Who is the real Joseph Muscat?
The pre-Christmas bombshell that rocked the Labour Party by the sudden dismissal of Anġlu Farrugia as party deputy leader for parliamentary affairs by Joseph Muscat raised a lot of issues. The electorate has every right to seek clarification about them before they decide which way to vote in the March 9 election.
I am one of those columnists who have been a fierce critic of Farrugia mainly because of his uncertain past as a police officer of the Labour Government of the 1970s and 1980s. Once, after writing in this paper, I had a phone call by one of Farrugia’s canvassers who asked me to meet him as he wanted to correct my image of Farrugia. We never met but I had asked him to use his democratic right to reply to me. He never did. Farrugia should have been dismissed years ago and not so late in the day when the election campaign is about to begin.
But, then, why only Farrugia? Why not those who, when they served in a Labour Government acted like the three monkeys who saw no evil, heard no evil and did no evil? These individuals are still treasured and, presumably, trusted by Muscat and are probably lined up to become ministers should Labour win the election.
It is no wonder that Labour’s critics like myself saw in Muscat’s act of Farrugia’s summary dismissal a good excuse for repositioning the Labour leadership in the wake of Simon Busuttil’s election as deputy leader of the Nationalist Party.
But things are not all that clear. Muscat himself clouded the waters by almost begging Farrugia to stand as Labour candidate at the next election. The reasoning is totally illogical. So a deputy leader is dismissed because, so we are told, he attributed political motives to a court sentence given by a magistrate but the same person is welcome as a member of Parliament in a governing PL. There is no doubt in my mind that Muscat’s invitation to Farrugia is simply a poor way of preventing too much blood letting in the PL so close to an election.
Political leaders who aim to lead the country should be made of sterner stuff.
Muscat has proved to be both enigmatic and inconsistent in this instance as he, indeed, has been in the case of Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco. All his statements about this affair can be summed up in assuring the public that he and the Labour Opposition will abide by whatever is suggested by the Commission for the Administration of Justice.
Muscat wants us to believe that he is not aware that this same commission had, years ago, unequivocally censured this judge for involving himself in the Malta Olympics Committee against all ethical considerations.
What had kept Muscat for years from taking the initiative and call a spade a spade rather than involve himself in inconsistent posturing? Political expediency? The electorate has a right to know.
Of course, I am biased and I had never hid my Nationalist pedigree to all readers here and elsewhere. So I can say that I am not surprised that Muscat is found ducking and diving when faced with sudden real political problems.
He did so in his past when he worked hard to prevent Malta from joining the European Union and he did the same when he claimed that the Partnership had won the EU referendum. More recently, he even had suggested to Lawrence Gonzi that Malta should have followed the Cyprus economic model to overcome the troubles that surround us. We all know where Cypus is today and where we are.
Muscat is still playing at politics. How can he expect Labour spokesmen to engage sensibly in public dialogue when they are not allowed to argue in favour of Labour’s upcoming policies which he insists to keep under wraps for fear of being torn apart by their opponents? Muscat himself is giving the electorate the impression that he has no confidence in his own policies.
We need political leaders who mean no when they say no and not may be.
The Farrugia and Farrugia Sacco affairs have revealed to the electorate that Muscat was found wanting at all crucial moments of national import. He lacks clarity and decisiveness. Not Prime Ministerial material.
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B. Farrugia
Feb 27th, 18:54
J. Muscat is human, an erring human being, like anyone else.
He has also a personal vision of a future Malta which has captivated the imagination of thousands of Maltese who also wish for a better future,
a securer future and one we would be proud to leave to our children and their children.
A chance like this only comes once in many decades
and now is the time to change.
To start a new chapter
pat muscat
Jan 5th, 09:51
One thing for sure about Joseph Muscat; he is not the one who gave himself 500 euros per week behind our backs, at a time when, without blushing, he was asking us to do the necessary sacrifices!
Joseph Xuereb
Jan 3rd, 20:51
Dr. Anglu Farrugia was axed now and not much before because JM needed his vote in Parliament as otherwise this could have neutralised Franco Debono's vote. If JM used Anglu's vote in this manner, can you imagine what he will do if he wins the votes of those who are believing in his unattainable promises? But I firmly believe that the majority are not so stupid.
Mark A. Sammut
Jan 3rd, 22:24
Dear Mr Xuereb
Please, do give us three examples of Dr Muscat's "unattainable promises". Then please give us the reasons why you consider them "unattainable".
Since you are right and we, the people, are not "so stupid", do please give us facts and figures, while kindly leaving aside, at least for the moment, mere propaganda.
Thanking you in anticipation,
Best regards.
Joseph Xuereb
Jan 4th, 18:16
Dear Mr.Sammut, 1) to reduce W&E bills, since fuel is expensive, something else has to give. Will it be part of the 1500 worforce at Enemalta?? 2) Reimbursement car registration fees will affect deficit your MLP criticised even though you have to admit PN steered us clear of all the economic probs other bigger countries are facing. Maybe JM will ask for a bailout like Cyprus!!!!
Joseph Xuereb
Jan 4th, 18:21
One last thing Mr.l Sammut. Why dont you ask your Joseph for facts and figures instead of his empty words. You should ask him to substantiate his promises by facts and figures. That is why I said that people are not so stupid. They know where they stand with PN but not with Muscat. You can ask Anglu whether he expected his leader to dump him while he was abroad!!!
David Bezzina
Jan 3rd, 14:04
It is taking tough decisions that make a good leader.
At the moment we have a PM who is not able to take such decisions because he allowed individuals who have hijacked his party and the country's institutions.
If anything,JM showed that he can take tough decisions when the need arises.After all,the leader of the party is not just a figure-head.
Tony Borg Borg
Jan 3rd, 17:04
Sur Bezzina dan l-ahhar smajna fuq it-TV li Dr. Farrugia f'Gunju li ghadda ikkritika il-Gudikatura fil-Parlament.
Ghaliex issa? Ir-raguni hija wahda, JM ried Ewro Parlamentari iehor ma Simon Busuttil.u Dr.Farrugia kien il-haruf tas-sagrificcju.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 3rd, 17:21
@DavidBezzina.
The sign of a good leader is "the taking tough decisions" that later prove to have been RIGHT decisions taken by a leader if he was not just a manipulated figure head. Only time will tell.
Mark A. Sammut
Jan 3rd, 18:23
Thank you, Dr Saliba.
Only time will tell.
This applies to all those in the political arena.
Mark A. Sammut
Jan 3rd, 13:45
(8)
, Malta was also seeing its food prices rising much faster than in mainland Europe.”
“The fact that in Malta, energy bills were much higher than those in Cyprus showed that the Maltese were not paying more because of the high price of oil, but because of the high price of incompetence, Dr Muscat said.”
Mr Felice Pace could perhaps use less rhetoric and more factual analysis.
Mark A. Sammut
Jan 3rd, 13:44
(7)
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101101/local/gonzi-not-as-good-as-fenech-adami-in-economic-management-muscat.334190):
“The average income of the the Maltese workers compared to the EU average had also deteriorated, while that in Cyprus had gone up.”
“Apart from the water, electricity and gas bills, which saw the Maltese paying 18 per cent more than in, say, Cyrpus,
Mark A. Sammut
Jan 3rd, 13:43
(6)
I have googled “Lino Farrugia Sacco impeachment”. It seems the idea appeared only in 2012. So what is the rhetorician expecting from Joseph Muscat? The question on impeachment should be about the Government’s timing, not Dr Muscat’s otherwise coherent position.
5. Cyprus: again, more rhetoric. This is what Dr Muscat had said about Cyprus in 2010 (you can find it here:
Mark A. Sammut
Jan 3rd, 13:42
(5)
Evil – “maladministration” would be the more appropriate term – is rampant on the PN’s side too. Was Austin Gatt’s political performance up to scratch? Was not money given to Tonio Fenech’s secretary for his electoral campaign? Etc etc
4. Rhetoric is again used in the Judge Farrugia Sacco’s case. It is only now that impeachment has been mentioned.
Mark A. Sammut
Jan 3rd, 14:50
CORRIGENDUM: Rhetoric is again used in Judge Farrugia Sacco's case.
Mark A. Sammut
Jan 3rd, 13:42
(4)
and won the case. There being no facts, some people resort to arguments by implication. Not exactly transparent, is it?
3. Evil is mentioned. And we see rhetoric again. Not only do we see rhetoric, but the author ingeniously admits his bias, thereby apologising for that rhetoric. This is good literature, but hardly good political analysis.
Mark A. Sammut
Jan 3rd, 13:39
(2)
He was a police officer of the State. The State is always the State, irrespective of the Administration. Let us consider an analogy: does the church change its nature each time a new bishop is appointed? No it does not. Similarly, the State remains the State, irrespective of the Government (or Administration). I say this because the implication was taken up by one reader (Adrian E Camilleri)
Mark A. Sammut
Jan 3rd, 14:48
(3)
who suggested that people who don’t agree with the Government should leave the country. This is obviously anti-democratic … and worse.
2. One cannot see the real link between the phone call on Dr Farrugia and Dr Farrugia’s political journey. The link is only implicit … innuendo … no facts. Indeed, when someone tried to impute facts to Dr Farrugia, Dr Farrugia went to court and
Mark A. Sammut
Jan 3rd, 13:39
(1)
This is an extraordinarily well-written article. Very intelligent, smart and skilful. So one compliments the author.
But it also scores highly on rhetoric.
There are some points which attract one's immediate attention. For instance:
1. Why is the Government conflated with the State? This is a very dangerous position. Dr A Farrugia was not a police officer of the Labour Government. He was
Eddy Privitera
Jan 3rd, 12:47
" Political leaders who aim to lead the country shopuld be made of sterner stiuff ", wrote Salvu Felice Pace ! And this is precisely what Dr. Muscat has proved that he is made of much more sterner stuff than Lawrence Gonzi. Who, instead of taking immediate action, turns two blind eyes and two deaf ears, to stories of scandals which have riddled his administration !
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Jan 3rd, 12:19
If Joseph Muscat can do what he did to his right hand man; then one begs the question of what would he do to someone like me, just a simple voter?
JC.
Adrian E. Camilleri
Jan 3rd, 11:21
A very good contribution Mr. Felice Pace. And very much to the point too. It is though the PL that must clean its own house first, and that will take some making. But I believe one can count of the intelligence of the 30% or so, who are so-called floaters, to ensure our country will continue to be governed by the best local politics have to offer - the PN option - for continuity and a safe future.
John B. Borg
Jan 3rd, 10:30
"Political leaders who aim to lead the country should be made of sterner stuff" Hear, hear Mr Felice Pace.
They should have never given themselves a 500 Euro per week increase.
They should have never promised 7000 jobs at Smart City
They should have never squandered 100 million Euros on the City Gap ego trip
They should have never allowed the BWSC project
They should have never accepted Arriva etc
Adrian E. Camilleri
Jan 3rd, 11:29
Mr. Borg, why don't you then move to some other part of Europe where you might possibly live a better life than in Malta!? Why do not people like you ever appreciate the GOOD/POSITIVE as compared to the negative, as PL and ONE always give so much prominence to? There has been so much more positive than negative issues during these last years, and more could be on offer under PN.
Evarist Saliba
Jan 3rd, 10:13
This criticism is well reasoned, but it should be directed at a wider section of the LP. Muscat is solely responsible for inviting back old timers from the Mintoff-KMB days, but the response to that invitation carried the seal of approval from the party.
It is the party that has to jettison its past, unequivocally.
Please choose the reason of your report below: