Anġlu Farrugia: I’ve lost faith in Joseph
Muscat says ex-deputy leader is still ‘very relevant’ to Labour
Anġlu Farrugia. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Labour’s outgoing deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia yesterday parted from Joseph Muscat in acrimonious fashion, saying he had lost faith in the PL leader.
Yesterday morning, Dr Farrugia published a two-page letter tendering his resignation sent to Dr Muscat on Thursday, which shows the bitterness of his departure.
“I feel that in the current circumstances, since I have lost faith in you, it would be in the interest of the Labour Party that I resign from this post,” Dr Farrugia wrote.
The Labour leader responded by leaving a door open to Dr Farrugia and insisting he was still “very relevant”.
Dr Farrugia was forced to resign on Thursday after saying in a speech on Sunday that a magistrate had displayed political bias in a case he was involved in.
However, the former deputy leader wrote that, since Dr Muscat did not understand anything in his speech, he felt there was no need for him to contest the next election.
Explaining that while in his speech he did not mention the magistrate, Audrey Demicoli, by name – nor her father, who in the early 1990s served as an assistant general secretary of the PN – he wanted to point out that members of the judiciary should declare their political allegiances and withdraw from deciding cases where they might have a conflict.
He said this was particularly important with corrupt practices during general elections.
In his letter, Dr Farrugia also revealed Dr Muscat had congratulated him after his speech, in the presence of his family members.
Asked to react to Dr Farrugia’s resignation letter yesterday, Dr Muscat adopted a conciliatory tone, saying he understood his former deputy leader’s feelings following Thursday’s events.
“I can understand that Dr Farrugia is hurt. However, we need to look forward and I am sure that, after some days, we will find a way to move on,” Dr Muscat said.
Playing on the Prime Minister’s claim that his rebel MP Franco Debono had become “irrelevant” after the Budget vote which he helped defeat, Dr Muscat said he considered Dr Farrugia “as a very relevant person who still has a lot to give to the Labour Party”.
“The door is always open to Dr Farrugia and if he wants he can still contest the general election,” he declared.
Dr Farrugia’s surprise resignation on Thursday came after a series of events in the preceding week.
Last Friday, Labour decided to drop Dr Farrugia’s confirmed participation for a debate with the PN’s newly elected deputy leader Simon Busuttil.
Instead, it gave Dr Farrugia’s slot to rebel PN MP Franco Debono. The programme was cancelled and Labour’s move was censured by the Broadcasting Authority.
On Saturday, Labour agreed to field Dr Farrugia in a TV debate with Dr Busuttil. However, his performance was harshly criticised by political observers.
On Sunday, when addressing a Labour activity, Dr Farrugia criticised Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, without mentioning her name, accusing her of political bias.
Excerpts from Dr Farrugia’s letter (translation from Maltese)
“Although I disagree that the issue we discussed (comments on a member of the judiciary) should lead to my resignation, I feel that in the circumstances, given that I have lost faith in you, it would be best, in the interest of the Labour Party, that I resign from this post...”
“Following my speech last Sunday, which was well received by all those present, including yourself and you congratulated me in front of my family, an article was published on the front page of The Times the following day which revealed the magistrate’s name and that of her father and The Times confirmed the rest of the story.”
“Later in the day, while I was on a short holiday with my family in Sicily, which you knew about, you called me about this issue and I gave you my thoughts about how you should deal with the questions of the same newspaper. In the end, you kept insisting that the reference to this magistrate was serious and that I should resign.”
“With a heavy heart and after consulting my wife and daughter, after you asked in writing for my resignation, I am submitting my resignation from the post of Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs.”
“And since it seems that you have understood nothing of what I wanted to say last Sunday on the right of free elections and that there should be no shadow of doubt on any conflict that a member of the judiciary could have, especially on issues like corrupt practices, I feel that in the circumstances there is no need for me to contest the next general election.”
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William Caligari
Dec 23rd 2012, 18:17
Dr A. Farrugia jghid ; il-fiducja tieghu fil-konfront ta' Joseph Muscat intilfet u
ghalhekk qed jissottometti ir-rizenja tieghu. Din ma tfisser xejn li Dr Farrugia
jahseb li Dr Muscat tilef il-fiducja f'Dr A.Farrugia; u mhux Dr.Farrugia, tilef il-fiducja
f'Joseph Muscat kif ikkwotawh.
Ma nafx x'interess jibqa, fuq li taqra.
Mario Tabone
Dec 23rd 2012, 08:05
Joe Muscat publicly applauded and endorsed Anglu Farrugia's speech. He should therefore under the same terms of accountability that he so likes to preach about, also resign.
Frank Zammit
Jan 3rd, 20:25
Why should JM resign? Perhaps it is because your GONZI PN did not have the guts to take decisive action in similar circumstances? Joseph showed everybody that he means business and that under him as PM no nonsense will be tolerated. I have faith in Dr. Muscat and I I know that deep down inside we all agree that it is about time that politicians are held responsible for their actions.
Paul Gauci
Dec 23rd 2012, 04:15
Anglu Farrugia's post was untenable. Asking for his resignation was the ONLY choice which the PL leader had.
B. Farrugia
Dec 22nd 2012, 22:40
When the going gets tough, the tough get going,
JM job is to improve the lives of the Maltese by firstly winning the next election.
If he does not do this he has simply failed, and must tender his own resignation.
He has every right, and is his duty and responsability to form the best team possible to reach this aim.
Mr Emanuel Farrugia
Dec 22nd 2012, 18:44
Leadership Skills
The ability to lead effectively is based on a number of key skills. Decision-making in leadership however involves other people as leaders need followers, so the decision-making process will usually have an impact on your team of followers.
Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
P. Barbara
Dec 22nd 2012, 15:52
How come we have not seen some comment or other from ONE frequent (to put it mildly) visitor to this website ??
Vince Agius
Dec 22nd 2012, 14:57
Jekk ma nizbaljax, Anglu Farrugia kien deher fil Billboard tat Team Maghqud hux ????
B. Farrugia
Dec 22nd 2012, 22:23
It team ghadu maghqud;
nieqes wiehed, u wiehed gdid.
Steven Brockwell
Dec 22nd 2012, 14:43
The door is always open to Dr Farrugia? yes thanks alot first fire him then tell him our door is open ???thats no more than an insult, or even a glimps of what mistake was made.
william cauchi
Dec 22nd 2012, 13:12
Let's be frank, LP without Anglu Farrugia and other such dinosaurs is a much more attractive offer and better off.
One left and half a dozen others have to go, and the faster the better.
anthony sultana
Dec 22nd 2012, 14:11
AGREE more than 100%
Joseph Camilleri
Dec 22nd 2012, 15:12
don't worry... toni abela is next in line. wait and see...
K. Vella
Dec 22nd 2012, 12:53
Dan tfisser meta tkun progressiv.....
Issa l-idejat ha jibdew jidhlu f'xulxin.....
Din hi l-politika Laburista (the so called Road Map) li pprepara ghal dawn l-ahhar 4snin u nofs....
Awguri Malta, we are in for some tough times....
Michael Spiteri
Dec 22nd 2012, 12:48
I wouldn't expect anything better from Anglu. Good riddance. PN - back to the drawing board.
Vincent Cassar
Dec 22nd 2012, 15:23
A few months ago you were hailing AF as part of the team maghqud. Now good riddance. It will be a good riddance when we see all your partit maqghqud get defeated at the next polls. PL Movement (or whatever it's called) - baaaaaaccckkk to the drawing board Lol...AND TO THE FLOATERS I SAY: JM PROMISES HEAVEN ON EARTH AND DELIVERS...HELL! He did this to his closest friends...he will do this to YOU!
Joseph Agius
Dec 22nd 2012, 11:50
PL United We Stand....Ooooops :)
Joseph Zahra
Dec 22nd 2012, 11:39
Min jaf kemm xtaqt jghidu irrilevanti u kellu jigdem ilsienu. beda jberraq fil-PL
John Zammit
Dec 22nd 2012, 11:32
I admire Dr Farrugia for shouldering responsibility.Just hope that he will reconsider his decision not to contest
Joe Tabone
Dec 22nd 2012, 11:38
John,
We have to wait and see who the KING wants in the castle!
John Zammit
Dec 22nd 2012, 14:24
@ Joe Tabone
The king is the General Conference and no one else
Joseph Bugeja
Dec 22nd 2012, 15:26
@ Joe Tabone
I am more interested in whom the people want out of Castille!
Never knew you were a fan of Dr Farrugia though!
John Zammit
Dec 22nd 2012, 16:46
@ Joseph Bugeja
It's not a question of being a fan. He was the Deputy Leader and I gave him my respect. I like you, am more interested in seeing a change than any other thing
E. Mifsud
Dec 22nd 2012, 11:17
Anka f'dal-kaz ta' Anglu Farrugia, Muscat qed jipprova joghgob lil kulhadd. Inkredibbli!
B. Farrugia
Dec 22nd 2012, 22:29
Ma tantx ghogob lil anglu
A pace
Dec 22nd 2012, 11:12
I agree with Mr Muscat that Anglu Farrugia - AND his declaration of having lost faith in the PL leader - is very relevant indeed. We need serious leaders in this country; please stop dealing us this petty form of politics.
Ray Buhagiar
Dec 22nd 2012, 11:12
Is Dr Joseph Muscat a One Man Show? Looks Like Dr Joseph Muscat took a unilateral decision to remove Anglu Farrugia without much discussion. Who's Next ?
Victor Vella
Dec 22nd 2012, 11:06
Evviva Labour.Grech will solve everything. It seems that from an oligarchy to oligarchy. is the passing buck. One of evil the other of virginity.The new political creed of the LP. The latter wants Malta to get back to virginity and let the spoiled of 25 years of a political classified regime be redressed by the virginity of the new labour. On 9th March a holiday to Virgin Islands by RyanAir.
anthony sultana
Dec 22nd 2012, 10:32
So far so good, because the people want a gentle government.Joseph M looks like that's what he want also, but you still have some more to go,for a new modern progresive PL government.People will help you in the election, they will choose the most gentle modern candidates to manage our tiny island.Prosit Joseph for such a move.
Joe Tabone
Dec 22nd 2012, 11:37
Anthony,
I assume that ANGLU was removed very gently by JM of the new modern progressive PL...........a gentle betrayal of a Deputy Leader!
James Dimech
Dec 22nd 2012, 10:15
Beyond Joseph Muscat's rhetoric and blue ties, Labour is just bluff. As soon as they where engaged on things that really matter - i.e. policy - they crumbled to pieces.
Looks like we are safer with good old corrupt GonziPN
M Sciberras
Dec 22nd 2012, 10:07
Am glad that he has resigned, as he wasn't someone I wanted to see representing any Maltese govt. But it is ironic that he may have made a valid point. Even in a small island as ours, where conflicts of interest are almost inevitable, is the one he highlighted acceptable? Faith in our battered judiciary is not restored by pretending that shocking revelations are exceptions or keeping silent.
Charles Mangion
Dec 22nd 2012, 09:29
Labour started loosing the herd of sheeps it could cost them the election
Joe Tabone
Dec 22nd 2012, 09:27
Anglu was man enough to go for the Deputy Leader debate on Saturday after JM & Kurt Farrugia (PL media guru) made a mess on Friday and sent Franco instead of PL Deputy Leader.
Who gets the blame for this mess?? Anglu.
Who is pulling the Royal strings??
Vincent Cassar
Dec 22nd 2012, 15:27
Exactly...and a few others too. Now imagine these 'gurus' governing the country. Guess it's time to migrate!
Please choose the reason of your report below: