propaganda machine wages war, proposes truces, vilifies or glorifies, according to political expediency. Psst, otherwise privileged people, alien to an oligarchic mindset, might report you to your boss.
Giuseppe Azzopardi
Oct 20th 2012, 11:58
I sincerely hope that Tonio Borg will remain here in Malta to serve the maltese people.He has so much more to give to maltese politics and with such a wealth of experience only Malta would be on the losing end if he is sent to Brussels.
Joseph Scicluna
Oct 20th 2012, 11:58
jos. muscat keep out of this nomination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Victor Zammit
Oct 20th 2012, 11:56
Can't he be a technocrat? Why always 'in-house'?
Ludgard Scicluna
Oct 20th 2012, 11:15
Personally there is man suitable for the post of a commissioner.LINO SPITERI.
Anthony Mizzi
Oct 20th 2012, 12:25
An EXCELLENT choice!
J. D. Farrugia
Oct 20th 2012, 12:27
totally agree
S. Vella
Oct 20th 2012, 13:45
No way - he formed part of the despicable Mintoff/KMB government in the 80s.
John Zammit
Oct 20th 2012, 14:19
I agree
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Oct 20th 2012, 11:05
If the PM is unwilling to look beyond the realm of his party Frendo and Galea are no doubt the best choices. After the recent deep embarrassment of our commissioner resigning the new nominee will be subject to deep grilling and investigation. Louis Galea is the person most likely to have a reasonable easy passage having already breezed through a positive EU vetting in his present EU audit post
Henry S Pace
Oct 20th 2012, 11:02
Labour supports Frendo or Galea as successor '
wHOEVER IS APPOINTED , WE DO HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE NO GAFFES
Anthony Pace
Oct 20th 2012, 10:56
If TB is made Commissioner that would be the end of his political career in Malta. t would be better to have the previous commissioner, Joe Borg fill in the caretaker post as whoever gets it will have to deal with a new PM in the next few weeks.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Oct 20th 2012, 12:32
That's one big plus for appointing TB.
mark borg
Oct 20th 2012, 10:51
mil imqaret f malta tghamel imperu...flimkien kollox possibbli
cesco di luigi
Oct 20th 2012, 10:35
The PM better beware. I clearly recall in the early eighties Mr S Zammit was canvassing heartily for one of these two mentioned (before his mqaret stand in Sliema turned into a full blown restaurant on public land(?). Once bitten twice shy?
Franco Farrugia
Oct 20th 2012, 10:35
'It should not be someone who will refuse to work with the Labour Government.'
Excuse me?
Whoever spoke on behalf of the PL does not appear to know what exactly is an EU Commissioner. Enough said.
Oliver Grech
Oct 20th 2012, 11:27
Well said Mr. Farrugia. They have no idea of how the EU works it seems. Nahseb PL ha jkun futur li jkissirna.
cesco di luigi
Oct 20th 2012, 13:21
Fil fatt naqbel mieghek. L-iktar li jafu kif the EU works huma il canvassers u vici sindki Nazzjonalisti bhas sur zammit.
mark borg
Oct 20th 2012, 10:35
very difficult to choose anyone to clean up Malta's image from a bunch of gonzipn wheeler- dealers
P Azzopardi
Oct 20th 2012, 11:26
empty VESSEL makes most SOUND !!
Karl Abela
Oct 20th 2012, 10:14
What has gay rights got to do with replacing John Dalli?
Mr l Azzopardi
Oct 20th 2012, 11:14
in appointing a new commissioner the European Parliament will ask a series of very testing questions to determine whether the nominated person is and has the necessary ability and experience. It is unthinkable or at least very improbable that a radical position against gay rights will be taken lightly by MEPs. The last thing we need is a controversy about our lack of gay rights on the EU level.
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Oct 20th 2012, 12:15
All roads lead to the gay lifestyle now 24/7, it is the new paradigm.
There has to be a gay angle to everything as nothing else is deemed important.
gil falzon
Oct 20th 2012, 12:33
Basically to be a commissioner, unless you toe the pc over-zealous atheist ideas of the socialist and green MEP's (or at least pretend to) the European Parliament won't let you in or they will force you to resign later if you get through the net. They did this to Christian Democrat Commissioner Buttiglione. No alternative views permitted. So open-minded and pluralist. My foot!
Peter Murray
Oct 20th 2012, 09:50
Given the concerns expressed will the nomination of another Commissioner lfrom Malta ikely to win the support and approval of the EU Commission in appointing such?
D Borg
Oct 20th 2012, 09:31
the PL clearly lacks the PN's Machiavellian slyness.....
otherwise it would have championed to have Simon Busuttil to be nominated, and rob the PN of a valuable election candidate - just like the PN did with George Abela.
Neil Dent
Oct 20th 2012, 14:01
I have a strong feeling that his Excellency would disagree with your tit-for-tat proposal! On both appointments!
Sue Borg
Oct 20th 2012, 09:13
Dr. Frendo deserves the post - he is well acquainted with EU policy and will most certainly give a valid contribution.
j brincat
Oct 20th 2012, 09:13
“Obviously, we are being realistic. We are not expecting the Prime Minister to nominate a Labourite,” the sources said"
And why shouldn't it be so? Didn't Dr Gonzi once talk about what he termed 'as the new way of doing politics'.
The most important aspect of this nomination is a very capable person and who is of utmost integrity!
(jb)
Michael Seychell
Oct 20th 2012, 13:23
Dr. Gonzi not only stated that he will introfuce a 'new way of doing politics' but he introduced it by appointing Dr. G. Abela as President of Malta who as we all know was a Labour Deputy Leader and who has his daughter as Secretary of Joe Muscat's Party.
Michael Seychell Tal-Pieta
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