Others carry the can for Muscat's mistakes - Busuttil
Labour leader Joseph Muscat gave "a banal excuse" to justify his deputy's resignation, according to Nationalist Party deputy leader Simon Busuttil.
Addressing a press conference this afternoon Dr Busuttil said PL deputy leader Anglu Farrugia's comments on the judiciary were just a pretext for Dr Muscat to get rid of him.
"What Anglu Farrugia said on the judiciary on Sunday is condemnable and serious but it was used as a banal excuse by Muscat to get rid of him," Dr Busuttil said when asked by timesofmalta.com whether Dr Farrugia's comments were banal.
Dr Busuttil insisted that Dr Farrugia was a convenient scapegoat for Dr Muscat's mistake when he sent Franco Debono to Xarabank instead of his deputy.
"If Dr Muscat becomes prime minister, it will be the people who will pay for his mistakes," Dr Busuttil said.
On Sunday when Dr Farrugia criticised a magistrate and alleged political bias in her judgment, Dr Muscat had every opportunity to rebut there and then, Dr Busuttil added. "Instead Dr Muscat applauded him and thanked him."
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Patrick Cumbo
Feb 4th, 12:36
My advice Dr Simon..You made a huge mistake listened to the hidden leaders of PN coming from EU were you was comfortable waiting for PN to loose and then you could have came with Glory to become the next PN leader. Now I think it is too far too late because you are stained with a very dirty campaign that will reflect soon enough on your race for leader. My last advice, talk less and hide for now.
Lawrence Anastasi
Jan 5th, 12:34
Unfortunately bantering back and forth in the comments will change nothing. Political colours in Malta and largerer countries are so entrenched, like a legacy. that everyone wears blinders. Until the population wakes up and votes for what is right not for the colour nothing will change or improve. In other words the parties will have to do the right thing for the right reasons to get elected.
Paul Cassar
Dec 22nd 2012, 09:03
OK.......................but we are carrying the brunt of the SEVERAL MINISTERS who made innumerable mistakes during gonzipn and stayed put.................nay they took a 600/500e raise............................and with what you are saying shows that you are of the same elk................. SO WITH YOU WE ARE SURELY GETTING MORE OF THE SAME ................no, thank you.
Steven Brockwell
Dec 22nd 2012, 15:06
the brunt is that malta has done good this year, facts, that no one not even the PL can say other wise.
yes trouble in parliament and within the party it self. however, gonzi got results that malta needs.
this is from a floater
Alfred J. McEwen
Jan 5th, 15:35
We are also bearing the brunt with the illegal immigration policies and will continue to do so until a different train of thought reverses those policies and reconsider what was signed in the Dublin II treaty. I will be very surprised if either party will make a move to this effect.
Jonathan Camilleri
Dec 22nd 2012, 08:45
There's a nice little software we use to blame each other when it hits the fan at work...
A. Mizzi
Dec 22nd 2012, 08:37
Min qieghed jithaq b'min issa?
Simon Busuttil qieghed jiehu post lawrence Gonzi u JRID IDAHHAQ UKOLL!
Qedin veru fiz-zmien il- PN tomimi, fid-Dar Centrali! : )
pat muscat
Dec 22nd 2012, 08:26
Instead of tackling the mess cooked at Castille: interrupted power supply, unreliable Arriva buses, lack of trust in the Institutions, biased Public Broadcasting: Simon is pretending that these obstacles do not exist!
Giov DeMartino
Dec 22nd 2012, 18:28
Dik kienet gidba sfaccata jew zball Sinjura Muscat?
Michael Magri
Dec 22nd 2012, 08:16
Dr Busuttil With your such silly efforts in trying to project yourself as some kind of a political `god-sent`, at the same time, you are rendering yourself politicaly Contradictable. First you say, " what Dr Farrugia said is condemnable and serious" and then you say " it was used as a banal excuse"
Also who carried the `barrels` for GonziPN`s blatant mistakes.! ALL OF US Dottore ok.!
Hallina
Maria Xuereb
Dec 22nd 2012, 08:04
And just to remind Dr. Busuttil who is paying for the misakes your goverment did during the last five years, your, Dr. Gonzi, this ministers or us all the Maltese people living on this island??? Don't act as a child anymore, stand up and be a man enough to the truth. Yes Dr. Farrugia made a mistake when he referred to the Magistrate and Dr. Muscat did the right thing, asking him to resign.
David Magro
Dec 22nd 2012, 06:30
Dr.Busuttil I am comparing you with KMB when you make balant statements such as the resignation culture. In your opinion if a minister is not voted out from his post by the PN parlamentary group then he is on the good side. I expect more maturity now that you came from eu....if the PM ask a minister to resign....it is done instant in the EU....what did Barroso did to Dalli?
joseph demicoli
Dec 22nd 2012, 05:11
in my opinion there is no difference between Pawlu Borg Oliver and Simon intelligence. no ideas and no substantial speeches . Simon you are still choosing your trousers which you need to wear before you continue walking in public. so please don't try to impress us because up to now you changed nothing as your are still inexperienced.
S.M. Cuschieri
Dec 22nd 2012, 08:31
Give the guy a break Joseph........Simon already shows great capabilities and an intellect beyond his years. He is an asset to the PN. Just give him chance to find his feet.
Pierre Fenech
Dec 22nd 2012, 01:11
If Simple Simon does not say so that would mean that our prime minster should have sacked most of his cabinet with all the gaffes and serious accusations there are on them. So it suits the gonzi pn to say so. For me this resignation show how seriosly the PL is taking such matters and i beleive more now that with this PL we will see a much needed change in politics in malta.
Joe Anastasi
Dec 21st 2012, 23:14
Pardon me, but haven't we Nationalists been saying for years that people like Anglu Farrugia are the "bad pennies" from old labour which we would all like to see removed?
So now the PL has removed Farrugia and looks like it is about to replace him with an intelligent and moderate Louis Grech.
So what are we still complaining about?
Victor Calleja
Dec 21st 2012, 22:39
More of the same Busu
D. A . Agius
Dec 21st 2012, 21:30
Interesting.... one cannot comment on the Judiciary but at the same time the scandals, issues, protests, no shows etc seem to become water underneath the bridge.....
Shows us that red or blue, it's all coming out of the same mess....
G Caruana
Dec 21st 2012, 21:26
Lejber deputy has no faith in lejber leader.........kbira din ta
Lejber leader forces lejber deputy to resign........ghax waqa ghac cajt bil qassata ta Franco
lejber leader leaves door open for lejber ex deputy... ara x'griefex
Ivan Scicluna
Dec 21st 2012, 21:08
We now have two parties who can play chess - not only one!
John Zammit
Dec 21st 2012, 20:58
Further to the above comment I heard Dr.Busuttil. Asking for Dr. Muscat Resignation as he was also there when Dr Anglu Farrugia said on the judiciary on Sunday is condemnable and serious. Calculating by the same yardstick what should have the Prime Minister done after the Gaffes that his ministers committed
Carmel Zammit
Dec 21st 2012, 20:56
Dr. Busuttil we waiting for the change you promised. By justifying Dr. Austin Gatt's arrogance and by supporting Tonio Fenech you prove that nothing has changed. You are simply delivering more of the same and we cannot expect anything different.
Carmel Zammit
Dec 21st 2012, 20:52
How ironic. Dr.Bbusuttil who in his frenzy to make it to the post claimed that the delegates should choose him to avoid getting more of the same ended up oblivious to his actual role. He has been carrying the can for his failed leader for years without even knowing it it seems.
Charles Massa
Dec 21st 2012, 20:32
Dr Busuttil jikkontradixxi lilu innifsu meta qal li din hija haga serja u wara hadha kontra rizenja. Jekk hi haga hazina sewwa ghamel dr Farrugia li irrizanja. X kienu jaghmlu tal PN li kieku gew iffacjati bl istess sitwazzjoni. Dr Muscat iffacja li dr Farrugia. Ara dr Busuttil ma iffacjax lil Franco Debono
Charles Muscat
Dec 22nd 2012, 02:23
Qed thallat il hass mal kabocci, Dr. Busuttil hada contra irrezenja to Farrugia ghax Muscat waqa ghac cajt meta baght lil Franco minn flok Farrugia u mhux ghax Farrugia ghamel remarka regward il gustizzja.
Joseph Bugeja
Dec 21st 2012, 20:30
Moody's has downgraded the country ceilings for Malta, Estonia and Slovakia, in a move which it says is “based on its assessment of the elevated risk for economic and financial dislocations in the euro area.”
Is this Muscat's mistake too Dr Busuttil.
Strong finances indeed. If having 6 billion debt is not a 'mistake' (in fact a 'finanzi fis-sod') then I am Mr Abramovich!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 22nd 2012, 08:21
@ Joseph Bugeja
You do not understand Moody at all. The downgrading is due to "financial dislocations in the euro area" not to anything done, or not done, by this Nationalist government (or Muscat for that matter).
No, you are not Mr Abramovich.
Joseph Bugeja
Dec 22nd 2012, 15:12
@ Francis Saliba M.D.
I thought there were more than 3 countries in the EURO area!
And Malta had to be ONE of them!
Stop imitating your leader and take people for a ride or is that a spin?
We are deeply in debt and hardly any assets (having sold all the family silver) to back it up.
No I am not Mr Abramovich but financially I'm closer to him than the near bankrupt Maltese economy.
Mr. M. Camilleri
Dec 21st 2012, 20:27
whatever the excuse . . . Pl is chosing the right diretion!
Good luck Louis Grech!
Sammy Cutajar
Dec 21st 2012, 22:03
like.
Guzi Abela
Dec 21st 2012, 20:21
As if the people aren't already paying for Gonzipn's mistakes.
John Zammit
Dec 21st 2012, 20:19
Further to the above comment I heard Dr.Busuttil. Asking for Dr. Muscat Resignation as he was also there when Dr Anglu Farrugia said on the judiciary on Sunday is condemnable and serious. Calculating by the same yardstick what should have the Prime Minister done after the Gaffes that his ministers committed
Paul Borg
Dec 21st 2012, 20:12
Oh, so Busuttil is the new spokesman ? No more GonziPN now it's BusuPN. That's very convenient for a lame Prime Minister !!!
Alfred Grech
Dec 21st 2012, 20:12
Simon, keep it clean!!!
Victor Calleja
Dec 21st 2012, 20:06
Din ma qaliex il kapo tieghek il bierah? Ghidilna ghax ma ghamiltx dibattitu ma Franco
ALBERT FENECH
Dec 21st 2012, 19:42
Unlike Anglu Farrugia, Busuttil did not have the guts to resign after first running away from Franco Debono and then glossing over Tonio Fenech's breach of the Code of Ministerial Ethics by stating that after all, Fenech did "apologise". This country needs LESS people like Busuttil and MORE people like Anglu.
ALBERT FENECH
G Caruana
Dec 21st 2012, 19:48
Who are you trying to convince?
Joe Tabone
Dec 21st 2012, 19:56
@ Albert Fenech,
"This country needs LESS people like Busuttil and MORE people like Anglu." good one, you should tell Joseph!
ALBERT FENECH
Dec 21st 2012, 20:05
G. Caruana - he who has eyes to see, let him see; he who has ears to hear, let him hear. By the way, Jesus Christ said that.
ALBERT FENECH
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 21st 2012, 20:16
Simon did not run away from Franco Debono. He was sharp enough to spot that the emissary from the LP was not one of its deputy leaders as promised but a reject from the Nationalist Party.
ALBERT FENECH
Dec 22nd 2012, 07:04
When you lock yourself away in a room and refuse to face a person who is challenging you to come out and talk and calling you "a coward" and then emerge 30 minutes later ushered by a posse of heavies, looking as white as a sheet and sweating profusely, to be whisked away, I call that RUNNING AWAY.
ALBERT FENECH
ALBERT FENECH
Dec 22nd 2012, 08:23
When you lock yourself away in a room and refuse to face a person who is challenging you to come out and talk and calling you "a coward" and then emerge 30 minutes later ushered by a posse of heavies, looking as white as a sheet and sweating profusely, to be whisked away, I call that RUNNING AWAY.
ALBERT FENECH
B Vella
Dec 21st 2012, 19:29
And who is paying for Arriva mistakes....BWSC......New Parlament.....and much more ,and yet No resignations.X'wicc ghandhu jitkellem hekk Simon Busutill !!!!
Chris Xuereb
Dec 21st 2012, 19:41
Issa aqilbu fuq in Net
Malcolm Farrugia
Dec 21st 2012, 19:07
The party for whom you wrote the last electoral manifesto GonziPn, has used JPO on the eve of the general election, and tried to discard him as soon as your party won the government again. You were so close to the oligarchy then and closer today, so what sense does it make for the pot to call the kettle black?
Tonio Bugeja
Dec 21st 2012, 18:59
Tajjeb wise guy- It was serious and condemnable...... and in the same breath you say it was not justifed to be removed, NO WONDER given the PN`s Track record of resignations,,,NO I mean NON RESIGNATIONS. Why resign? aqleb id-dinja ta taht fuq u hadd mhu accountable.
A Calleja
Dec 21st 2012, 18:54
What Dr Farrugia said about the judiciary was said on Xarabank. Why wasn't he sacked the next day ????
Joe Tabone
Dec 21st 2012, 19:17
Your guess is as good as mine............................................PL still think they can fool the electorate!
Kenneth Williams
Dec 21st 2012, 19:37
He did not mention the magistrate by her name on Xarabank
Karl Consiglio
Dec 21st 2012, 19:38
u wijja it took them a week to think it over.
John Zammit
Dec 21st 2012, 20:26
No attacks were levelled against any particular person on Xarabank The only Minor comment By Dr. Farrugia was levelled on Sunday
Natalie Mallett
Dec 21st 2012, 20:45
@Kenneth Williams
He did not mention her by name on Sunday either
John Zammit
Dec 21st 2012, 21:13
@Natalie Mallet I agree with you that the no names were mentioned on Sunday
j brincat
Dec 21st 2012, 18:52
I don't recall that Simon called any press conference to impress us when GonziPN's government was toppled on Monday 10th following a vote on the Budget which he (GonziPN) linked to a vote of confidence in his government and which did not make it through because the government has lost the majority!
Wasn't this much more serious than this resignation of Anglu!
(jb)
Joe Tabone
Dec 21st 2012, 18:49
So, Anglu does his best in the Deputy Leader debate.
The day before JM and Kurt Farrugia (PL media guru) make a strategic mistake in presenting Franco as PL deputy leader, and poor Anglu gets the blame for this mess.
A guy with Golden Gloves must be pulling the strings!?
j brincat
Dec 21st 2012, 18:55
As far as everybody know Anglu resigned for some remarks uttered in respect of the Judiciary.
But obviously you are indulging the PN's cheap spin!
(jb)
Joe Tabone
Dec 21st 2012, 19:03
@J Brincat,
Anglu was FORCED to resign.
Anglu was also replaced by Franco on Friday's Xarabank, strange he wasn't good enough on Friday night but approved for the Saturday programme!
Joe M Borg
Dec 21st 2012, 19:22
J Brincat. Anglu was probably forced to miss the bus (xarabank). After his blunder about the high waters, he corrected it after the break. One might ask: 'Who called him and ordered him to correct it?" Was it Joseph? Joseph ALSO corrected what Helena said about the audit. While Scicluna gave a clear indication of the strategy to lower tariffs: re-arrange health and education spending! Taxes!
j brincat
Dec 21st 2012, 18:45
"What Anglu Farrugia said on the judiciary on Sunday is condemnable and serious but it was used as a banal excuse by Muscat to get rid of him,
It's either condemnable or banal! Please decide!!!!
Does he think that we are easily impressed by a hastily set up press conference?
Seems he forgot the gaffe about ACTA!
(jb)
Joe M Borg
Dec 21st 2012, 19:24
Probably he forgot ACTA, but he STILL remembers the gaffe about water bills, not electricity! He also remembers that he is STILL there, while his PL counterpart, though still 'relevant', is history. He's so 'relevant' in fact, that he was given the boot!
Joseph Bugeja
Dec 21st 2012, 18:36
Aren't you carrying the can for GonziPN's mistakes? Or are you like Franco Debono said 'another faction of GonziPN?
Do you think that by appearing on the local scene suddenly you become some messiah? You'd say no but think so..
If as you said recently GonziPN delivered some 97% or thereabouts of 'your' programme I'd shudder to think what the result would be if he delivered say 5O%.
Joe M Borg
Dec 21st 2012, 19:29
There's no need to shudder Joseph, because PN DID deliver 97%. If we had Joseph's way, he would have delivered Malta,...into the wall! Yes, he had suggested to Gonzi to copy Cyprus. But luckily, Gonzi proved a much better statesman than your him. Gonzi delivered Malta into strong financies. Check on 'Moodies' and Standard and poors'. Sorry, you missed this because Onetv were not aware of this
Joseph Bugeja
Dec 21st 2012, 20:26
@ Joe M Borg
Moody's has downgraded the country ceilings for Malta, Estonia and Slovakia, in a move which it says is “based on its assessment of the elevated risk for economic and financial dislocations in the euro area.”
The above has just been announced...not on ONE TV because I hardly switch the TV on but definitely not on NET TV. You seem gaffe prone like your leader!
j brincat
Dec 21st 2012, 18:31
"Others carry the can for Muscat's mistakes - Busuttil"
Perhaps, it would do Simon good to look up the word 'accountability' in his dictionary!
After having done so, he can then try again to impress us!
Was there anyone who carried the can for Toppled GonziPN failures?
(jb)
Mario Tabone
Dec 21st 2012, 18:46
@ J Brincat
If as you say this is about accountability then seeing that Joseph Muscat agreed with and applauded Anglu Farrugia at the time, then under the same terms of accountability Joseph Muscat should also resign as he being the party leader publicly endorsed Dr Farrugia's actions. Now that would really impress us !!!!
Mario Tabone
Dec 21st 2012, 23:24
@ J Brincat
Your silence leads me to believe that deep down you agree with my comment but are stumped as to how you can answer .
It is very easy to speak in parrot fashion and repeat what dear old JM blurts out . However going by your leaders gaffs in public I would be very sceptical of repeating anything that he says as it tends to backfire on you and makes you and others look really stupid.
Willie Grech
Dec 21st 2012, 18:30
"What Anglu Farrugia said on the judiciary on Sunday is condemnable and serious but it was used as a banal excuse by Muscat to get rid of him," Dr Busuttil said.
If AF's comments were serious, how come these same serious comments suddenly become 'banal' for a leader to use them against his second? But again, it is very hard for the PN's second to understand what 'accountability' means!!
Natalie Mallett
Dec 21st 2012, 20:53
All PL supporters keep repeating the current buzz word accountability. I repeat this, Why did Joseph Muscat applaud him on Sunday and then made him resign? If he approved of what Anglu Farrugia was saying then he was accountable for applauding and agreeing with him. Why does not he resign as well? On the other hand leave him there, his blunders are a big asset to another PN victory.
salvu calleja
Dec 21st 2012, 18:26
Maybe Dr Busutil had forgot that people are already paying for GonziPN mistakes which its electoral manifesto was written by Dr busutil himself...... I believe People are capable to judge at their own experience after all we are not so cwic mhux hekk...
vincent Lia
Dec 21st 2012, 18:44
Niether Dr Busuttil has forgotten anything nor those that 'are not so cwic'.They know that this legislature the manifesto of which was written by Dr Busuttil kept us in the black while other countries went bankrupt. No other government could have performed better in the circumstances. Wake up man.This legislature finished with the best budget ever, while other countries had the worst ever.
David John
Dec 21st 2012, 19:05
Vincent Lia.
This legislature finished with the best budget ever" Of course, ta' qabel l-elezzjoni. Trid tmur xi 3 snin l-universita biex tifimha.
Tony Mangion
Dec 21st 2012, 18:24
If what Dr Farrugia said was considered as being "condemnable and serious", how would you expect that Joseph will sweep it under the carpet?. Regarding the payment made by the people against bad governance, you know quite well that we had forked out billions of Euro due to bad decissions taken by Gonzip,n,
Giov DeMartino
Dec 21st 2012, 20:12
U kemm capcaplu Joseph lil Anglu Farrugia meta dak li qal kien "condemnable and serious"
James Dimech
Dec 21st 2012, 18:17
Spot on. Muscat's performance during the last few days was disastrous. If he goes on like this I might go swallow GonziPN all over again
Mary Camenzuli
Dec 21st 2012, 18:11
Joseph Muscat must have seen some very bad polls this week...
.
Marion Storace
Dec 21st 2012, 18:23
Dr. Muscat is still leading with a strong 9-point over GonziPN
Alfred Vassallo
Dec 21st 2012, 19:45
Well you had them for the past 4 years and still counting!
*Joseph Brincat
Dec 21st 2012, 18:10
Muscat's mistakes - Busuttil ???
YOU KNOW AS MUCH AS I KNOW THAT
GONZI IS AFRAID OF THE PAST 25 YEARS ???
Becouse Joseph Muscat will introduce the whistle blower protection act
ON THE PAST & THE FUTURE ,
H. Psaila
Dec 22nd 2012, 07:28
Which cloud are you living. Did you forget that Labour ruled the country from1996 up to 1998 or you want to forget that part of history? Maybe you are ashamed to remember them?
Paul@ Micallef
Dec 21st 2012, 18:01
So what makes you so different from the other politicians Simon? You are playing the same dirty tricks the other big stars in the PN played so far. We are not interested in this anymore. Please as a broadminded MEP living most of the time in Brussels come up with something new and not the usual village politics.
Chris Xuereb
Dec 21st 2012, 19:10
What like promising to eradicate poverty?
John Zammit
Dec 21st 2012, 17:58
While Dr Busuttil says that what Dr Farrugia Comment is condemnable and serious He is alleging that he served as a scapegoat repeating his Master's Voice. What the PN really wanted from such an innocent incident? To have a Platform for the election
R Abela
Dec 21st 2012, 17:55
yep! and under gonzipn we are paying for the mistakes!
Joseph Fenech
Dec 21st 2012, 18:15
@ R , Abela . YEP ! We would have been paying a high price if Dr. Gonzi had taken Economic Guru Joseph Muscat's advice and copied the direction CYPRUS that took. CYPRUS has today been declared a JUNK RATED STATE. What a Christmas it would have been thanks to the inexperienced Gaffe - prone Joseph Muscat.
R Abela
Dec 21st 2012, 19:09
yep cyprus! cyprus went dawn because it's banks were tied with greece.We do not have banks that are tied to greece, so yes mr muscat's advice would have worked!How about telling us something about the pn's Irish tiger which turn into a purring pussycat!
R. Borg
Dec 21st 2012, 17:50
What JM done indicates how a good leader should lead. The people had to pay for the bad management of Arriva, Mater Dei, Power station etc . Under the leadership of Joseph Muscat we will expierence the real "PAR IDEJN SODI"
Marco Farrugia
Dec 21st 2012, 18:03
some management courses would do you (and Joseph M) good, to learn: "how a good leader should lead"
Adrian Farrugia
Dec 21st 2012, 18:06
Have you read the letter of resignation of dr.Farrugia? It seems that J.muscat is more stuborn than Alfred Sant
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