Muscat hits out at Gatt's 'concoction'
Muscat hits out at Gatt's 'concoction'. Video: Kurt Sansone
Joseph Muscat has acknowledged meeting oil traders but insisted that all he told them was a Labour government was interested in a gas-fired power station.
The Labour leader was reacting to a press conference by Transport Minister Austin Gatt this afternoon in which the former energy minister implied that Dr Muscat had met oil traders.
Addressing party supporters at Xaghra in Gozo, Dr Muscat accused Dr Gatt of concocting a story to try and portray the Labour Party and the independent media in cahoots to bring him down.
"These are the arguments of someone who has nothing else to say," Dr Muscat said, adding that Dr Gatt had better answer the serious questions raised by the oil scandal.
To applause and in a cheeky tone, Dr Muscat said he met oil traders and told them the party was interested in shifting to the cleaner gas. "Our policy has been to get the country off its dependence on the dirtiest oil."
He called for a positive campaign and urged supporters to continue working to convince people to vote Labour in the election.
He also picked up on the moving testimonial given by former PN head of radio Kevin Drake yesterday, who said the country should not go back to the times when people were distinguished by their political creed.
"We have to keep our doors wide open and welcome these people," he said as supporters gave him a standing ovation.
The meeting under the tent did not last long but Dr Muscat was given a rousing welcome in the presence of the president of European Socialists in the European Parliament Hannes Swoboda.
Mr Swoboda is expected to address tomorrow's mass meeting.
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Denis Pace
Feb 17th, 10:25
This STINKS of Labour's infamous DIRTY TRICKS
Charles Bugeja
Feb 17th, 10:21
ma nahsibx li haqqu ahjar!!!
Joseph Portelli
Feb 17th, 09:03
dik kampanja pozittiva - attakki kontinwi kontra austin gatt!! iz-zejt beda tiela f'wicc l-ilma!
Michael Magri
Feb 17th, 17:51
Sur Portelli.. Dak li qed jghid Dr Muscat huwwa dak li hareg mill-gazzetti mhux b`xi tendenzi laburisti, u f`demokrazijja, dak huwwa DMIR SAGROSANT tal-Kap ta l-Oppozizzjoni.. Allahares Dr Muscat jghalaq halqu wkoll fuq dan l-iskandlu tas-seklu.. Ma tarax Guz hi li qed tghid cucata papali..!!
S Sammut
Feb 17th, 08:27
Same old same old labour.. ..
patrick cutajar
Feb 17th, 07:07
Merhba Sur Drake u Kuragg! Prova ohra cara li l-partit laburista taht it-tmexxija ta Joseph Muscat inbiddel u sar partit miftuh u jilqa lil kull min hu ta rieda tajba. Issa komplu bezzghu bil-babaw!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 17th, 06:39
There is definitely a very dirty "concoction" but the cook is Muscat and associates - not Gatt. Even the blinkered Labourites must acknowledge that in their heart of hearts. That is why they are so evasive in their comments spreading red herrings in all directions and without shame.
Maria Xuereb
Feb 17th, 06:12
Hafna minn dawk li kkummentaw hawn taht nisthajjilhom il-FARIZEJ ta' zmien Kristu. Dawk kienu jemmnu li jghidu u jaghmlu huma biss hu tajjeb. Illum f'Malta hawn id-demokrazija grazzi ghaz-zewg partiti min gab haga u min gab ohra. Fis-60's gewwa l-isptar ma kontx tista ddahhal u taqra l-Orizzont, kellna l-Interdett, konna msawtin u llum inbidel kollox grazzi ghal PN u PL.
Joseph Portelli
Feb 17th, 09:05
ma tiftakarx maria meta sal-1987 allahares jarawk bil-gurnal In.......... taghna!! ax anke l-isem nazzjon ma hallewlna fil-gazzetta!
Richard Caruana
Feb 17th, 13:10
X'memorja qasira!
Kien ikollna nahbuha l-gazzetta In-Taghna. Mhux hekk biss, lanqas biss stajna nuzaw l-isem Malta jew Nazzjon. Dik liberta'! Dik demokrazija.
Veru li hawn il-Farizej f'dal-pajjiz.
Aristide Galea
Feb 17th, 18:38
Sur Portelli u Sur Caruana , milli jidher jew għadkhom zgħar jew ma jaqblilkhomx li tiftakru is-snin sittin . Dak kien zmiem meta int kont tkun ivvittimizzat jekk kienu jarawk tixtri jew taqra gazetti jew revisti tal-partit Laburista . Insejtuħ l-interdett u kemm inqdejtu bil-knisja għall-iskopijiet tagħkhom ? Jaqaw tinsewha l-istorja , fejn jaqblilkhom ?
Joseph Gili
Feb 17th, 05:54
Gadkom ma tistawx tnizluha li zminkom spicca. Ftit iehor u Malta terga tigi tal-poplu.
Lawrence Fenech
Feb 17th, 05:42
Thares biss lejn wicc AustAG tinduna mill espressjoni li mitluf wahda nobis u l'anqas biss qed jikkonvinci lilu innifsu ahseb u ara lil poplu. Donnu Gonzi biss qed jemmnu S'ISSA.
J Martinelli
Feb 16th, 23:08
Why would Muscat meet with oil traders? Just to tell them that he is not interested in their oil?
He couldn't meet gas traders because he forgot that to convwert to gas he has yet to build storage tanks or continue to pursue the pipeline project.
The more he beats about the bush, the more he proves that he has no valid plan and no idea how to run the country.
anthony bartolo
Feb 16th, 22:52
If Muscat was interested in gas-fired power stations why did he had a meeting with oil traders?
Salvu Sciberras
Feb 16th, 22:24
No wonder it was a short speech! With a discredited deputy leader, a strong smell of a frame-up, 3 candidates who might be implicated, it all seems that Muscat's pack of cards might come crashing down.
George Cutajar
Feb 16th, 22:07
The oil traders should have been informed beforehand that there was no interest in their oil and not bring over to discuss a non-starter. But then again contats always come in handy.
elvin borg
Feb 16th, 20:16
Ahjar idur dawra sew ma ta madwaru fi hdan l lejber il kap ta l mlp,dazgur li jilqahom fi hdanu dawn nies laqwa li jakkwista l VOT min ghandhom eh imma!!!
G. Vassallo
Feb 17th, 07:58
Bhal ma hu ser jakkwistah ghal l'ewwel darba min ghandi u l-Familja tieghi kollha Ms.Borg. U bil qalb ser nivvutaw LABOUR, ghax ma niffilhux naraw izjed arroganza tal-Klikkek u jikmandaw huma.
Joe Pace Asciak
Feb 16th, 19:44
"Joseph Muscat has acknowledged meeting oil traders but insisted that all he told them was a Labour government was interested in a gas-fired power station". Laqgha kommoventi.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 17th, 00:43
The double standard of Labour typical of Labour cheek and effrontery. We are supposed to take Joseph Muscat's word about what was said and done during a meeting he had with oil traders but not Austin Gatt's emphatic declaration that he did not discuss tenders with them or anybody else. WHY?
Neville Debattista
Feb 16th, 19:34
It's only words and words are all you have to take your my heart away. Just words and insinuations. Nothing concrete yet Joseph. With each and every minute that passes by, deep down in your heart, you know very well that you are fast loosing your credibility.
Joe Bonanno
Feb 16th, 21:01
Have you been listening to Austin lately? Accusations of frame-ups, Labour involvement, etc.. Yet, not a shred of evidence is produced. Just insinuations, speculations, conjecture and hot air. First AG could be anybody, then a retraction. First he didn't meet any oil traders, then he did. Who is losing credibility?
Mr Stephen Borg
Feb 16th, 22:00
Obviously living in denial like Gonzi and Simon. How can you say that Joseph Muscat is loosing his credibility when compared to the senseless statements of Gonzi and Simon.
Peter Simpson
Feb 16th, 19:27
There is something smelly as to why the gas fired power station option was-for three times- rejected. Muscat told the oil traders what GonziPN should have told them long ago:we r' interested in a gas fired power station':instead Austin Gatt lumped us with rogue traders and sky high electrcity bills.
George Cutajar
Feb 16th, 19:25
Would JM now be so kind as to mention who these oil traders were?
BTW we should all welcome among us Mr. Swoboda and assure him that he is very free to speak during Labour's mass meeting since the Foreign Interference Act enacted with much fanfare by the present International secretary of the LP was in fact repealed by the Nationalist Government.
Joe Bonanno
Feb 16th, 20:46
Was the infamous "Malta File" also repealed by the PN. Or do they plan on using it again if the PL wins?
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 16th, 19:19
"These are the arguments of someone who has nothing else to say,"
So let me reflect for a moment. When a mayor was kicked out of PN on corruption, Joseph Muscat gave him prime time on lejber media because he said "one is innocent until proven guilty" ... but now for Austin Gatt it is not the same story?
Who is the person who divides the Maltese into "us" and "them"?? JOSEPH MUSCAT!!
K Grech
Feb 17th, 03:02
Who has been referred in the emails as A.G. And Aust? Surely the person whom first said it could be anyone, and now he is saying it might be him. Credibility 0 from malta's most ever arrogant minister
Wilfred Camilleri
Feb 16th, 19:05
So it's OK for Muscat to meet oil traders, but it's not OK for the responsible minister to meet the same traders? Hypocricy reigns supreme!
Jos Borg
Feb 16th, 22:51
Muscat is not the Minister responsible for oil importation. Didn't you get it mate?
Mr Joe Micallef
Feb 16th, 19:02
Unrighteous Cyprus Joe is getting hot under the collar.
Hello Swoboda, did Cyprus Joe tell you that when a large part of his MLP candidates where in government, foreign politician where arrested if they addressed a political activity.
Jos Borg
Feb 16th, 22:54
hi Joe: What about Gonzi Ireland? This came before Cyprus, and Ireland went down much heavier than Cyprus, and you were one of those thousands that quoted Ireland a thousand times but it is convenient to ignore all this. What hypocracy on your part.
Henry S Pace
Feb 16th, 18:55
' Mr Swoboda '
This MEP (Socialist) is the same gentleman who was completely imisinformed
on Tonio Borg the EU Commissioner.
Angelo Vassallo
Feb 16th, 18:49
Il-Ligi ta' l-INDHIL BARRANI !!!!!!!!!!!!! Fi zmien il-LEJBURISTI swoboda nini nini kien jitkellem f'mass meeting f'Malta.
Jos Borg
Feb 16th, 22:49
anke l-ligi tal-gerrymandering solvejna bl-amendi tal-1987 imma xorta bqajna naraw ezzercizji sfrenati 26 sena wara biex siehbek Gonzi jibqa fil-gvern.
Joseph Cini
Feb 17th, 12:41
You are 100% right because before no govt could get foreign people to make speeches during Mass Meetings.
A. Sultana
Feb 16th, 18:44
Interesting, why would someone meet, let's say a businessman, to tell him that he is not interested in dealing with him?
Joe Bonanno
Feb 16th, 20:39
Most people meet businessmen every day selling their wares. I usually treat them courteously and tell them thanks, but no thanks. If you see something sinister in that you probably also believe in UFOs.
RONALD ARRY
Feb 16th, 18:43
fl emails li gew pubblikati ma rajnix j.m sa fejn naf jien imma a.g . u aust u minister
George Sciberras
Feb 16th, 18:37
Muscat's admission that he met oil traders just proves how accurate the information disclosed today by Austin Gatt was. This is a frame up. Old habits die hard.
Joe Bonanno
Feb 16th, 20:42
Don't politicians meet businessmen all the time on constituency affairs? A PN politician just said that it's a normal part of a politician's duty. Now, we're to believe that there's something amiss? Or is this just another conspiracy theory like the frame-up accusation. Next, Austin will be blaming Aliens from Mars are after him.
Eddy Privitera
Feb 16th, 18:32
Kevin Drake - former Head of Radio 101 - gave a very emotional speech which touched the hearts of all those who were present, as well as those who watched the recording of the event, like me ! Another important address was made by Prof. John Consiglio who stressed on the need of CHANGE ! " If there is no change, there is no democracy", ended saying Prof. Consiglio !
Denis Pace
Feb 16th, 21:10
Fully agree...we need a change....same old faces....Karmenu Vella, Joe Debono Grech, Alex Sciberras Trigona, George Vella............Are we going to trust our nation's future in these hands???????????
Joe Bonanno
Feb 16th, 21:42
Denis Pace
Those old faces you refer to left behind, in 1987, a billion in the treasury for EFA to squander, plus assets galore. If the PN governed half as well as they did, we wouldn't be facing 5 billion in debt and approaching junk bond status on government obligations. I would trust the nation's future in their hands because they showed fiscal responsibility. Did the PN do likewise?
Mr Joe Micallef
Feb 17th, 08:42
Privitera your understanding of democracy is as sound as your logic and your endemically wrong judgement skills!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 16th, 18:27
No Mr Muscat. These arguments prove that politicians, Nationalists or Labour, have wide legitimate contacts, in this case with major oil traders. But when the politicians are Nationalist, the LPs launches a venomous defaming campaign insisting that something sinister must have happened, but if the politician is "nearly" prime minister J Muscat the contact must be assumed innocent. Brazen cheek!
G. Borg
Feb 16th, 18:23
Our dear Malta has never been united like now, never before. Dr. Muscat should have made his crusade during the 60's, 70's and 80's. So please shut up Dr. Muscat, just live and let others live their life and please stop all this nonsence.
j brincat
Feb 16th, 18:19
Reminds me of "Who framed Roger Rabbit"
jb
Paul Giordimaina
Feb 17th, 00:48
jb this should remind you of Busutil frame up.
Paul Giordimaina
Feb 17th, 06:25
Jb this should remind you of Busutill frame up.
Joseph Vassallo
Feb 16th, 18:12
If Muscat is going to move to gas, why did he meet the Oil Agents?
effie stafrace
Feb 16th, 18:11
it is said that when a man is sinking he tries to grab everything he sees in sight..this suits to the letter mr austin gatt alias ag alias aust
Edgar Gambin
Feb 16th, 18:02
Joseph in Austin Gatt you picked the wrong person as time will tell.
A Tonna
Feb 16th, 22:44
Why? Does he have supernatural powers? Is he above the law? Or does he know so much about the Nationalist Party in the 1980s that he believes he is untouchable.
Hallina Sur Gambin. No one is above the law. No one is infallible. Not even A.G. (and I don't mean the Attorney General)
Please choose the reason of your report below: