Farrugia claims are campaign’s most serious news item – PM
Labour leader says Anġlu Farrugia still has a big role to play in party
Former Labour deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia. Photo: Jason Borg
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday urged the media not to dismiss Anġlu Farrugia’s interview with The Sunday Times, saying this was the “most serious” news item of the campaign.
Labour’s former deputy leader, who was forced to resign in December, told The Sunday Times this week that he was uncomfortable with Labour’s closeness to contractors. He also said he was a victim of political murder.
Dr Gonzi said these “serious accusations” were confirmed by the Labour Party, which in a statement admitted to meeting “betrayed” businessmen. If Labour leader Joseph Muscat had any respect for public opinion, he would stop hiding from these questions.
When asked to clarify what was wrong with politicians meeting disgruntled businessmen, Dr Gonzi simply reiterated his view that it was Dr Muscat who should be answering the questions, not him.
“It’s not me who made the accusations,” he added.
Dr Gonzi also refused to be drawn on making comparisons with incidents from his own party’s past, such as PN general secretaries attending boat trips with contractor Zaren Vassallo, who was awarded major tenders, including that of the BWSC power station.
“Don’t twist around Anġlu Farrugia’s words,” replied Dr Gonzi. “Dr Farrugia said much more than that in his interview... much more. And that’s why we need an explanation.
“Let’s not make a big effort to hide the most serious news story in this campaign. Why is there all this effort to hide it?
“Why is Dr Muscat hiding from giving a clarification about this allegation being made by someone who worked by his side for all these years? His own deputy leader said he felt uncomfortable,” Dr Gonzi said, urging journalists to direct the questions to Dr Muscat.
Meanwhile, Dr Muscat yesterday said Dr Farrugia still had a big role to play, both in the country and the Labour Party.
Dr Muscat also unreservedly condemned death threats that Dr Farrugia said he had received following his resignation from the party.
Dr Farrugia mentioned the death threats during his interview with The Sunday Times.
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George Camilleri
Feb 14th, 13:43
Prime Minister... you have got to be kidding. Are you saying that an internal party squabble is comparable to an oil corruption scandal ??
Is it possible you haven't realised that those who are not partisans are not impressed? Are you racing this election for your blue rabble only? Probably !!
You're better off cleaning the PN up, because we are SICK of one scandal after the other.
Darren Attard
Feb 10th, 12:16
PN ma ghandomx fuq xix jaqbdu ma tal PL u jidher car. imnalla kien Anglu ax ghandna kampanja tila u nizla fuq anglu farrugia.
Richard Farrugia
Feb 8th, 15:27
Anglu was right and sincere in his statements last Sunday and now they are proven. Both parties should follow his advice and stay far off businessmen that seek their lucrative fantasies and struggle to be better than their cult neighbours. These people rub each other back to the detriment of the public coffers. Included should also be enlisted the cartels of professionals giving public service
Richard Farrugia
Feb 8th, 14:56
Anglu was right and sincere in his statements last Sunday and now they are proven. Both parties should follow his advice and stay far off businessmen that seek their lucrative fantasies and struggle to be better than their cult neighbours. These people rub each other back to the detriment of the public coffers. Included should also be enlisted the cartels of professionals giving public service
Joe Tabone
Feb 8th, 13:57
I hope that we are all aware the Dr. Anglu Farrugia was elected Deputy Leader by the same PL delegates that elected Joseph. He was the person elected by the vast majority of LABOUR delegates, he was not put there by Joseph like the CEO Piscopo!!
Are LABOUR delegates trusted party members? is PL credible??
Ramon Casha
Feb 8th, 13:43
Farrugia claims are campaign’s most serious news item – PM
*cough* oil procurement *cough* - Rest of Malta
victor bonello
Feb 8th, 12:35
What a cheek... has GonziPN ever given any explanation about the serious matters brought about by Dr. Franco Debono which are surely more serious seeing that this Government is a complete failure and the PN destroyed!
Tony Agius
Feb 8th, 12:27
Dr.Gonzi you are right,and Joseph Muscat has to shoulder the reponsability for victimizeing Anglu Farrugia just to score some goals to His own favour,and stupidly forgeting the big number of supporters that Anglu use to get to his Party, I met some of Anglu's supporters and they told me that what Joseph did to Anglu, he can do it to every one, and their vote will only go to Anglu, if not no vote.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 8th, 14:00
Mhur hemmnek Tony !!!!!!!!!! Dawn fejn sibthom qadd tfittixhom bit-torc.
Tony Agius
Feb 8th, 20:17
Dear Ronnie Callus,
jghogbok jew le ma huwiex interesanti ghalija, pero nassigura lil kulhadd li nies b'relazzjoni vicina hafna ta familjari tieghi , tkelmu mieghi u qaluli ezattament li jekk il vot mhux ser jiehdu Anglu , la ser jiehdu Luis, u la Jason u lanqas hadd minnhom, temmen jew ma temminx ma jibdel xejn min dak li qaluli huma.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 8th, 12:21
Imnalla kont int Ang ghax hloqtlu xi haga fuqiex jitkellem lil Prim u l-assistent tiegh - Simon.
john muscat
Feb 8th, 11:40
This could mean that we should take Gonzi's promises lightly before the 9th March elections and ponder on what Anglu said.
Wally Vella-Zarb
Feb 8th, 11:39
Does he really expect the people to believe that the Farrugia interview is the most important issue of the campaign? Gonzi will get his answer in four weeks' time. Not everybody is a "Cuc Malti".
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 8th, 11:32
There is no earthly reason to suppose that any businessman who would eventually be found guilty of any procurement scandal is not, here and now, among those who sought refuge, and are being granted asylum, inside the Labour Party after having been disillusioned with the Nationalist Party's attitude towards them and their pretensions.
Wally Vella-Zarb
Feb 8th, 11:56
It is customary for men of science to first establish irrefutable and reproducible proof and then to derive a conclusion therefrom. Adopting an a priori conclusion and then invoking unsubstantiated and imaginary assumptions are the hallmarks of a conspiracy theorist, sometimes referred to as charlatanism.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 8th, 13:19
@WallyVellaZarb
Before presuming to lecture "men of science" please understand that I DID NOT adopt any a priori conclusion - quite the opposite in fact. I argue that others shouldn't jump to the conclusion that the businessmen, who may be proven guilty of corruption, are not among avaricious business people whom the LP is welcoming because they pretend to have been "betrayed" by the NP.
Wally Vella-Zarb
Feb 8th, 14:56
Dear 'man of science', there was absolutely no need for you to prove my point. As befits a true "man of science", mine is based on fact while yours is merely a supposition.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 8th, 16:55
Your failure to understand a "man of science" is excusable. Not so is your failure to understand your own comment. You deduced (wrongly) that I had adopted an a priori conclusion. I did the opposite. I argued AGAINST OTHERS adopting an a priori conclusion that the alleged abusing businessmen were proven NP supporters and not the "betrayed" ex-supporters now being welcomed by J Muscat.
D Zarb
Feb 8th, 11:28
A drowning man clutches to a straw.
Evarist Saliba
Feb 8th, 11:41
Are you refering to the "betrayed" businessmen?
It would be interesting to learn why/how these persons felt betrayed?
What did they expect that was not delivered to them?
John Wayne
Feb 8th, 12:08
Why don't you ask the businessmen themselves Mr Saliba?
victor bonello
Feb 8th, 12:39
seeing the amount of Direct orders issued during these last few months to patch up the roads, there are still many contractors and businessmen attached to the oligarchy. Naturally they are in panic as the cow seems is about to dry up.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 8th, 13:27
@ John Wayne.
First of all Joseph Muscat would have to divulge the identity of the mysterious insatiable businessmen he has taken under his tutelage. Only then would it be possible to take your advice and ask the businessmen themselves in what way the NP did not rise to their expectations.
Evarist Saliba
Feb 8th, 16:27
@ John Wayne
I put the question to D. Zarb since he spoke of "a drowning man". It is up to him, if he cares to, to clarify his statement.
D Zarb
Feb 8th, 23:16
By drowning man I am referring to GonziPN and its efforts to stay afloat by trying to make a mountain out of every molehill. These tactics are old school. Next they will be saying that PL is corrupt before it even reaches Castille.
Doesn't it grieve you that the same man who wants to give you a few euros extra every week wanted to take 600 euros for himself every week?
John Wayne
Feb 8th, 11:28
Gonzi is just clutching at straws.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Feb 8th, 11:18
Is Dr Gonzi gonna spend (waste) the last 4 weeks of the campaign repeating the same thing???
Hasn't he realized that it is backfiring??
Chris Finch
Feb 8th, 11:11
Surely the oil procurement scandal is the most important story of the campaign?
Or does the PM think that the average man on the street paying over the odds for fuel and electricity for years isn't such an important issue?
Evarist Saliba
Feb 8th, 12:02
The oil procurement scandal is something that happened long ago which came to light now. It is important and steps are being taken in court.
The next election will decide which party will govern and it is important to know why disgrunted businessmen cosy up to a particular political party making an ex-d leader of that party uncomfortable.
That is important and topical.
Dora Smith
Feb 8th, 11:06
Desperation at it's best ................ comments below refer Dr Gonzi no need for repetitions !!!!
Tony Agius
Feb 8th, 10:34
Can the Labour Party tell us who are the betrayed businessmen they are talking about? and how they have been betrayed? is it because they wanted to do something that was not in proper order and they were stoped from doing it?is this the way that the Malta Labour Party is gathering a number of persons around them and mix them with the others?some with clean and genuin reputation and some with not.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 8th, 11:12
I think they feel betrayed because they were not on the famous list boasted about by Joe Saliba. As we know and have seen, it's only a small circle that get the contracts - primarily one that openly supports and contributes to the PN.
Tony Agius
Feb 8th, 11:49
@ Mr Andrew Camilleri
What you are saying will be just bla,bla, bla, unless you tell us who they are, and how THEY, YOU and JOSEPH cosidered them betrayed, but with FACTS not with BLA, BLA, BLA.
victor bonello
Feb 8th, 12:46
@ Tony Agius - you should read the local papaers and you will know who is getting what and at what cost. You can also read the names of contractors some of whom are partners with PN backbenchers
Tony Agius
Feb 8th, 20:00
@ victor bonello
Victor your comment did not answer any questions, and Anglu Farrugia said,Muscat stabbed me in the back,and that Labour is close to contractors,and Joseph Muscat said that Labour Party met what He called betrayed businessmen, and He welcomed them open heartedly ,even if He used to call them friends of friends of PN,so Victor note that Anglu and Joseph talked about friends of MLP.
Albert Spiteri
Feb 8th, 10:10
I would say the "dirty-oil-spill-and-institutionalized-corruption" would be the story that crushes the serpents head. Anġlu Farruġia's come and go and few, if any, think much about them. BUT A WHOLE POPULATION PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE FOR DIRTY OIL AND DIRTY MONEY IS BY FAR WHAT KILLED THIS GOVERNMENT'S ALREADY DWINDLING CREDIBILITY FOR EVER AND EVER.
Albert Spiteri
Feb 8th, 09:58
I would say the "dirty-oil-spill-and-institutionalized-corruption" would be the story that crushes the serpents head. Anġlu Farruġia's come and go and few, if any, think much about them. BUT A WHOLE POPULATION PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE FOR DIRTY OIL AND DIRTY MONEY IS BY FAR WHAT KILLED THIS GOVERNMENT'S ALREADY DWINDLING CREDIBILITY FOR EVER AND EVER.
Karl Consiglio
Feb 8th, 09:34
"Farrugia claims are campaign’s most serious news item – PM"
or just something to hang on to
Paul Micallef
Feb 8th, 09:16
Iktar serja mill iskandlu taz zejt li qed nixtru bil miljun euro kuljum?!?!
Joseph Scerri
Feb 8th, 08:40
Igifieri il Commisions li ttiehdu fuq ix xiri taz-zejt mhux aktar importanti min din ta Anglu ,Sur Prim Ministru ? Jekk hemm il-hsieb li tippruvaw talljenaw il-poplu b'dak li ghaddej fuq ix-xiri taz-zejt sejrin hazin, ghax kif jejdt il-malti fl'ahhar iz-zejt jitla f'wicc l'ilma
Tony Agius
Feb 8th, 11:40
@ Joseph Scerri
Inti hawn hekk qieghed tghid( il Commisions li ttiehdu fuq ix xiri taz-zejt mhux aktar importanti min din ta Anglu ,Sur Prim Ministru ? jigiefiri inti qieghid tallega BLA BAZI TA XEJN , li il Prim Ministru jiehu il commisions taz - zejt ,issa jekk jogbok issustanzja dak li qieghed tghid halli iz zejt jitla f'wicc l'ilma GUSTUZ.
Charles Micallef
Feb 8th, 08:33
If the PM consider this serious news, than he is really scraping the barrel of political debates, no wonder he is going to lose the general election!
Ronnie Callus
Feb 8th, 08:12
Hallina Dr.Gonzi. Ahjar tikkoncentra fuq il-Budget ta' L-EU, il-kurruzzjoni fix-xiri taz-zejt, u affarijiet ohra li jolqtu lilna c-cittadin milli tinhela fuq dawn ic-cuccati biex tiljena lin-nies mill-problemi serji.
Michael Sammut
Feb 8th, 07:14
If this is all the Prime Minister has to clutch on, then he must really be desperate. The most negative campaign ever seen. A smear campaign and nothing else. Unfortunately this won't cut it. The people have had enough of these shenanigans Dr Gonzi. Reason will prevail.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 8th, 10:31
When the Prime Minister quotes an ex-deputy leader of the Labour party, who complains that he has been "politically assassinated" by his leader, which leader then inconsistently begs him to remain active in the LP, the Prime Minister is not being negative or conducting a smear campaign. He is asking Muscat to give a much needed explanation for his shenanigans so that "reason will prevail".
Chris Finch
Feb 8th, 11:13
Francis,
What about the political assassination of Franco Debono and JPO?
Everything Debono has said is being proven true. The saddest thing about it is that the most honourable politician has now been sidelined.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 8th, 11:14
Saliba, what happens within the LP is none of your business. Lets not try to play sanctimonious after all the shenanigans we have seen from Gonzi in his party and in parliament. Gonzi has so much more to answer for.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 8th, 13:32
@Chris Finch
Franco Debono and JPO were not polyically assassinated. They were given all the rope they needed so that they would hang themselves.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 8th, 13:37
@AndrewCamilleri.
As long as the Labour Party projects itself as Malta's next government, and Joseph Muscat as a "kwazi" next Prime Minister, then whatever happens in the LP is the business of every Maltese citizen. Haven't you grasped that fact yet?
Michael Sammut
Feb 8th, 13:46
Sensationalism is not reason Dr. Saliba. It is grinding an axe towards one's own ends. Reason against the rape of a country, and a debt beyond belief, now that's another matter altogether, learned doctor. I have all the explanations I require thank you very much, hard experience over the past 5 years, and that's really all that matters.
C. Vella
Feb 8th, 06:23
In my opinion Anglu's interview is being pumped up more than enough by the PN for the simple reason to try to put the PL in bad light. It's a known fact that PN has friends with big contractors. On the other hand Anglu's words were that of a lawyer. You need to read between the lines and one could easily find several ways how to interpret them. A role that PN are champions in doing.
Joe Bonanno
Feb 8th, 01:20
With respect PM, but the "Biggest" story of the campaign? This quip smacks of desperation, deflection and panic. It's time that you fire your spin doctors. No amount of repetition will ever make anyone take that statement, or you for that matter, seriously. Debt, systemic corruption, increasing poverty, etc. should be the most important topics.
Michael Sammut
Feb 8th, 13:48
Well put. And hopefully when the dust settles, this is what we will remember.
Alessandro Condorado
Feb 7th, 23:41
Dear PM, the most serious news is for those who have no sin/s shall cast the first stone..:~)
Tony Agius
Feb 8th, 11:28
@ Alessandro Condorado
So who do you think is that one to do so? You , Joseph Muscat , Tony Zarb ? can you tell us please? if not, what shell we do ? shut every one's mouth ? including your's, and Joseph's and Tony's, COME ON MAN.
Alessandro Condorado
Feb 8th, 13:32
Simple answer to Tony Agius. When the real evidence crops out i.e the whole recording. After all there is a more bizare scandolous event going on. The PN are trying to divert the attention about. THE OIL SCANDAL. Money that you and me are paying. COME ON MAN.
P Caruana
Feb 7th, 22:55
Is Gonzi serious ? Does Gonzi really believe that we are STUPID ? what is so serious with an allegation brought up by an angered Dr. Farrugia compared to all the rubbish that the PN klikka was involved in the last 5 years ?
We are not stupid, we are the Maltese people you should be defending.
Well, too late now.
Role on 9th March so you will know what the Maltese are.
PN days are counted.
Victor Vella
Feb 7th, 22:12
Ghad fadal xi cucc Malti jaghti widien lil Gonzi. Gonzi spicca jitkellem wahdu mwarrab minn kulhadd.
Tony Agius
Feb 8th, 10:42
@ Victor Vella
Tkellem GHALIK Victor, u mhux ghalina li qieghdin nifmu il frejeg li qieghed jghamel il Labour Party immexxi min Joseph Muscat, li luniku interes li ghandu u li ikun fil gvern, imbghad wara hallih ha jazghaq.
Alan Vassallo
Feb 7th, 21:15
I think the most serious news of this campaign is the fact that the existing government was never concerned about the high oil prices. If it was, then the necessary audits would have been made to uncover any unnecessary payments and to try and get a better price from another supplier, to start with.
I do not think that buying oil is rocket science so I hope that everyone can understand this.
Joe Tabone
Feb 7th, 21:02
With Anglu's interview and Tony Zarb's recording it seems that LABOUR (PL) already have a KLIKKA in place. The Golden years??
J Tabone
Feb 8th, 09:02
What are you talking about, sur Tabone? What Klikka? It's obvious that the GWU's recording is a heavily edited interview tailor made to cause dissention and nothing more. Re Anglu's gripes? PL is much better without him. Who would want him as PM if something happened to Joseph Muscat?
For me the most serious items were: 1 the oil tangenti 2 reduction of energy costs not Anglu's gripes!
Ronnie Callus
Feb 7th, 20:58
Dr.Gonzi you are making a storm in a cup of tea. It would have been better if the 'Whistle Blower Act' was passed together with the Parties financing.All work was prepared to you by Dr.Franco Debono and you shelved them.
Paul Sammut
Feb 7th, 20:53
Dr Gonzi i wonder why Dr Anglu Farrugia seems to you the most serious news. Dr Franco Debono, JPO and Jesmond Mugliett accused Gonzipn off a lot more and to make it even worse while you were in power and you never faced them in anyway in fact all you did was to condem them from the Gonzipn party and you say Dr Muscat. Hidding when you clossed Parlament for a record time Hidding?
M Farrugia
Feb 7th, 20:07
Was Anglu kicked out because he was bad for the PL or bad for Malta, or perhaps he was in the way to some back door negotiations with prominent contractors knocking on PL's door.
Please choose the reason of your report below: