PL to support Tonio Borg nomination
The Labour Party will support the nomination of Tonio Borg for EU Commissioner.
It will be doing this because it had never worked against Malta's interest "and it never will", Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this afternoon.
He warned, however, that there were difficulties with Dr Borg’s nomination because of declarations he made in the past which had already reached officials in Brussels.
He did not specify what these declarations were but said that his confirmation should not be taken for granted.
Questioned following a news conference about energy, Dr Muscat said that although he would have liked matters to have been conducted "a bit differently", the nomination was the Prime Minister's prerogative. He did not agree with the Socialist group that the new Commissioner should have been nominated after the elections because the post could not remain vacant till then.
Dr Muscat hoped that the grilling of Dr Borg would not be overshadowed by any doubts over the John Dalli case.
The Labour leader said that without putting pressure, he was making an appeal for the Dalli case to be dealt with as soon as possible.
In the case of then Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said, he said, the courts had acted faster than usual and it would be good if similar tactic was used in Malta in the case of Mr Dalli.
Asked whether he thought Mr Dalli was a victim of GonziPN, Dr Muscat said one had to wait to see how things develop. However, Malta needed to know what was the circumstantial evidence against Mr Dalli, which led to his resignation.
He stressed that it was not the PN or the PL that looked bad but Malta, which would now have an uphill struggle to change the impression some people had developed about the Maltese.
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63 Comments
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Charles Muscat
Oct 24th 2012, 14:10
Whats the catch?
Peppi Borg
Oct 23rd 2012, 19:26
Well done PL . The good of the country comes first.
John Sammut
Oct 23rd 2012, 18:15
Trust Joseph to do this, biex jidher helu mal-moderati. Why has he not spoken against his MEP joseph cuschieri, who suggested on his facebook that Alfred Sant should be commissioner? Joseph is simply trying to take credit for something he did not do. nahseb tghidx kemm qalilhom li hu tifel sew lis-socjalisti ewropej. diga bdejna, se jkun hemm l-intoppi. min jaf min se jaqlaghhom!
Paul Cardona
Oct 23rd 2012, 18:13
Typical Labour... riding the band wagon after they saw the support for Tonio. if Joseph Muscat supported Tonio' candidature, he should have spoken immediately. Why speak about what the head of the European Socialist Hannes Swoboda, only now?
Joseph Muscat is just an opportunist trying to appear moderate.
Giuseppe Azzopardi
Oct 23rd 2012, 18:10
PROSIT for what? For a conditional Blessing?Halluna PL!!!
DrBorg Grazzi mill-Qalb tal-kontribut tieghek lejn ic-cittadin malti uAwguri ghall -pozizzjoni gdida li l-Prim Ministru u l-Kabinett ghogbu jafdak fiha.
J Cauchi
Oct 23rd 2012, 17:59
I do not agree. Justice demands that first the truth in JD's case should come out. Then steps would be taken. This should have been the support and solidarity for JD. against Borroso's arrogance and lack of democracy. Especially if the LP believes that JD is innocent and his civil rights breached. At least let us see the report first. This is called leadership. .,
C Muscat
Oct 23rd 2012, 17:52
Prosit PL. What about Dalli? Where is Malta? Where is PL? Where are our MEP's?
Hossam Helwani
Oct 23rd 2012, 17:41
Now this is a very good positive attitude taken by the pl. I congratulate this move it is wise sensible and mature. This is the type of dialogue we need with our politicians. This is highly commendable prosit.
M Grima
Oct 23rd 2012, 17:27
Joseph Muscat is a breath of fresh air in Maltese politics. Although still very young he shows the maturity and dignity of a great political leader.
Joe M Borg
Oct 23rd 2012, 18:17
Which J Muscat are you talking about, Mr Grima? A 'breath of fresh air' because he promises EVERYTHING to EVERYONE, to garner votes? That shows GROSS immaturity and irresponsibility for me. About PL's attitude towards Tonio Borg: why don't we wait and see what they will do when the time comes? How will the PL MEP's behave during his questioning.
Ask Iceland how mature he was in his advise.
john muscat
Oct 23rd 2012, 17:15
Dr. Muscat is showing maturity more than most politicians.
Emmanuel Cachia
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:59
What a leader. Jekk dan mhux mod gdid kif taghmel politika, mela l-gdid kif ikun?
Ronald Cauchi
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:43
Frankly nobody should be supporting Dr Borg at all . He is the wrong choice to send to Europe.No matter what PN and PL say.And we all know why.
Michael Magri
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:38
AGREED 100% Dr. MUSCAT
That`s how MATURED POLITICIANS should act.
Well Done PL..
Sandro Pace
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:31
A mature move by the PL, which was flexible enough and did not fear modifying its original position in favour of the national good. Though its reservations were reasonable as based on Buttiglione's rejection, I think that the latter's demise was more due to his antiquated views on women, rather than those on homosexuality.
Louis Ebejer
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:23
Nawgura lilTonio Borg ghal hatra ta kummissarju Ewropej. Hbieb antiki ghalkemm b fehmiet pulitici opposti.
P Azzopardi
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:19
prosit Dr. Muscat !
ghalkemm jien nazzjonalist pero fejn hu abjad abjad u fejn hu iswed iswed.....!!
Anthony Mizzi
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:35
Jghamlu l'istess in-Nazzjonalisti meta jkunu fuq is-siggijiet tal-oppozizzjoni?
Jghinuh il-Gvern tal-Gurnata meta jkunu fuq is-siggijiet tal-Oppizizzjoni???
Joe M Borg
Oct 23rd 2012, 18:27
Mr Mizzi. The 'Nazzjonalisti' have ALREADY done better than this! The choice as president one from the other side. And that was an excellent choice, as he has made us all proud.
Eddy Privitera
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:08
Instead of thanking Dr. Muscat for putting the interest of Malta instead of the party first, you mention the position of the Labour Party in 2003. Yes Labour believed that a partnership agreement with the EU - as so many other countries have - was in the interest of Malta ! Time is proving Dr. Sant and Labour's position then, right !
P Azzopardi
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:17
ghadna indoqqu l istess diska.....
...bil kemm kemm ma tridx tghid li il partnership rebah ir referendum ukoll ?
victor caruana
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:31
Sur azzoppardi, biex tkun taf jekk rebahx il-partnership mur staqsi lil Grecja, Italja, Spanja, Portugal, Irlanda, Ingilterra u dalwaqt ahna wkoll.
Anthony Mizzi
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:37
Ghalehkk qedin sew u l'Ewropa ghandhom toghma ta' GonziPn fl'Ewropa, mhux b'JohnDalli biss imma b'ostenituri tal-Partit fil-Gvern!
Joe M Borg
Oct 23rd 2012, 18:31
Mr Privitera, you are STILL living in 2003! Keep dreaming! Dr Sant and MLP were so 'right', that they have been in opposition ever since, thanks to their brilliant foresight! You also missed the fact that Labour changed their position YEARS AGO! You are 9 years backwards! Dream on!
Joseph Brincat
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:06
PL to support Tonio Borg nomination
This is political maturity.Labour leader Joseph Muscat
Jo Meli
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:06
Malta First and Foremost is no longer a slogan but a way of Life for the Partit Laburista.
WELLDONE Partit Laburista !
Joseph Pavia
Oct 23rd 2012, 19:32
Malta First and Foremost was never just a slogan for the Labour Party but it was the iits ideology. It was not the way of life but the reason for the party's life. That is Labour. Malta First and Foremost. And Malta is us, the Maltese. Today a Maltese is facing the whole of Europe and standing up to the high and mighty. Even if he is guilty, which I don't believe he is, he is making us proud.
Joseph Borg
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:56
Mossa u direzzjoni tajba mim naha tal PL. Prosit
Henry S Pace
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:46
@ Dominic Chircop
' Se jagħmel lill-P L partit konfessjonali !!!! '
FAQAR TAL-MOHH
m borg
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:45
This is what I call clean politics. And you martinelli everybody knows now that you are stuck in a blue cobweb in your blue planet. No need to confirm that anymore. You are so negative whatever the opposition says.
Aaron Vella
Oct 23rd 2012, 19:41
Look whose talking... Congratulate Joseph for what? Talli mhux se joqghod jitfa il-bsaten fir-roti u jhalli l-Kummissarju l-gdid Malti jaghmel xoghlu? Before you judge on political maturity one should try to sound mature, m borg.
A Micallef
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:36
'The LP will support the nomination of Tonio Borg for EU Commissioner because it had never worked against Malta's interest"
Has Joseph Muscat forgotten the time when he fought for years to keep Malta out of the EU? Or does he still believe that was in Malta's interest?
Do you take us for fools? I for one am not. You on the other hand are an opportunist magna cum laude, trying to rewrite history.
Manuel Camilleri
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:32
"The Labour Party will support the nomination of Tonio Borg for EU Commissioner because it had never worked against Malta's interest "and it never will", Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this afternoon." - And all this coming from the same person who campaigned against Malta's EU memership. Dr. Muiscat still thinks that the great majority of this Island Nation are morons.
R Axisa
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:02
Allura meta l-PN kien kontra c-children's allowance, kontra li l-mara tinghata l-vot, kontra li titwaqqaf il-linja nazzjonali Air Malta, kontra l-pensjonijiet ............. ????
Joe M Borg
Oct 23rd 2012, 18:39
Mr Axisa; And Labour was AGAINST EU accession; AGAINST Euro; AGAINST Local Councils; AGAINST computers; AGAINST chocolate; AGAINST Mater Dei; AGAINST Smart City; do I need to go on?
Gordon Debono
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:20
To add insult to injury, soon after this article was published, Franco Debono had the cheek to erase the article 'Tonio Borg does not enjoy the backing of the majority in parliament' from his blog. Is he expecting his blunder to go unnoticed?
Gordon Debono
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:15
Franco Debono publicly stated that Tonio Borg's nomination "does not enjoy the backing of the majority of Maltese Parliament". How arrogant and foolish he must be to assume that because he is against Tonio Borg's nomination, the whole PL paliamentary group will go along with him. This clearly shows thar Franco does not enjoy the trust of either party in parliament.
Noel Abela
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:12
Political maturity at its best. GonziPn please note the new way of making politics.
Andre Grech
Oct 23rd 2012, 20:42
Gonzi PN appointed an MLP ex deputy leader as president. I guess the PN knows how to make politics. I feel proud to be Maltese seeing the opposition following the government's footsteps by acting mature in this decision.
J Martinelli
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:07
Uphill battle?
This will be history in a matter of weeks, even before a new Commissioner is confirmed. Malta's reputation in the EU is high and will dwarf any negative connotations created by this incident.
Is Joseph building excuses should he become PM and has trouble getting EU approval for higher subsidies for W&E bills?
Look around you Joseph.That's where your self-created worries lie.
W Cassar
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:27
Perceptions don't die in a matter of weeks Im sure you know this if you have lived on this earth for sometime.
Does Malta have an uphill struggle? .. probably no more than Italy or Greece .. you see we are from the South and countries from the South do not have very good track records when it comes to being serious, and fighting corruption ...maybe its the Mediterranean Sun who knows!
Vince Piscopo
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:40
Your partisan comments do not help GonziPN in a time when people are looking for maturity in politics rather than confrontation that divides. This is our country and thats is the whole concept of what a "movement" signifies doing what is best for the country and the people to move forward no matter what their politcial principles are. I am certain genuine nationalists endorse the stand taken by PL
P Pace Balzan
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:06
Since there are indications that the accusations could have been fabricated; I believe that out of solidarity and natural justice the position should not be filled or accepted by anyone until the outcome is conclusive.
Jay Oatmon
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:46
You are correct - corruption, failing to pay taxes and massive benefit fraud is the reason Greece Spain and Italy are in trouble now - the money is gone.
Andre Grech
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:00
Very mature decision by the PL. this shows political maturity.
Henry S Pace
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:00
He warned, however, that there were difficulties with Dr Borg’s nomination because of declarations he made in the past which had already reached people in Brussels. '
This is the type of some maltese people. The bad character of some maltese always prevails.
This occured when Rocco Buttiglione was at this test. He declared his beliefs and was rejected by the EP.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:42
Excellent news! It is great to see the PL rise to the occasion. This is indeed great news. God knows we need good news these days! Very mature. Very responsible, I must say.
Joseph Attard
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:38
Mela Dr Muscat tihom is-sapport ta! U jekk tkun fil-gvern hallih fl-istess posizzjoni
P Azzopardi
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:58
sour grapes ?
P Azzopardi
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:58
sour grapes ?
Joseph Attard
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:15
Sour grapes? Mela hsibtni ridta jien il-pozizzjoni jew?
Eddy Privitera
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:15
Joseph Attard If Dr. Borg is finally appointed, no one in Malta can do anything to change him.
Joseph Attard
Oct 23rd 2012, 17:12
Ovvjament li ma tistax tnehhih. Imma bla dubju tista' ma tikkonfermahx
Wara kollox il-PN qatt ma jkun jafulek. Idhol fil-web portal taghhom u ara ssibx sentenza li turi li Joseph Muscat qed jappogga n-nominazzjoni ta' Tonio Borg. Isemmu biss lil Dr Muscat meta skont huma jkun qed jopponi
P BORG
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:36
Nice one !!!!
In the meantime I guess at this stage someone should update the following article in his blog:
"Tonio Borg’s nomination does not enjoy the backing of a majority of the Maltese Parliament"
Joe Xuereb
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:26
From what I believe, John Dalli would be more suited to a career in financial investments in Malta and abroad. Warming seats in Parliament is not temperamentally suited such men. Seeing his profits grow would enhance the quality of life of any man if this were t he career of choice. Of course everything, including honourable and transparent choices, comes at a price.
Ronnie Callus
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:26
Hundred percent Dr.Muscat. It's Malta's citizens which are going to suffer from this issue by the impression built on us by foreigners. Thus it is very important that this is taken seriously and act fast to see whether Dalli was implicated or not. I think that both parties should see into it.
Dominic Chircop
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:24
viva Joseph Muscat, il-mexxej tal-progressivi !
Se jagħmel lill-P L partit konfessjonali !!!!
Tonio Micallef
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:24
This words are of a statesman at his best.
A Micallef
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:48
Mela, the same statesman that so had the country's interest at heart that he did his best to keep us out of the EU.
Ma nafx jien. Jien nahseb li nies bhalek jergghu jitwieldu kull filghodu u lanqas jkunu jafu xgara il-bierah.
Eddy Privitera
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:17
Tonio Micallef: Are you, by any chance, on the EU's gravy train ?. Just asking.
A Micallef
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:51
Lanqas xejn Sur Privitera. Naf naraf l'iswed mill' abjad pero, haga li int, tul l-ghexieren ta' snin li ilek tikteb favur il PL u dejjem kontra il-PN, qatt ma kont kapaci taghmel.
U hawn ghandi ragun nikkumenta hekk ghax li kien ghal Joseph Muscat, Malta barra mill UE.
Il-mument li tibda tammetti certu affarijiet huwa il-mument li in-nies li jaqraw il posts tieghek jibdew ituk naqra kredenza.
Eddy Privitera
Oct 23rd 2012, 18:42
A. Micallef: Dak li ili nikteb jien mis-snin 60, ghandi s-sodisfazzjon li kien apprezzat minn individwi ferm aktar importanti minnek. L-ewwel wiehed kien il-mahbub President Sir Anthony Mamo. ! Kien hemm Presidenti ohra li infurmwni li kienu jsegwu dak li nikteb, fosthom il president Guido Demarco, li nqisu bhala habib, li kull meta kien jarani, jigi fuqi u jghidli li dejjem isegwi dak li nikteb !
A Micallef
Oct 24th 2012, 08:01
Issa x'stennejt li jghidlek Guido x'hin lemmhekk Strada Rjali? "Bongu Eddy, kemm tghid cucati'?
Xorta bqajt ma rispondejtx. Li JM iggieled kontra id-dhul ta Malta fl'UE, kien qed jahdem favur l'interess Malti jew kontra? Ghax minn dak in nar li lahaq MEP, beda jghid li jaqbel ma l-EU. Jigifieri, jew kien qed jahdem kontra Malta dak iz-zmien, jew l-istqarrija li jaghmel kollox favur Malta fazulla.
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