Party leaders Lawrence Gonzi and Joseph Muscat take a break from the political treadmill to sit with Kristina Chetcuti for a Q&A about the more ‘important’ things in life.

What is your earliest memory?

My guiltiest pleasure? Building a computer- Lawrence Gonzi

Lawrence Gonzi: Taking part in athletics at St Aloysius College when I was about seven years old.

Joseph Muscat: My grandfather’s dog. It’s very hazy but my earliest memory is of us playing together.

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Gonzi: Jean-Claude Juncker, the Prime Minister of the small country of Luxembourg who has established himself as a strong European leader. And Eddie Fenech Adami, the person who has always been an inspiration to all of us.

Muscat: I wouldn’t have said so a week ago, but right now it’s the Pope. I used to think he would go down in history as an unremarkable character but by stepping down he has definitely changed the way one of the most important institutions in the world will be run for centuries to come.

Which trait do you deplore most in yourself?

Gonzi: Sometimes I give too much of my time to work and not enough to enjoy the family and the beautiful things in life.

Muscat: Being too much of a perfectionist and trying to rethink and rehash something until I get it the way I want it.

Which trait do you most deplore in others?

Gonzi: The lack of patience to listen carefully to what is being said.

Muscat: I dislike people who don’t tell you their agenda in a straightforward manner.

What has been your most embarrassing moment?

Gonzi: At an event at the Waterfront during the EU campaign, somebody told me that my trousers had just ripped apart from the back. I cut my speech short that day.

Muscat: There have been a couple of occasions when I’ve said to someone: “I’m glad to have met your father for the first time”, and the reply was: “Actually he’s my partner”. So now I no longer make assumptions.

What’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?

Gonzi: My house.

Muscat: Apart from my car, I think it was a handbag for my wife. But it was a sum of a Valentine’s, Christmas and a birthday present.

What is your most treasured possession?

Gonzi: My house.

Muscat: My black trainers (that he uses for the gym).

Where would you like to live (apart from Malta)?

Gonzi: Malta. I’ve had the privilege of visiting a number of countries in different continents and wherever I go there is never any place better than home.

Muscat: I’m pretty much intrigued by Bilbao in Spain – the Basque region is a wonderful place.

If you were a superhero what would your superpower be?

Gonzi: To fly.

Muscat: Becoming invisible.

What makes you sad?

Gonzi: Seeing someone suffering, especially if it is unfair.

Muscat: Hurting other people without me knowing and without intending to.

What makes you happy?

Gonzi: Managing to help somebody who needed help and making a difference for that person.

Muscat: Seeing results caused by my actions.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Gonzi: I think I could do with a little more exercise.

Muscat: I think I should give up a little bit of my tummy.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Gonzi: Let’s see now... maybe Charlton Heston?

Muscat: This is a difficult one... perhaps Donny Most, the actor who used to play ‘Ralph’ in the Happy Days series.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Gonzi: Spending time building a computer.

Muscat: Chocolate.

What is your favourite smell?

Gonzi: Roses.

Muscat: Peaches.

Which is your favourite book?

Gonzi: I normally have 10 books by my bedside at any one time – fiction, Maltese history, biographies. But perhaps I Promessi Sposi [by Alessandro Manzoni] is a book I love re-reading.

Muscat: Shadow of the Wind by [Carlos Ruiz] Zafón.

What is your favourite sound?

Gonzi: Listening to someone playing a violin.

Muscat: The microwave oven... because it means food.

What is your favourite word?

Gonzi: “Grazzi” (thank you).

Muscat: “Tomorrow.”

Which phrase do you overuse?

Gonzi: “Ħbieb tiegħi” (Dear friends).

Muscat: “Let me think about it.”

What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you?

Gonzi: Someone accused me of lying when it was not true, but that really hurt.

Muscat: “You’ve hurt me.”

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?

Gonzi: To my children for not being with them throughout their childhood because of my profession and politics.

Muscat: To all those I have hurt but I don’t even know.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Gonzi: Becoming Prime Minister against all my predictions. I always wanted to observe politics from the outside and not be part of it, but such is life.

Muscat: In politics it’s getting together a group of people who until five years ago didn’t even imagine they could come together and work together. In life my greatest achievement is having our kids.

What do you consider to be your greatest regret?

Gonzi: Suddenly realising that my children had grown... too fast.

Muscat: Hurting some people through my actions.

Which guests would you invite to your dream dinner party (dead or alive)?

Gonzi: I would invite all my cousins and my siblings with I share a lot of beautiful memories going back to summer holidays in St Paul’s Bay – we had a lovely childhood.

Muscat: Robert Kennedy: I think he is the greatest President the US never had; Yitzhak Rabin, the former Israeli Prime Minister who made a great contribution to world peace; Indira Gandhi – she was a fascinating character; and Madeleine Albright, I loved her autobiography.

Wine, whisky or soft drinks?

Gonzi: Some good red or white wine.

Muscat: Depends on the mood. I try not to drink any alcohol during the week and the only alcohol I drink is some wine on Saturday evening.

What single thing would improve your quality of life?

Gonzi: Some more time – without pressure – to enjoy life.

Muscat: An extra hour, daily.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Gonzi: My wife.

Muscat: My wife.

What does love feel like?

Gonzi: It’s a wonderful thing… when you ask yourself: is love worth living? If there is love in a relationship, then the answer is yes – it is worth living.

Muscat: It feels like emptiness when it’s gone. That’s not my quote; I read it somewhere.

Do you think love is forever?

Gonzi: Yes. I believe it is. Love is unconditional and everlasting.

Muscat: I hope so.

What was the best kiss of your life?

Gonzi: The first kiss with Kate, when we were still getting to know each other. That is something I will never forget.

Muscat: My first kiss.

Which living person do you most despise, and why?

Gonzi: Do I really have to tell you? I think it’s best if I pass on this one.

Muscat: I don’t despise him, but let’s just say I hate his guts. It’s Antonio Cassano – the footballer who used to be a Milan player. Milan stomached him for a year or so when he had heart problems and then at the end of last season he moved to Inter. [Dr Muscat supports AC Milan]

My favourite sound? The microwave oven- Joseph Muscat

If you were deserted on an island, name three people you would like to be with (outside of immediate family)?

Gonzi: Bill Gates and Stephen King. And Lionel Messi, the best footballer I’ve ever seen. And that way, when Inter play Barcelona, he would be with me on the island and not playing against Inter. [Dr Gonzi supports Inter FC].

Muscat: I’ll stick to men. Jamie Oliver so he can cook something; Bono [U2 frontman] so he can sing something; and one of the Mythbusters from Discovery channel.

Which three items would you take with you?

Gonzi: A computer (and some electricity) for Bill Gates so I can see him at work; a printer for Stephen King so he can write and print his books; and a football so Messi can provide us with a show.

Muscat: Definitely not my mobile phone. I’d take my MP3 player, pictures of my family and a football.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

Gonzi: My childhood.

Muscat: I’d go to Spain around 1565, just before Columbus discovered America.

And would you change anything?

Gonzi: Not a thing.

Muscat: No, I wouldn’t.

How do you relax?

Gonzi: On the computer, logged on to an internet site with classical music and surfing sites with information about new technology.

Muscat: Exercising, eating and sleeping.

When did you last cry, and why?

Gonzi: At the birth of my first grandson. Both Kate and myself cried when we saw this miracle of life happening in our second generation.

Muscat: When the father-in-law of my friend Glenn [Bedingfield] passed away about a month ago.

What keeps you awake at night?

Gonzi: Nothing, I sleep soundly.

Muscat: One of my kids kicking me in my stomach – sometimes they want to sleep with us.

How would you like to be remembered?

Gonzi: As somebody who tried his best.

Muscat: As someone who tried very hard to bring something new in politics.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Gonzi: To always try your very best and then the rest will follow.

Muscat: That one cannot judge someone from appear-ances and everyone deserves a second chance.

Where would you most like to be right now?

Gonzi: At home, in my dressing gown and with my bed slippers on.

Muscat: Here [at the office] is fine.

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