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Gonzi to form part of Malta's delegation for installation of Pope Francis

Opposition leader Lawrence Gonzi will be part of Malta's official delegation for the installation of Pope Francis.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has tweeted "Malta delegation for Pope Francis inauguration to symbolise national unity. Asked Lawrence Gonzi to join President and myself. Glad he accepted."

The delegation will be led by President George Abela.

The Maltese delegation for Pope John Paul 11's funeral in 2005 was made up of  Eddie Fenech Adami, Lawrence Gonzi, Joseph Mercieca and Alfred Sant, then President, Prime Minister, Archbishop and Opposition leader, respectively.

 

 

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Frank Zammit

Mar 18th, 11:33

U also seem to have forgotten that Joseph nominated Dolores Cristina to deputise for the President. If u want to snob off the chance to unite as one Nation, be my guest. After all in are you in the ever shrinking in number minority. With you attitude, the next Gen election will be a breeze for the MALTA TAGHNA MOVEMENT.

R Axisa

Mar 18th, 21:51

Dr Sant was present for the funeral of JeanPaul II not for the installation of Pope Benedict XVI.

Alfred Pace

Mar 18th, 08:18

Wasn't it Gonzi who for the FIRST time put a staunch labour candidate, former Deputy Leader and contender for the leadership of the Partit Laburista by the name of George Abela as President of Malta?...how about that for 'national unity'?!...I was thinking that after being elected on the slogan of Malta Taghna Lkoll at least JM would have managed to convince his folk to be a bit more moderate!!

Alfred Pace

Mar 18th, 08:23

regarding this issue, what is all this fuss about? the same had happened for Pope John Paul II's funeral when Dr. A. Sant as the then leader of the opposition had joined the Prime Minister and the President of the time to attend the funeral. Or are we being given to believe by JM that he is being so magnanimous !!....kemm qeghdin sew!

H. Meilak

Mar 18th, 08:53

Racist mentality? No Mr Saliba Butler, you are not being too optimistic, you are simply imagining things.

Colin Azzopardi

Mar 18th, 08:05

Sur Vella, tħallatx il-knisja ma realtajiet socjali bhad divorzju.

F. Pisani

Mar 18th, 09:17

Unity, Dear D. Xerri, Was first Introduced by Dr. Fenech Adami, and here comes MR JM, speaking about UNITY 25 yrs down the line! What “Unity” is there to conceive which there isn't already? Wake up People!

A Cuschieri

Mar 18th, 09:22

Apparently, this 'tradition' of inviting the opposition leader was started by Lawrence Gonzi when Pope Benedict was elected. So, it's a continuation of unity I guess - which is great mind you!

Joanne Spiteri

Mar 18th, 10:13

Jaghmel x'jaghmel Joseph Muscat qatt m'hu ta tghid li huwa sew minn wara dak in nuccali blu li inti liebes. Ibqa webbes rasek mela!

mark borg

Mar 17th, 21:33

The margin in reality is much larger ....now we will see come next elections when ID cards would be renewed amongs other things!

Joe Tabone

Mar 17th, 21:53

@ Noel,
Address the argument not the person - Malta Taghna Ukoll!
Is it standard practice for the Opposition leader to attend such events?
Was Alfred Sant invited to such an event by the PN Government? PL gimmicks perhaps!!!!

Jon Vercellono

Mar 17th, 22:01

Pl supporters never change with their inane comments even after such a historic win at the polls.

D. Xerri

Mar 17th, 23:52

Doom & Gloom Mood A.Spiteri ?
What is Good is Good Always - Malta needs Unity not Tribal Politics of the Past !

A Spiteri

Mar 17th, 20:11

Frank Gauci, You are wrong!! It already happened in 2005. Pease read the news again...

The Maltese delegation for Pope John Paul 11's funeral in 2005 was made up of Eddie Fenech Adami, Lawrence Gonzi, Joseph Mercieca and Alfred Sant, then President, Prime Minister, Archbishop and Opposition leader, respectively.

Lucienne Dimech

Mar 17th, 20:38

Sorry Frank but if I am not mistaken Alfred Sant went was invited to attend pope John Paul the second's inauguration when in opposition. Still remains a promising sign on Joseph's part.

Denis Pace

Mar 17th, 20:51

It happened before...read the full article

Chris Muscat

Mar 17th, 22:11

he was being sarcastic....understand a joke people

Maria Borg

Mar 17th, 22:42

I think Frank Gauci was using black humour here...good one Frank!!

H. Meilak

Mar 17th, 23:27

Frank Gauci is being sarcastic; its quite obvious!

Richard Caruana

Mar 18th, 07:35

What a stupid comment. Joseph Muscat, leader of the opposition, was present at the installation of Pope Benedict with the Maltese delegation.

Stop trying to rewrite history; that is serious business not to be tackled by fools.

Marion Storace

Mar 17th, 20:56

@ Joe Tabone - gimmicks landed your party ''gass down gol-hajt'' - people like you never change let alone how they're going to respect all Maltese/Gozitans alike

Joe Tabone

Mar 17th, 21:56

Marion,
Was not PL (MLP) in Opposition for 25 years??
The argument here is, that it is standard practice for Opposition leaders to attend such events. Alfred Sant can confirm this for you....................another PL gimmick!!

R. Balzan

Mar 17th, 18:42

m. farrugia - Malta kollha tistenna bil-herqa biex inti u ohrajn bhalek tghaddilhom ir-rabbja u l-frustrazzjoni u tibdew taccettaw li l-politika tal-passat issa spiccat u Malta saret tieghek, tieghi u taghna lkoll.

H. Meilak

Mar 17th, 23:33

R. Balzan. Ftit iktar minn nofs Malta riedet bidla (jekk hux ghall-ahjar ma' nafux imma nisperaw) u ftit inqas minn nofs Malta ghandhom kull dritt jikkritikaw ghax dan huma pajjiz demokratiku. Tista tirribatti kemm trid dak li jintqal imma haga wahda biss m'ghandekx dritt; dik li taghlaq halq haddiehor ghax Malta Taghna Lkoll.

Denis Pace

Mar 17th, 20:52

kif ma tixbghux...................inharsu l-quddiem.
Irringrazzja lil Gonzi li halla ekonomija fost l-iktar soghdi fl-Eurozone!

D. Xerri

Mar 17th, 23:54

Nirringrazzjaw lill Gonzi talli lill Malta halliela wirt ta 6 Biljun Euro Dejn !
L-aktar Prim Ministru li ddejjen fl-istorja ta Malta u ried 500 Euro zieda wkoll - Isthi !

mark borg

Mar 18th, 06:55

@Dennis Pace
uhhh kemm baqalek x tisma dennis ...barra min hekk jien ninsab komdu zgur grazzi mhux ghal Pn imma ghax nahdem u dejjem hdimt bil kapacita tieghi ,nassigurak . Gonzi li qed isemmi int, zgur ma kienx se jtini il flus li investejt kieku fallejt.

M Borg

Mar 17th, 19:34

Maybe you did not read all the above.

Quote

The Maltese delegation for Pope John Paul 11's funeral in 2005 was made up of Eddie Fenech Adami, Lawrence Gonzi, Joseph Mercieca and Alfred Sant, then President, Prime Minister, Archbishop and Opposition leader, respectively.

Unquote

H. Meilak

Mar 18th, 08:58

Apart from the fact that this happened before already, Alfred Sant was invited too for Pope Benedict's installation, a new way is not always a good way!

mario salnitro

Mar 17th, 19:45

Nafu li JM huwa bravu u stuz imma mhux iblah!!!

Mark Saliba

Mar 18th, 15:28

I think it would be better if we have one from the AD as a speaker. Cassola or Caccopardo

Eddy Privitera

Mar 17th, 17:19

Ghal unita l-aqwa ghazla ghal - President , tkun persuna li m'hiex imdahhla fil-politika.

Mr Evan Camilleri

Mar 17th, 18:08

@Eddie... Usually I do not agree with your comments. This time I agree 100%

Vincent Bezzina

Mar 17th, 18:30

Lousy idea. Muscat's offer to take Gonzi along is commendable, but Gonzi is not worthy of the honour. He was an active participant of the illegality and corruption and abuse of power in this country.

G Tonna

Mar 18th, 04:03

But Dr Abela is a good President, so the idea is not a bad one.

An. Vella

Mar 17th, 17:33

Well said!

Joe Borg

Mar 17th, 18:22

Exactly! If the populace changes its attitude, the politicians will be quick to follow if they want to be reelected.

T Mifsud

Mar 17th, 17:09

You are an exception!

Mr Evan Camilleri

Mar 17th, 18:10

IF you think that all that traveling abroad by government officials and ministers is a holiday then you do not know what you are talking about.

A Spiteri

Mar 17th, 18:34

Sur Fenech, biex tkun taf meta kien Prim Ministru Dr Lawrence Gonzi propona lil Dr George Abela bhala President ta' Malta fit-2010. Jew ghandek memorja qasira jew trid tnessi. Mela allura kif qed tghid int Dr Gonzi kien twajjeb izzejjed!! Ara link isfel...

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090401/local/house-nominates-george-abela-to-become-maltas-eighth-president.251221

Saviour Aquilina

Mar 17th, 16:08

Remember Eddie done it before in 2005 Mr Camilleri.

Saviour Aquilina

Mar 17th, 16:10

Sorry it was Dr Gonzi in 2005.

M Spiteri

Mar 17th, 16:28

The Maltese delegation for Pope John Paul 11's funeral in 2005 was made up of Eddie Fenech Adami, Lawrence Gonzi, Joseph Mercieca and Alfred Sant, then President, Prime Minister, Archbishop and Opposition leader, respectively.

Victor Pulis

Mar 17th, 18:03

Yes...and pay their own bills!!..like the pope!

Vincent Bezzina

Mar 17th, 18:31

You are right and say what you want about Dr. Sant, but no one can question his honesty, his integrity or his intelligence.

R. Balzan

Mar 17th, 15:45

Why try to belittle a noble act? Still not feeling normal, are you?

Maria Frendo

Mar 17th, 16:16

It is a good act....but for people to say this is what Malta Taghna Lkoll means clearly have no idea that it was done before.

An. Vella

Mar 17th, 17:03

This is not the only act for Malta Taghna Lkoll, but a part of it. Why can't we all be glad that this happened both in 2005 and now?

Joseph Farrugia

Mar 17th, 17:32

No it was not Maria, in 2005 it was not a Papal inauguration, this is the appointing of a Head of State (for that what the Pope is in political terms) as well as the appointing of the new Pope. Get your facts straight before calling others please.

Joseph Farrugia

Mar 17th, 17:44

PS: just in case anybody missed it (I'm sure Maria did not), mine was a sarcastically humorous post ;-)

Lighten up people, nothing to be sour about.

R. Balzan

Mar 17th, 15:47

jm busuttil - Please refrain from continuing your negative posts as you are now a minority amongst the minority of minorities. Please grow up.

jm busuttil

Mar 17th, 17:00

@ R. Balzan

Is it annoying you. Already feeling the heat .

Live with it as we did.

carmel parnis

Mar 17th, 17:17

Issa ahjar sur Busuttil irdiu jalqulna halqna VIVA ID DEMOKRAZZIJA

R. Balzan

Mar 17th, 18:51

j.m busuttil - Feeling the heat?! Like at least 56% of all adult Maltese I'm still euphoric and will continue to celebrate this massive, landslide win for at least the next 5 years.

jm busuttil

Mar 17th, 20:12

@ R. Balzan

Hope you do for the committing 5 years OOps hope not two, as Konrad's clock is ticking and you know what Joseph promised if Konrad's famous power station is not ready.

We will sit down wait and see. Until than we will see what this new MLP will bring.

A Spiteri

Mar 17th, 15:53

NOTHING NEW Mr Cocker please read before you post: The Maltese delegation for Pope John Paul 11's funeral in 2005 was made up of President (Emeritus) Eddie Fenech Adami, (former) Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Archbishop (Emeritus) Joseph Mercieca and (former) Opposition Leader Alfred Sant.

Toni Borg

Mar 17th, 14:09

YES...HE LEART A LOT FROM HIS PREDECESSORS!!!

The Maltese delegation for Pope John Paul 11's funeral in 2005 was made up of President (Emeritus) Eddie Fenech Adami, (former) Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Archbishop (Emeritus) Joseph Mercieca and (former) OPPOSITION LEADER ALFRED SANT!.

J Martinelli

Mar 17th, 14:47

Indeed! He followed protocol as what happened under Nationalist governments.
Nothing new, nothing out of the ordinary. Let's hope that the same 'unity' and cross-Party cooperation will continue in the House for the next five years unlike what took place during the past five.
A chance for Joseph & Co to put words into practice and indeed show his 'new way of doing business'!

Freddie Micallef

Mar 17th, 15:57

@Toni samajnik ton,mhemmx bzonn tafas il caps.

Eddy Privitera

Mar 17th, 17:26

J.Martinelli: NIsperaw li dak li hallew warajhom il-ministri u seg.parlamentari fl-ufficcji taghhom- XEJN - ma narawhx fil-mod kif se jagixxu fil-parlament !

Chris Cocker

Mar 17th, 14:19

Are you serious?

Chris Debono

Mar 17th, 14:43

Dr Gonzi made Dr Abela as a president so he will not have him in the way for the general election Mr Borg.I Think at that time he was looking at him as a treat .I hope people will be more honest when they place a comment and by the way Dr Abela is one of the best presidents we ever had till now.

A Montebello

Mar 17th, 15:26

@ Chris Debono, ,
So, Gonzi makes George Abela President of the country out of fear, because he sees him as a threat, and Muscat tweets about his invitation to Gonzi... and he's a saint??
The blogger's right, we do hold the PN and the PL to very different standards!

saviour Tabone

Mar 17th, 15:29


I agree that Dr Gonzi will one day be appointed President, lets not forget the good things he done during his term.as PM. It is not to win the respect of the Nationalists, but because he deserves it, and in the interest of National Unity.

Toni Borg

Mar 17th, 14:09

veru veru.....almenu tghallem min ta qablu!!!

The Maltese delegation for Pope John Paul 11's funeral in 2005 was made up of President (Emeritus) Eddie Fenech Adami, (former) Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Archbishop (Emeritus) Joseph Mercieca and (former) Opposition Leader Alfred Sant.

R Axisa

Mar 17th, 13:09

If it wasn't the first time, it wouldn't have made news!

Joe Borg

Mar 17th, 13:34

Regardless, it is a good thing.

brian spiteri

Mar 17th, 13:37

Semmielna meta please? Ghax l ahhar kliem ta gonzi kien li il laburisti ihammrulu wiccu!!

Michael Magri

Mar 17th, 13:57

Mr Portelli.. Could you give us an example please...!!!

steve fenech

Mar 17th, 14:02

agreed max. this is nothing compared to gonzi's offering the prersidency of malta to a person from across the political divide, george abela....and what did gonzi get in return , just obstuctionism, without even the pl accepting on a pairing agreement !

Chris Cocker

Mar 17th, 14:13

When did this happen? Can you please tell us?

Max Portelli

Mar 17th, 14:19

erm... forsi meta lahaq papa benedittu fl-2005...

R Axisa - the only first time for something happening here is Joseph Muscat tweeting about it. PN never publicised this sort of stuff because it is the natural thing to do.

J Grech

Mar 17th, 15:12

@ Brian Spiteri - u li Joseph kien se jibqa' repeater! LOL

Max Portelli

Mar 17th, 18:05

everyone is so quick to comment instead checking the internet themselves... L-aqwa kulhadd jitajpja prosit JOSEPH KEMM INTI BRAVU! Hallina... a politician is always a politician. Let's see how long he can keep up the facade in the midst of political turmoil.

M Borg

Mar 17th, 23:44

@ all

It is always better to read the full article first before writing

Quote


The Maltese delegation for Pope John Paul 11's funeral in 2005 was made up of Eddie Fenech Adami, Lawrence Gonzi, Joseph Mercieca and Alfred Sant, then President, Prime Minister, Archbishop and Opposition leader, respectively.

Unquote




JOHN WHITE

Mar 18th, 15:03

@ Brian Spiteri

Inti mid-dehra tisma qanpiena wahda hux? Qadt ma smajt il-frazijiet " Dawk sriep" jew "Dawk ghandhom xi haga hazina fid-DNA", "Dawk kontra taghna" etc etc Heqqqqqqq

JOHN WHITE

Mar 18th, 15:00

Kevin, inti qadt rajt lil xi hadd tal-PL jistieden li xi hadd minn naha tal-partit nazzjonalista ghar-repubblika? Taf kemm il-darba ma attendiex cerimonji Joseph!! Mela isma minni ghax kulhadd ghandu x`ixomm taht idejh

B Testa

Mar 17th, 13:15

Tend to disagree with this as We should move away from having politicians to have a place in such a seat. Look at the mishap of EFA as president where he should have represented ALL Maltese and was instead representing half the country as was evident in the last day of the latest election campaign.

The role of president so far has taken a new dimension with George Abela, that should remain.

Mark. Galea

Mar 17th, 13:02

I would have liked the governments before 1987 to have acted likewise

R Axisa

Mar 17th, 18:23

Mark Galea - The difference is that the PL moved much forward compared to how they were before 1987, but unfortunately the PN moved back to how the PL were before 1987.

JOHN WHITE

Mar 18th, 14:57

@ R.Axisa,

When you support a team,your team is nearly always good for you and vice versa for the opponent.So what ever you say there will be a lot who agree with you and a lot of disagree

Martin Saliba

Mar 17th, 12:52

Jonathan , nahseb li bdejt tajjeb imma spicajt hazin .

Maria Frendo

Mar 17th, 14:52

That red terror is still to come...wait 2 years and we'll see the state of our economy

A. Mizzi

Mar 17th, 16:11

@ Maria Frendo

You know something we don't know?

The Busuttil Grocer grocer days are over !

Luke Falzon

Mar 17th, 12:19

Well done, it is good that Nationalists like you are and should be at the forefront and not those that want division in our country. Let's make this a country that truly belongs to us all.

joseph green

Mar 17th, 13:48

Grazzi Luke , wara kollox kwazi kull familja mhallta politikament , u hemm bzonn li nirrikonoxxu it tajjeb jaghmlu min jaghmlu.

Anthony Farrugia

Mar 17th, 15:39

That should have read : Edward Fenech Adami (President)/Lawrence Gonzi (Prime Minister)/ Alfred Sant (Leader of the Opposition.)

So, once again, what's new or innovative in the lineup of next Tuesday's delegation ?

S Farrugia

Mar 17th, 11:44

Nies bhalek tant m'ghandhomx xi jghidu li jaqbdu mal-icken tibna.

An. Vella

Mar 17th, 12:10

Jien ma nafx xi tridu iktar inthom in-nazzjonalisti (ftit minnkom, ghax issib min hu sincier). Ma tafux tammettu meta jsir gest sabih / tajjeb.

Prosit kemm lill-Prim taghna kif ukoll lil Dr Gonzi li accetta.

Eddy Privitera

Mar 17th, 11:38

jm BUsuttil: Instead of thanking Dr. Muscat you tried to find something which has been carrying on under GonziPN. And had restarted BEFORE the general election ! Can't you wait ??

Manwel Sinagra

Mar 17th, 11:48

JMB, the work started before the election. This does not actually say much about the previous admin.

Em. Catania

Mar 17th, 11:58

HaHa people like you make me and others laugh, I bet you never complaned in the last five years to all the very suspicious permits-tenders given to polidano and vassallo
work of hal farrug which re-started before election date ,, which I am sure our Prime Minister will look into
Now back to the PROPER article
J.Muscat included gonzi in the delegation, good , are you complaining

*Joseph Brincat

Mar 17th, 11:59

jm busuttil ,
Illegal development have been done under Gonzi pn BUT you have not comment about it ???

A. Mizzi

Mar 17th, 12:08

This is my comment on this link!

A. Mizzi
Today, 08:23
Work started again just before the election, despite enforcement notices .....

What stopped law enforcement before the election????????

Was the country LAWLESS before the election?

Mr Stephen Borg

Mar 17th, 12:21

@jm busuttil
I think that what happened a week ago should have taught you a great lesson, this being that when you hear about positive initiatives you should be positive and not try to find something negative to cloud a positive issue with a negative one. Negativity never works and this was proven in last weeks electoral results.

laurent caruana

Mar 17th, 12:40

@ Eddy Privitera
Contractors are floaters

G Tonna

Mar 18th, 04:11

The definition of floaters should include: contractors, developers, hunters, LGBT, NGOs ta l'ambjent and whoever feels like having a go at our democracy.

James Buhagiar

Mar 17th, 11:40

we had. HAD.

Em. Catania

Mar 17th, 12:01

@james buhagiar,, are you serious??? he took your party to the abbys with the biggest defeat in history, you are happy, good for you

J. Scicluna

Mar 17th, 12:11

James Buhagiar

55% of the Maltese electorate beg to differ!

The greatest landslide ever in recent electoral history and you persist in sanctifying LG?

Keep it up...looks like lessons were not learnt which will condemn the PN to years and years to grope around in a political wilderness.

L Zammit

Mar 17th, 12:15

For Pope Benedict's inaugration, Maltese delegarion was Abela/Gonzi/Sant !

Pace M

Mar 17th, 12:37

No WE ALL HAVE

Martin Saliba

Mar 17th, 12:47

James ,

37 , 000 more votes and 9 seats say we didnt . But not to worry , you are only in denial and will get through this , eventually.

Charlene Bonnici

Mar 17th, 13:07

No James we HAVE !!! HAVE!!! Unfortunately the PM we HAD< HAD , started good but after a couple of months he went downhill and took Malta with him!!!

Joe Busuttil

Mar 17th, 13:53

@ James---I respect your opinion and offer you my hand as a sign of friendship. I will even help you dust down your clothing. Be positive man I think Gonzi was very right in accepting and U admire him for it.

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