Muscat agrees with Manuel Mallia in criminal libel case
Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning that Labour candidate Manuel Mallia was within his rights to sue PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier for criminal libel and seek imprisonment.
He said the removal of criminal libel was an issue that could be discussed as part of the constitutional reform being proposed by the Labour Party.
However, when asked whether he agreed with Dr Mallia, who last week said he would sue PN Secretary General Paul Borg Olivier for defamation and seek a prison term, Dr Muscat insisted the law was currently on the statute books and everybody had a right to use it.
"Laws should favour the media but there must also be responsibility," he said when taking questions at the end of a visit to remote gaming company Betsson in Ta' Xbiex.
160 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
John Zammit Ph.D.
Mar 29th, 11:18
Criminal libel should have been removed long time ago after resolutions by the Council of Europe and OSCE against it in members states. Tajikistan obeyed the resolutions but not Malta!!!!!!!
David Magro
Feb 27th, 06:46
Agree with Joseph and even Franco did mention this point.We cannot continue to have people throwing mud to others and they get away scott free or with a minor penalty.
Massimo Gatt
Feb 26th, 18:31
Keep it up Joseph. Don't let these mud slingers ruin the chance for malta to get the leader which it deserves! Mud slinging is the only thing the PN can do because you're too good for them. There's no one in the PN that compares to your greatness!
steve fenech
Feb 26th, 17:02
truly progressive and liberal, this muscat is turning out to be eh!
is he trying to compete with turkey, making malta chase that country's unenviable record of having (with china) the largest relavtive to size number of opponents in prison. fast forward to the past circa 1970's . does anyone remember an editor being dragged to kangaroo court in parliament during the glorious years of labour?
Mario Mamo
Feb 26th, 18:20
This prattling of yours and the likes of you will get the PN nowhere except in deeper trouble. It is futile to insist on dragging the country 40 years back. Just remember that the electorate had already forgotten about it in 1996. The then Labour government collapsed not because it went back to the 80's. Rather the opposite thanks to EFA who worked tirelessly for reconciliation.
Mario Mamo
Feb 26th, 18:31
Alfred Sant followed on his steps, rather hotly I must say. So prattle on about the 80's since you have nothing else to talk about. Your stupidly outdated arguments will fall on deaf ears as they had in 1996. Why don't you and your kind take us back to the middle ages? The likes of you are super items for a Jurassic museum. This is 2013 unless you don't know.
J. Falzon
Apr 2nd, 09:44
North Korea is the best Korea
pat muscat
Feb 26th, 16:49
Sewwa jekk Gonzi ikun jaf b'informazzjoni dwar droga u ma jghid u jaghmel xejn mhux bhal haddiehor ikun qed jaghmel? Jew tieghu ifuh u ta haddiehor jintenn?
twanny borg
Feb 26th, 16:39
Il-whistleblower act tbezzani mill-pl ghax biex isir abbuz minna b'xi hadd jivvinta xi haga kontra xi hadd ma niehu xejn bi kbir.
m farrugia
Feb 26th, 16:35
mallia jekk kien marbut bis sigriet professjonali u wisq probabbli ilu jaf bdin il balbuljata snin,ta l-anqas seta zamm halqu maghluq u mhux blarroganza kbira hareg jitghajjar u jwaddab tajn fuq austin gatt bit taparsi ag aust meta hija car hafna li mhux ministri kienu imdahhlin imma nies minn kull naha ta malta taghna ilkoll inkluz hu alfred mifsud li tant tbaqbaq din il gimgha fuq l-iskandlu
Massimo Gatt
Feb 26th, 16:50
Mallia ma kienx jaf bil-"balbuljata". He only represented the brothers when they filed a civil case against George Farrugia because he was stealing money from their legitimate profits. Nothing to do with oil tendering. This amounted to around 6 million euros which is nothing when compared to oil commissions.
Massimo Gatt
Feb 26th, 16:26
Just to correct some people that are saying that JM lied.
JM was asked by net tv: "Are you aware of drugs in the h'attard labour club?"
JM replied by saying no. Then the PN spinned it around after they completely turned over the story on the Hal Safi PL club.
JM clearly said NO when asked about the H'Attard club not the Hal safi club.
twanny borg
Feb 26th, 16:42
Kellu jammetti li kien jaf ghax inhargu l-ittri. Possibbli blajta tas-silca?
Massimo Gatt
Feb 26th, 18:30
Mr. Twanny Borg. Joseph Muscat didn't say that it was a Blokka Silg. In fact, he said that the Barman went back to him to ask for his job back and the barman told him that "it was a blokka silg and not a blokka droga."
Muscat didn't believe him and thus didn't give his job back.
I Mercieca
Feb 26th, 21:14
Massimo, wahda biss nghidlek jien......
Il-Giddieb ghomru qasir
L-istorja issa nafuha seww u m'ghandniex bzonn lilek iddawarielna kif trid.
Massimo Gatt
Feb 26th, 16:21
Why all this fuss about the blokka silg case? Police have said multiple times that there's no case about this.
Angelo Vassallo
Feb 26th, 16:10
@ Noel Cini
Since 1987 we had two Nationalist governments, one LEJBURIST government (CORRECTION: 22 months and not 18 months) which was a TOTAL DISASTER and another 3 Nationalist governments. Result 5 - 1 for the NAZZJONALISTI in the last 25 years.
Thomas Anderson
Feb 27th, 11:40
And your point is?
Angelo Vassallo
Feb 26th, 16:02
@ Ray Abela
Actually that was not my comment at all, but what karmenu mifsud bonnici,ex-leader of the partit LEJBURISTA, was quoted as saying by one of the daily newspapers in the English language in Malta.
Anthony Scicluna
Feb 26th, 16:01
On the one hand Muscat wants to remove criminal libel because it is unfair. On the other hand he uses it and supports it. Goes to show the true Labour spirit emerging. Progressive and liberal.
scott brown
Feb 26th, 15:54
people in their early 50's like myself get the shivers with similar declerations by JM and PL frontliners. JM is desperate to look nice and positive but is doing everything to remind us of the past we lived under PL.
hiding very serious crime
organising mobs
treatening with incarceration
lying
hijacking of the media
well, one cannot be positive when negativity is ingrained within him.
Eve Axiaq
Feb 26th, 16:21
Ma tarax it travu f'ghajnejk. Insemmilek biss li anke deputati tal PN daru kontra l gvern minhaba l klikka li ghandkom.
U jekk il kaz tad droga ta Hal Safi hasadkom, ghaliex ma infurmajtux lil poplu qabel halli n-nies jghoqoghdu attenti mil kazini laburisti? Recording David Aguis ilu jaf bih sentejn ghax kien mar jaghmel statement lil pulizija u PBO ikkonferma li l-ittri ilhom ghandu hames xhur!!
John Borg
Feb 26th, 16:55
Hijacking of the media!!! Nice one. Ever heard of Peppi, Lou & Norman. You speak as if the PN are on the way to sainthood. Shut up.
T Mifsud
Feb 26th, 15:53
RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH is being threatened if prison is on the equation!
Eddy Privitera
Feb 26th, 16:23
T. mIfsud: Imprisonment has existed in defamation cases for as long as the PN has been in power. And it had not changed the law ! So whoever resorts to defamation, and cannot prove his accusation, risks imprisonment! Dr.Muscat has said that he wants this to be changed. But today that is the position left by the PN after 25 years !
J Mifsud
Feb 26th, 15:43
Did most of u read the above news well? Joseph is suggesting he's ready to discuss criminal libel removal which was long overdue and which will favour the media, however Mallia is quoting the law as it is now. But saying that we're at colonial times is an overstretch...same can be said then to a government who was against divorce or else never introduced formal LGBT or partner coabitation rights.
Angelo Vassallo
Feb 26th, 15:36
@ Eve Axiaq
Min ma jigdibx m'ghandux ghalfejn jibza mil qorti u lanqas mill habs ghax ma jkun qal xejn hlief il verita.
X'INHI L-VERITA' ? kien staqsa Pilatu. TAL-LEJBURISTI BISS?????????????? nistaqsi jien.
Eddy Privitera
Feb 26th, 15:55
Angelo: jekk tisma lil Gonzi jitkellem, tahseb li L_VERITA hija dejjem tan-nazzjonalisti BISS. Ghax Gonzi jghid li l-Labour " Qatt m'ghamel xejn sewwa " !!!!! Naseb ghalhekk telquh eluf ta' nazzjonalisti genwini !!!
Angelo Vassallo
Feb 26th, 15:27
@ Charles Taliana
Mas-siġġu tal-poter ewħlu biss mintoff (IS-SALVATUR JEW IT-TRADITUR? Għażel inti x'issejjaħlu) u l-ministrI LEJBURISTI kollha tiegħu kontra R-RIEDA TAL-MAĠĠORANZA TAL-POPLU MALTI U GĦAWDXI.
Jurgen Farrugia
Feb 26th, 15:27
In the 27 EU member states, only one journalist is in prison.
In Malta only one journalist was thrown in prison under the 70's Labour Government.
....The new way of doing politics by JosephMuscat.com
B.C. Borg
Feb 26th, 16:33
Wrong!! there was one editor who was charged under GonziPN administration. so where is the real freedom of speech?
For many freedom of speech means mud throwing
jeffrey camilleri
Feb 26th, 15:13
Obsessed supporters so sad its time to vote for national interest and not personal, sit down evaluate which party is offering the best then vote, times has changed people and its time we all stop kissing politicians asses cause its what most people do . No disrespect to no one
Gigi Sullivan
Feb 26th, 15:12
@Grech, Laiviera & Privitera. Progressive and liberal governments are abolishing criminal libel laws. Also, do not confuse criminal libel with civil libel. Do you actually know where criminal libel is very popular? In countries like Iran, where they can get rid of journalists or critics of the government (read also regime) for good by throwing them in jail. Prosit u applaws PL, vera progressivi.
Noel Cini
Feb 26th, 15:27
Did you know that PL (through Hose Herrera) and Franco Debono agreed to remove the criminal libel law but PN (through Francis Zammit Dimech) voted against during the last legislature. And by the way during the last 25-18 months we had a PN government... If they wanted they could have removed the law. But statistics as to who abused this law more give reason why it is still there. KNOW THE FACTS!
Ray Abela
Feb 26th, 15:33
Gigi, Section 101 of the Maltese Law states that NO CITIZEN has the right to report or accuse another citizen of a criminal offence without having the evidence to support one's claim. The penalties DO INCLUDE imprisonment on the accuser's part! In other words "THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK OR MAKE PUBLIC SWEEPING STATEMENTS" The law is there to protect the innocent!
Victor Laiviera
Feb 26th, 19:22
Why did Richard Cachia Caruana make use of Criminal Libel just 6 months ago against a Labour MP??
http://85.119.122.3/en/newsdetails/news/national/Cachia-Caruana-files-criminal-libel-against-Labour-whip-One-TV-editor-20120714
Alex Buds
Feb 26th, 15:05
Removing criminal libel is long overdue in a supposedly free country. How about curtailing the use of civil libel too while we're at it? Excessive use of civil libel is a severe impediment to free speech.
The US model, with civil libel being solely limited to strictly and demonstrably factual errors, is a good one in this regard. For more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defamation#United_States
D Axisa
Feb 26th, 14:58
Ghaliex le....mela sewwa PBO jew minhu involut jghidu li jridu u jaghmlu malafama lill Dr. Mallia u ma jiffaccawx l-konsegwenzi. Jekk iridu jkunu rgiel imisshom jiskuzaw ruhom.
Nicholas Ellul
Feb 26th, 14:55
Trying to send PBO to prison will not intimidate PN. Mintoff tried to imprison ex minister Cachia Zammit after he got elected in 1971. The result was a stronger PN with Cachia Zammit emerging on shoulders out of the Law Courts because he was proved innocent.
Angelo Vassallo
Feb 26th, 14:53
The Malta Labour Party has changed considerably since Dr Mifsud Bonnici stepped down from its top post in 1992. It has even changed in appearance: its name officially became “Partit Laburista,” its iconic emblem was transformed into a more abstract design, the traditional red has largely made way for white and other colours, and the party’s official anthem is rarely heard.
Ray Abela
Feb 26th, 15:36
And the purpose of your comment IS???? Angelo it's called PROGRESS and sometimes REBRANDING! Are you by any chance jealous? PN is still stuck in the 60's, 70's and 80's............PL is a progressive MOVEMENT.
Nicholas Ellul
Feb 26th, 14:52
Trying to send PBO to prison will not intimidate PN. Mintoff tried to imprison ex minister Cachia Zammit after he got elected in 1971. The result was a stronger PN with Cachia Zammit emerging on shoulders out of the Law Courts because he was proved innocent.
j brincat
Feb 26th, 14:51
"A Vella
"The true colours are starting to come out...Taghna ILKOLL!"
A simple question.
Is TODAY Malta taghna lkoll or just of the very few (oligarchy)!
I don't expect you to answer!
jb
Anthony Scicluna
Feb 26th, 16:02
JB, why does Muscat want to remove criminal liability but at the same time uses it for political mileage? Qed nara kemm hi Malta taghna lkoll
Mario Cassar
Feb 26th, 14:48
This is the same argument that Mintoff used to stay in power after 1981. Joseph is no different. Let's use the law to threaten our opponents. Like when PN activists used to try to celebrate Independence Day and the police used to arrest the crowd for forming a group of 10 people or more.
j brincat
Feb 26th, 14:47
@Neil Dent
"What a disgrace. This is a very scary comment from the PM in waiting"
Why is it so Mr Dent?
Do you think that it is fair to dirty another person simply to win political points?
Doesn't the small fry get it all while the big fish swims free?
AND why didn't the PN change the libel law in 25 years - was it to their liking to scare the small fry off?
Tell us Mr Dent!
jb
.
Mary Ann Borg
Feb 26th, 14:44
Ir-ragunament ta Joseph hu precizament l-istess ragunament ghalfejn il-Lejber mexxa ghal 5 snien ohra wara li tilef l-elezzjoni tal-81. Abbuza mill kostituzzjoni, inheba wara l-klawsola tal-maggoranza tas-siggijiet (wara li bazwarhom hu stess) u b'mod l-iktar arroganti baqa jmexxi avolja l-poplu ghazel PN. Joseph bl-istess edejat immuffati ta' Mintoff u l-Lejber vjolenti.
J Schembri
Feb 26th, 14:32
next puppet show please ... this is boring : )
Wenzu Zammit
Feb 26th, 14:25
This sounds more like the colonial times.
Eve Axiaq
Feb 26th, 14:19
Min ma jigdibx m'ghandux ghalfejn jibza mil qorti u lanqas mill habs ghax ma jkun qal xejn hlief il verita.
Roy Fava
Feb 26th, 14:13
Dr Muscat means business..no one throws mud without facing consequences....
Anthony Scicluna
Feb 26th, 16:03
Yes speak out and go to jail
Pauline Busuttil
Feb 26th, 14:11
Dan hu l-bniedem li tridu li jkun Prim Ministru ftit granet ohra?? Lest jibghat il habs persuna li ma taqbilx mieghu politikament....... Din Malta Taghna Lkoll Joseph??????
Simon Scerri
Feb 26th, 14:08
Shame on you Joseph Muscat!! resign!!
Joe Pace Asciak
Feb 26th, 14:07
Meta jitkellem il-Leader, hu politikament korrett li kulhadd jaghlaq halqu. Min jiftah halqu ghandu jigi kkunsidrat bhala ghadu tal-poplu, jitwarrab jew jintefa’ l-habs. U meta jghidilkom li xi kaz maghluq, ifisser li maghluq u li ma tistghux tkomplu titkellmu fuqu.
Mark Fenech
Feb 26th, 14:05
Jekk Manuel Mallia jidhirlu li ġie malafamat għandu kull dritt jipproċedi legalment u iva jekk hemm bżonn in-nies imorru l-ħabs imorru.
Albert Bonello
Feb 26th, 14:00
Shame on you JM.Com. Didn't you just say yesterday, under the dome, that you wanted a positive campaign. What a laugh! Imagine when in power how this mask of trying to be holier than the Pope will melt like d ice found in the PL's Safi Club! U Le, U Le!!
Mark. Galea
Feb 26th, 13:59
Back to 1981 ... 5 years of legalised terror starting next march ... hope we can vote in 2018 ...
J Schembri
Feb 26th, 13:57
eeee ehhe!!??
next puppet show please cause this is boring. thanks : )
Joe Pace Asciak
Feb 26th, 13:50
Il-problema dwar il-MLP tal-lum hu li qed jagixxi ezatt bhal dak tal-bierah. Il-politika ghandha ssir fuq dak li hu sewwa u mhux tkun ibbazata fuq il-legalizmi, il-pragmatizmu ciniku u s-sofizmi.Taht J.M., il-Moviment Gdid (ta’ interessi) qabad ga t-triq li se twassalna, jekk jirbah, ghat-tieni Repubblika tal-Poplu. Ghad-danni tal-poplu.
Joe Busuttil
Feb 26th, 13:49
Well,who was it who objected to this law being changed ,if not the Nats ? Just ask Franco.And all you PL supporters,save your energies for celebrating in a couple of weeks' time. (Come to think of it, ALL those of good will should celebrate.)
j brincat
Feb 26th, 13:44
"Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning that Labour candidate Manuel Mallia was within his rights to sue PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier for criminal libel and seek imprisonment"
Whoever dirties another for political gain must suffer the consequences!
That's what is done to the small fry so why not to one and all!
jb
George Cutajar
Feb 26th, 13:39
How very modern, liberal and progressive. I am truly impressed.
So JM agrees with EM that he should not only file for criminal libel but go the whole hog and seek imprisonment. I my memory serves me right libel leading to imprisonment was last heard of during the golden Labour days.
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 26th, 13:36
I, personally, do not agree with the imprisonment clause. If found guilty and sent to prison, which is highly unlikely, PBO will become a PN martyr and hero. And that is surely what could be the deppest division one could encounter. The evil, amoral, and unethical propaganda of provocation must be eradicated, or else let us be honest and replace Christ in our Constitution with Satan.!
m. borg (slm)
Feb 26th, 13:32
"Laws should favour the media ........"
PBO is not the media he should get what he deserves.
Should look before he leaps.
B Borg
Feb 26th, 15:55
Bix nwigbek ghal kummenti li amiltli aktar l-isfel: 1) iva ghal grazzja ta alla gradwajt fl 2008 u nahdem ma accountancy firm. 2) ma nahsibx ed nhawwad - kif rajtu li mux jirnexilkom il provi, qbadtu ma l-arlog. 3) mela kem huma provi akbar - recording t.zarb - pushjatura??? u anglu - -4 sular?? cari aktar ma jistawx ikunu!
Anthony Scicluna
Feb 26th, 13:27
Of course, shut people up for disagreeing with you by sending them to jail. How very North Korea
Bernard Manduca
Feb 26th, 13:22
Sounds like the negotiating style of a predecessor I never much cared for. Ominous indeed.
J Cauchi
Feb 26th, 13:14
@ A VELLA
You to judge by colour. It show who's example you
take!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anthony Grech
Feb 26th, 13:11
If Dr. Paul Borg Olivier did nthing wrong, than he should not be afraid of anything.
Do not forget what GonziPN said..."Kullhadd irid jerfa r-responsabilita ta' ghemilu"
Thomas C. Cassar
Feb 26th, 13:08
@ PN Apologists ... Insejtu ezatt qabel l-ahhar elezzjoni meta c-chairman tal-AD spicca bil-Pulizija d-dar biex jigi arrestat bil-familja tieghu mwerwra??? Ghax inthom maghrufa li tinsew fejn tridu.
PBO qed jizbalja bil-kbir, qed jipprova jkisser lin-nies bi stejjer ivvintati u mn'Alla qed isib nies sodi u kapaci ghax immaginaw isir hekk lil them man in the street kif ikissruh!
Eve Axiaq
Feb 26th, 13:08
Min jghid il-verita ma jigdibx m'ghandux ghaliex jinkwieta mill- EBDA akkuza. Mhux hekk PBO?? Jekk ma gdibtx ghaliex tinkwieta???????Mhux sew haddiehor jitkisser fuq il-gideb b'kapricc.
James Grech
Feb 26th, 13:07
The PN machine is calling upon its foot soldiers to stick to their ranks & defend the fort. Recent events have seen the PN mud-slinging tactics go into overdrive to spin & attempt to link issues which in reality were not connected. Uncorrelated events in the PN's mechanization can become a new untruth which is lambasted as if it were the news of the century. Its a soap-opera in the making!!
Anthony Lee Baldacchino
Feb 26th, 13:05
Jien naqbel 100% mal-mexxej laburista u ma Dr.Mallia. Mnejn sa fejn tigi tigdeb fuqi, thammigni ma pajjiz shih, u ma thallasx ta ghemilek? Mhux hekk nibqghu. Jien nisfida lil dan il-kor ta` GonziPN, igdbu gidba wahda fuqi, u l-istess azzjoni niehu.
K.G. Vella
Feb 26th, 13:04
I wonder why some people haven't realised that Dr. Muscat is actually advocating that this law be reformed?
A Vella
Feb 26th, 13:02
The true colours are starting to come out...Taghna ILKOLL!
Eve Axiaq
Feb 26th, 13:12
Allura inti min jammalafamak u jista jkissirlek karriera toqghod cass bhal wiehed stupidu jew tara kif twaqfu??
j brincat
Feb 26th, 14:49
Same as Simon Says said!
Birds of the same feathers........................
jb
James Grech
Feb 26th, 12:54
Someone said, the PL is intolerant, which is quite the opposite actually. Intolerance has been greatly experienced by a number of individuals, be they PN leaning or otherwise, in this same legislature. Ppl have been demonized, called names & attacked because of their political creed, some ailment or sexual orientation, and yet no categorical condemnation from GonziPN was forthcoming.
John Borg
Feb 26th, 12:54
Just this morning I read that JOSEPH will not partake in mud slinging.....imma il-mud slinding taghna llkol le?
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 26th, 14:55
Defending your name and honour is not mud slinging. How would you like to be called a crminal? Would you just accept it and walk away? Dr mallia has every right to defend hisn name from the mud thrown by PBO, who has no right to make baseless allegations.
Noel Cini
Feb 26th, 15:22
Can you tell me how it's mud slinging for someone to defend himself in court against a criminal offence, because saying someone is corrupt without proving it is a criminal offence according to our laws.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 26th, 12:45
In July of 2012, Richard Cachia Caruana filed for criminal libel against MP Joe Mizzi and Kurt Farrugia.
Alfred Fenech
Feb 26th, 12:51
Whos next in the dock.
Neil Dent
Feb 26th, 12:45
What a disgrace. This is a very scary comment from the PM in waiting.
Reason, decency and plain common sense aside - we'd need a prison the size of Gozo it this is the road the MLP wants to go down.
K.G. Vella
Feb 26th, 13:03
Mr. Dent Joseph Muscat actually said that the defamation law should be reformed
m. borg (slm)
Feb 26th, 13:35
Neil just imagine you taking 30-35 years to build a reputation as a great criminal lawyer and along comes a wally and tries to tarnish it with lies.
It was disgraceful of PBO for stooping so low and being a fool biting off more than he could chew.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 26th, 14:57
I agree with your last comment. With so many Nationalists throwing mud left right and centre, fejn laqat laqat style, yes we will need a huge prison. The Nationalists need to learn a lesson once and for all that you just canot go arounf looking siantly and tarnish and ruin people's reputations. I would put certain PN bloggers behind bars for hurting so many families.
Angelo Vassallo
Feb 26th, 12:45
Dr Muscat insisted the law was currently on the statute books and everybody had a right to use it.
Din l-istess skuża intużat sabiex il-partit LEJBURISTA baqa' mwaħħal mas-siġġu tal-poter ghal ħames snin u ħames xhur bejn 1981 u 1987.
IL-LEJBURISTI MA JINBIDDLU QATT !!!!!!!!!!!!! GĦADHOM JIRRAĠUNAW BĦAL 30 SENA ILU !!!!!!!
Marion Storace
Feb 26th, 13:14
ma nafx x'wicc ghandek biex tghid li ''il-lejburisti baqa' mwahhal mas-siggu tal-poter'' meta GonziPN ilu bla maggoranza aktar min sena u baqa jitkaxkar fur rota wahad ghal 5 snin u baqa mwahhal mas-sigu tal-poter u jitfa il-hama biex minghalih jahbi l-ISKANDLU kbir tax-xiri taz-zejt
Noel Gatt
Feb 26th, 13:16
GHalfejn issemmi 30 sena il meta ILLUM il PN imexxi 2 kunsilli ( Mellieha u Mosta) kontra r rieda tal Poplu? Il ligi qeda hemm ghal kulhadd, kieku l PN ma jaqbilx kellu cans inehhija!
G. Vassallo
Feb 26th, 13:44
Aktar tikkonvincini "Anglu" biex bil-Qalb nivvota Lil-LEJBURISTI.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 26th, 14:10
Very good point, Marion Storace & Noel Gatt
Besides, in 1971, the PN tried to do EXACTLY the same as what the PL did in 1981.
Charles Taliana
Feb 26th, 15:14
Angelo ma ridx immur lura fi zmien , dan inhallih ghalik ghax b`hekk biss tedhew , imma tista tighdli jekk dak iz zmien l-MLP kienx qed jaghmel xi haga kontra il kostituzjoni ?? wara kollox kien l-istess Gvern li irranga il maggoranza tal voti. Nahseb ma hemmx ghalfejn nitkelmu dwar minn hu imkahhal ma siggu le !!!
James Grech
Feb 26th, 12:37
When commenting about a possible PL victory, PN minions are quite gloomy & doomy. In Italian there is the expression:"ci sei o ci fai". Cause history of both parties had its negative moments, some more than others, but big words such as atrocious record, intolerance, oppression, mob, are a far cry from the PL movement of today. Yet in the PN script, these words are highlighted in bold.
william cauchi
Feb 26th, 12:35
So if somebody from the PL comes along and says on TV "Simon Busuttil and Lawrence Gonzi are completely corrupt", is that not cause for a criminal libel case, especially just a few days before an election.
Sure it is. I would agree 100%.
So what's the fuss about.
twanny borg
Feb 26th, 12:43
Aktar minn darba u qatt gonzi ma qal jibghat lil xi hadd il-habs fuq libelli.
T Fenech
Feb 26th, 13:20
The fact that they have never made a libel , means that they are truly corrupt!
m. borg (slm)
Feb 26th, 13:35
Ghaliex hemm il-provi.
N Callus
Feb 26th, 12:35
Persuna integra li tigi mcapsa bxi haga hekk gravi u li hi taf li zgur m ghandiex tort jiddispjaciha hux? Hekk sew allura kulhadd jallega u jitfa it-tajn. Dawn in nies ghandhom professjoni, karriera politika li hadmu ghalija u familj wkoll.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 26th, 13:33
Sew qed tghis Sur.Callus Issa ghandhom ihallsu ta' ghemilhom ghaliex ghalekk hawn li hawn ghax kulhadd jghamel li jrid bil-barka ta'haddiehor.Bhall tal-PBS jitolbu lic-Chairman jirrizenja flok jammettu li zballji li qed jghamlu ghal tal-apposta.U alla jbierek hadd ma'johrog jikkundanhom.Lanqas li ma' jidhrux bil-mistoqsijiet li jghamlu li jkunu kompliment ma' rapprezentant tal PN li jkun fil-panel
Manuel Camilleri
Feb 26th, 12:33
same old, same old. Back to the Golden Years mentality: you don't agree with the Establishment, you go to prison. After 9th March, freedom of expression, beware.
J Mifsud
Feb 26th, 12:45
Jigifieri int taqbel li jekk xi hadd jigi mmalafamat ghal xejn m'ghandhomx jittihdu passi?
Massimo Gatt
Feb 26th, 12:32
People in this country take lying about others too lightly. Law should be enforced and given more power. Imprisonment for me is the right penalty if you're a person of great influence and you lie about someone publicly.
B Borg
Feb 26th, 12:31
jin ma nistax nifem kif il labour andkom il wicc tamlu panick u tikritikaw li l pn ed jitfa it tajn,fuq cordina, mallia etc meta is super one ,meetings etc, ilhom l gimghat jimplikaw li austin gatt involut. nikwota: ' issa nafu alfejn il pn irrid jibqa bizz zejt' u nsoma hafna aktar! meta filfat, l ebda prova li kien involut ma sabu. anzi, fir realta, direttur u audit sar min cordina/mallia. mur
B Borg
Feb 26th, 13:28
gibhom il mlp e kiku xi direttur nstab austin jew tonio... anyway, jiena mhux ed nghid li cordina/mallia etc uma involuti zgur... ax ovjament irid issir il investigazjoni kif supppost etc. pero huma hafna aktar vicin il kaz milli austin/tonio. apati hell... fl -audit letter ta mallia - issemi li kien em xamma ta frodi... jigifiri kien jaf!!
m. borg (slm)
Feb 26th, 13:37
Sur Borg nisperraw m'intx ix-xempju ta' l-edukazzjoni li gonzi jiftahar biha.
Barra l-fat li qed thawwad.
B Borg
Feb 26th, 15:48
@ m borg: l-ewelnett iva ghal grazzja t'Alla gradwajt fl-2008 u nahdem ma accountancy firm. ma natix kaz il kitba bix nikkumenta hawn bix naggel. anyway, ma nahsibx li ed nhawwad, ghax provi m'hem ta xejn kontra xi ministru. u issa peres li qed taraw li alxejn, qbadtuwa ma larlog!!. kemm hi prova akbar r recording ta t.zarb - intuk pushjatura? u l kliem ta anglu - car kristal fuq r raba sular.
Peter Zahra
Feb 26th, 12:29
Jista mela Joseph Muscat jghid ilghala wara li ametta li zbalja fil kaz ta Droga, il ghaliex propju lum stess fil gazetta indipendenti ta kuljum l Orizzont gabu ritratt bl isem u l ghaqam ta min safar is sufara ta dan il kaz partikulari !! Ghaliex sar hekk? Forsi biex jghatuh prosit jew inkella sabiex jbezzaw jew jintimidaw bhal ma dejjem ghamlu fil passat !! Things never change from MLP. !!
anton cassar
Feb 26th, 12:27
I heard JM comment this morning & he never said that he agreed with Mallia in his Libel case. All he said was that its time this law to be changed....Whe asked about Mallia`s case he said that he (Mallia) has the right to avail himself of whats in the law at present ....
J Cassar
Feb 26th, 12:27
stil gdid ta tmexija!!!
Massimo Gatt
Feb 26th, 12:20
Prosit joseph! L-affarijiet hekk ghandom isiru. Min jigdeb fuq haddiehor MUST get improsonment not MAY get improsenment. Or else things will remain the same!
Evelyn Vella Clark
Feb 26th, 14:55
Naqbel mieghek Massimo ghax jekk isir hekk allura Joseph Muscat ghandu jkun l-ewwel wiehed li jmur il-habs u jiehu mieghu lil Toni Abela ghax mhux talli ma gidbux it-tnejn imma talli hbew mill-pulizija dan ir-rejat.
Massimo Gatt
Feb 26th, 16:21
They didn't hide anything. A police inspector said that there was no case to begin with.
Richard Caruana
Feb 26th, 12:19
Keep it up Joseph.
You're as good as Alfred Sant at ruining your chances of winning an election. And this time you're doing it even better than him.
Imprisonment for defamation! We haven't heard that since Mintoff's times. Back to the golden days we go.
Leslie Darmanin
Feb 26th, 12:05
One thing we can say about Muscat - he is consistent with the Labour Party's atrocious record in intolerance and oppression.
In less than two weeks the Labour mob will be out on the streets singing "Issa Malta Taghna" as Nationalists will cower inside their homes.
As for dissenting voices, Muscat's said it clear - imprisonment is an option.
That should put all our minds at rest.
A Cachia
Feb 26th, 12:21
Your PN had 25 years in power to remove this law.....
Paul Micallef
Feb 26th, 12:24
@Darrmanin
Ara veru waqajtu fir redikolu, Allura kieku terbhu intkhom xtaghamlu??? Nationalists COWER in there homes??? COWER??? Is this what you will be doing??? Hekk tridu tbezzaw bil BABBBBBBAAAAWWWWW??? Joseph will not tolerate such behavior, not like GONZI/ Co ODJU biex johrog kontrina il-laburisti. Have you ever heard Joseph talk?? Jekk tridu tibqaw tribu affari taghakhom AHNA LE LE LE LE.
R. Balzan
Feb 26th, 12:39
@ Leslie Darmanin - yours is the now-accustomed drivel from a frustrated never-had-it-so-good PN activist who who will soon become a normal being like the rest of us.
John L Galea
Feb 26th, 12:40
Leslie mmaaaaa x'biza!!!
Mark Borg
Feb 26th, 12:46
Why all the fuss? Five years ago we had the Nationalist mob out in the streets singing "Iva, Flimkien Kollox Possibbli" as Labour supporters cowered inside their homes. So what makes one scenario better or worse than the other? Grow up Leslie Darmanin.
Adrian Farrugia
Feb 26th, 12:02
IL-pl jighd li jrid hadd iehor le, anzi jibaghtuh il- habs prosit ta min jahsiba ftit
Carmelo Sammut
Feb 26th, 11:53
Prosit Joseph we all stand behind you
Ex Pn
Leslie Darmanin
Feb 26th, 12:22
There you have it, the kind of Labour thinking we experienced the 80s.
Labour supporters then didn't give a hoot about human rights, so long as they were Nationalists' rights that were trampled upon. In fact, nearly half the island went on to vote for KMB in 1987.
An "Ex PN" is standing right behind you Joseph. He promises to keep on clapping in typical Labour tradition.
God help us.
Wilfred Camilleri
Feb 26th, 12:26
Shame Muscat, we don't support you anymore
Ex PL
Ronnie Callus
Feb 26th, 13:46
Hundred Percent we all support Joseph and Manuel Mallia's Integrity.If JPO's comment carries imprisonment he should shoulder it.He is a citizen as we are and not throw criminal comments on others.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 26th, 15:36
@Wilfred Camilleri:
Mur emmnek ex- PL. Gib ritratt ha naraw xkont.
twanny borg
Feb 26th, 11:52
Dan li jridu jitfu n-nies il-habs jindika li se nergu mmorru fejn konna taht l-aktar zmienijiet koroh li ghaddiet malta. Wicc blu u wicc ahmar attaparsi malta taghna llkoll. Halluna! Nazzjonalisti attenti izen kliemhom.
Mr Stephen Borg
Feb 26th, 12:07
Twanny Twanny slow down slow down, so you are saying that if you where instead of Manuel Mallia and your name gets tainted by the Nationalist party just for political mileage and not because of true facts, are you willing not to press charges against those who tried in vain to taint your name. And before I forget, stop talking about the past, we want to hear about the future.
twanny borg
Feb 26th, 12:48
Stephen, qatt ma smajt lil min jghid min-naha tal-pn li jrid jibghat politiku l-habs. Illum hawn il-mezzi biex twiegeb. Jekk il-passat ninsewh nergu mmorru fih.
Mr B Busuttil
Feb 26th, 11:51
Naqbel, din li kullhad ihammeg lin nies bl addocc trid tinqata... din mhux kwistjoni ta liberta ta l stampa
twanny borg
Feb 26th, 12:49
Kieku irridu naghmlu malta habs.
N. Pace Debono
Feb 26th, 11:50
And now imagine they (MLP) were in government!! You say something against me and i do my best with all my power to send you to prison!...Deja vu !! The new MuscatPL-MLP...not
Mr Joseph Azzopardi
Feb 26th, 11:50
It's part of the law, everyone has the right to use it and many have in the past. Get over it. This has nothing to do with positive or negative politics - someone may have lied and is being sued for it.
Paul Caruana
Feb 26th, 11:48
If we are suggesting that we have an unjust libel law on our statue books, then we should be thinking of modifying it, rather than being selective in its application.
As long as it is in existence, it is the law to which all Maltese citizens should be held accountable, irrespective of who they are or represent. If unconstitutional, anyone charged by this law should appeal to this higher court.
A Cachia
Feb 26th, 12:20
The PN blocked the law from being removed....
Ask Irrelevant Franco Debono about it....
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 26th, 11:43
Oh ... what was it again ... Joseph did not want to build a campaign of fear and now he is telling us all pay attention what you say because we will send you strait to prison!!
Luke Falzon
Feb 26th, 11:51
What a load of hogwash trying to instil fear in others. The law is there and anyone can make use of it. What's wrong with that?
Eddy Privitera
Feb 26th, 11:52
Joseph Aqilina. If someone is sent to prison, it will not be Joseph's or Dr. Mallia's fault, but the fault of the person who is so irresponsible as to make criminal accusations !
joanna farrugia
Feb 26th, 11:53
including some from pn too right mr aquilina??
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 26th, 11:54
As usual, spin is the weapon of the PN. Now you are saying that a law that could have been changed in the last 25 years is being used unfairly. And it is not the LP that will send you to prison - but the courts of justice. People should watch what they say - no one, even if he is a high PN functionary, has a right to slander anyone and try to destroy the career of that person.
Jo Mifsud
Feb 26th, 11:59
Defamation is different than just saying what you think!!
JL Deguara
Feb 26th, 12:03
I can't understand your argument. Freedom of speech and opinion is a must, however values and principles ask one to be responsible for what he/she voices, or makes public on media. It doesn't mean that one can say whatever he wants on another person, without then taking the responsibility of wrong doings. Right?
Paul Micallef
Feb 26th, 12:09
@Aquilina
U intkhom hekk tridu ma tkunu accauntabile lejn hadd. Le allura mela xi trid??? Kullhadd jaghamel li rid???
Nofs ic-chairmens ta l-enemalta li gew appuntati taht il-PN kollha DEFSU IDDEJHOM SAL QIEH FIZ-ZEJT, allura dawn ma jehlu xejn??? DEFAMAZJONI skond il-ligi taghana tista tehel il-habs, mela twaddbu it-tajn u qisu xejn ma hu xejn.TAHTNA LE, KULLHADD ACCAUNTABILE, jew morru.
Renato J. Costigan
Feb 26th, 12:24
................To all (M)LP supporters...............
The last journalist to be thrown in prison was under the Malta Labour Party administration during the 80'ies. His surname was Calleja.
We are hesding back to those days with these two statements.
The past is still strong in the new movement/party (which is which) in the (M)LP according to KMB.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 26th, 14:50
@ Mr Costigan
That journalist was sent to prison by the courts and not by the government. That journalist had alleged that a minister had had sexual relations with a secretary, impregnated her and then to cover his shameful had arranged for her to be sent to work abroad to cover what he had done. It was proved to be a total fabrication and a lie.
Eddy Privitera
Feb 26th, 11:43
GonziPN officials should be made aware that they have to carry criminal responsibility for their disgusting accusations at such a sensitive time ! Dr. Fenech Adami's accusation leveled at Dr. Alfred Sant on the very last day of campaigning, about which he was later found guilty , is still too vivid in people's mind. GonziPN are trying a repetition !
Ronnie Callus
Feb 26th, 13:39
Hundred percent true. These people lie right left and centre. They have lost their Credibility as the 'Brazilian' company mentioned by Dr.Gonzi. He does not even excused himself to the people.
Mark Depasquale
Feb 26th, 14:04
Sur Privitera
Ghalli jista jkun inti Eddy Privitera li kont membru fis - CNI?
Victor Laiviera
Feb 26th, 11:40
Marc Bonello (PN-appointed Chairman of the Maritime Authority) also used it against MP Jose Herrera
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101008/local/mp-loses-attempt-to-halt-criminal-libel-case.330369
Julian Borg
Feb 26th, 11:39
You CANNOT be serious? I thought this was a new way of doing politics? No them and us? Red and Blue? "il-politika tal-firda". Joseph Muscat and the MLP are a laughing stock - a marketing product with no substance and no values. Incarcerating because of free speech will go down excellently with the electorate! Go for it! Clowns!
Eddy Privitera
Feb 26th, 11:48
Julian Borg: Dio you want GonziPN to invent all sorts of criminal accusations, and be left free of taking criminal responsibility for their disgusting accusations ???
twanny borg
Feb 26th, 11:38
Li kieku l-politici jibdew imorru l-qorti u din tiddeciedi li dawn imorru l-habs kieku hafna jispiccaw il-habs ghax kullhadd f'xi mument jew iehor jghaddi xi kumment goff. Nahseb li hemm bzonn aktar maturita wara kollox bil-mezzi disponibbli llum wiehed jista' jirribatti. Hemm bzonn nikbru ftit ghax donnu n-nies aktar qed jiehdu pjacir b'zaren tal-ajkla. Li tohrog ghal politika huwa sagrificju.
Rita Spiteri
Feb 26th, 12:33
Li kieku l-politici jibdew imorru l-qorti u din tiddeciedi li dawn imorru l-habs kieku hafna jispiccaw il-habs ghax kullhadd f'xi mument jew iehor jghaddi xi kumment goff. GOOD they need to learn to shoulder responsability,and Malta will be a much better place without these blabbermouth politicians saying things just to score points !!! Viva tal-Ajkla . Lol
Renato J. Costigan
Feb 26th, 11:38
............Kliem perikoluz hafna............
Forsi KMB fl-intervista lil-'Malta Independent' se jerga jara l-qawmien ta' zmienu fil-(M)LP.
Aqrawh ghax interessanti w fih x'wiehed jithasseb.
Jidher li l-passat ghadu b-sahhtu hafna.
Joe Muscat
Feb 26th, 11:47
Perikoluz/ Ghaliex? Ghax drajna nghamlu li rridu f'dal pajjz u qisu qatt ma gara xejn? tajjeb...mela nhalluh free for all...skont int?
Mr B Busuttil
Feb 26th, 11:54
komplu bezzaw bil babbaw...
Mr Stephen Borg
Feb 26th, 12:25
The Labour party cannot attack the Nationalist party but the Nationalist party can attack whoever they like. Under the GonziPN regime you did not go to prison if you showed any dissent towards the government. What they do is, they get the same bloggers to attack you personally and to rubbish your arguments killing your personality and beliefs. That is Malta under GonziPN the regime.
A Cachia
Feb 26th, 11:38
Would serve anyone on the PN right.....it was them who blocked the law from being removed after all.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 26th, 11:37
Not the first time that people who feel aggieved resort to Criminal Libel.
Natalino Fenech did it in June 2012 against Kurt Farrugia
Lawrence Zammit did it against the GWU and Carmel Cacopardo
Please choose the reason of your report below: