Gonzi sworn in as Opposition Leader - PN to start process for election of new leader
Lawrence Gonzi was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition this afternoon.
The ceremony was held at the Palace in Valletta before President George Abela.
Dr Gonzi was Speaker of the House between 1988 and 1996, a minister from 1998 to 2004 and Prime Minister between 2004 and the general election held earlier this month.
He has said he will not seek re-election as PN leader and will resign as Leader of the Opposition once a new PN leader is appointed.
In comments after the swearing-in, Dr Gonzi said the Opposition was committed to working in the national interest, with the immediate priorities being the early convening of Parliament and the approval of the Budget.
The quick approval of the Budget, he said, had assumed even more importance in view of the international situation, especially in Cyprus.
The Opposition would vote in favour of the Budget as long as there were no changes other than an amendment to ensure that minimum wage earners did not pay income tax.
Dr Gonzi described his appointment as temporary and said the PN executive would meet tomorrow to start the process for the election of a new party leader.
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
153 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Joe Grech
Mar 26th, 14:17
I believe that Dr. Lawrence Gonzi is intrinsically a good man. But he made too many mistakes, a number of which lost him his very own credibility in the eyes of the electorate.
PN went the way the MLP went at the time of Lorry Sant et Co. Remember?
It is a good thing that Change has come about.
Now....we hope for a serious administration. That's what the COUNTRY sorely needs!
j brincat
Mar 21st, 09:06
@R. Azzopardi
"Austerity? Qed turini bic-car that you have never left the country, and if you did....."
What do you call the exorbitant W & E tariff just to mention just one. Do you really believe that they were raised to such an extent to reflect the international price of fuel?
What about the increase in VAT?
And not everybody has the luxury to travel abroad!
jb
R. Azzopardi
Mar 21st, 09:52
"And not everybody has the luxury to travel abroad"
Fair enough so i suggest that unless you know what hardships people abroad are facing, you shut up.
R Axisa
Mar 21st, 17:31
R Azzopardi - what about the hardship the local people are facing??? This was one of the main reasons why the PN lost this election, because it refused to hear the feelings and hardships of the locals.
j brincat
Mar 21st, 09:00
@Ann Vella
"Gonzi was let down by members of his own party.....pity since these morons had no principles"
That what happens when one promises everything to everyone BUT then does not deliver!
That what happens when one promises, after each bashing, to listen to the people but then remains isolated in his Ivory Tower!
And do you call the electorate 'morons'?
The people are sovereign!
jb
Eddy Privitera
Mar 21st, 08:57
Ann Vella. members of the PN who left the party include THOUSANDS not just Dr. Franco Debono, Dr. J. Pullicino Orlando, Konrad Thake and so many more. Do you really believe that all these people " had no principles " ? Or the real reason is that Dr. Gonzi and the clique surrounding him , had lost ALL PRINCIPLES ??!!
j brincat
Mar 21st, 08:55
@Ann Vella
"A great Prime Minister..........thank you for your Golden Years"
Just depends for whom they were really 'golden' - certainly not for the many but perhaps for the very few aka the oligarchy which now is being acknowledged by one and all that it (oligarchy) was really with us!
jb
Ann Vella
Mar 21st, 09:58
Yes....Gonzi gave our islands the Golden Years with no drastic austerity measures as happened with many of the countries surrounding us!
We will now wait and see what JM & Co are capable of???!!!
R Axisa
Mar 21st, 17:35
Ann Vella - what do you call the surcharge on water and electricity tariffs and fuel? They surely are some sort of austerity measures burdened by the people. On the other hand the cabinet availed itself of a 600/500 euro weekly increase in their pockets. Of course this is no austerity measure.
Ann Vella
Mar 21st, 08:21
Gonzi was let down by members of his own party.........pity since these morons had no principles
or values to switch over to Labour !
PN are rid of these likes.......and a clean sweep!
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Mar 21st, 11:44
35,000 people abondoned the NP - are these all morons? With any attitude like yours, no wonder the PN lost big time. Keep it up and the PN will slowly end up being outdone by AD.
Ann Vella
Mar 21st, 08:05
A great Prime Minister..........thank you for your Golden Years.
Eddy Privitera
Mar 21st, 08:49
"Golden Years " ? Oh, of course, you're right ! "Golden" for those within the inner circle, also dubbed as IL-KLIKKA, not only by Franco Debono but by others, including Dr. Lawrence Gonzi's brother Dr. Michael Gonzi, Jean Pierre Farrugia, Robert Musumeci, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando etc.. !
j brincat
Mar 21st, 07:09
@Anthony Grech
"We have lost a statesman and replaced him with a very average prime minister"
AND this average prime minister gave your statesman the thrashing ever suffered by any political party in Malta!
AND this statesman secretly gave himself the extravaganza of €500 a WEEK while us, the poor commoners, were reeling by his austerity measures!
jb
R. Azzopardi
Mar 21st, 08:03
Austerity? Qed turini bic-car that you have never left the country, and if you did, you never felt the pulse of people overseas.
Furthermore, yes, we did get a thrashing, and a bad one at that. However, 5 years is a long time my friend. Your beloved prime minister has A LOT to prove! I am not saying that he's not capable, but only time will tell.
D. Bonello
Mar 21st, 04:07
Onestament ma nifhimx 3 kwarti tal-kummenti li jithallew hawn taht! Jien dis-sena ivvutajt favur il-bidla izda:
1. Allahares fil-25 sena li dam fil gvern il-PN m'ghamel xejn tajjeb! Tisma hafna nies jitkellmu qisu kollox hazin ghamel. Min jirraguna hekk mhux sewwa!
2. Min dejjem kien u ghadu favur il-PN jitkellem qisu JM diga dahhal lil Malta fil-hajt! Tuh cans jahasra adu bilkemm beda jiggverna!
Edward Farrugia
Mar 20th, 23:39
Hawn xi hadd qall li JM żgur mhux sa jkun immexxi minn klikka - tassaw bahnan dan meta jekk ghandu ghajneh f'wiccu mal lewwel jinduna li mill linqass erba uccuh qoddma, insemmihom Leo Brincat, Carmenu Vella, Evarist Bartolo u Joe Mizzi, ilkoll minn wara il-kwienti ga ilwewlu(JM) iddeh biex kellu jaghmilhom ministri ghax inkella kienu jaslu biex issamruh. Din mhux klikka li nibtett taht Mintoff!
Eddy Privitera
Mar 21st, 08:51
Edward Farrugia: Din il-hrafa min bellghahielek ???
alexander grech
Mar 20th, 23:38
Continue...High water & electricity bills on everyone that businesses had to close & so on.Dr.gonzi have lead the country like a cruise liner.When he saw that bad weather is approaching he saved part of the crew and threw all the passengers in rough seas.As long as the ship,himself and the few survived he thought that he had succeeded and he was the hero.He didn't give a damn about the rest
David Griscti
Mar 20th, 23:32
This party believed in the people in colonial times, in the ability of the nation to steer its own course through independence, in the ability of the maltese to overcome adversity in the 80s, in the ability of the people to create wealth throughout the past 25 years, in the ability of the Maltese to hold their own in the EU. The people will come to believe in the party again.
alexander grech
Mar 20th, 23:28
What do i thank Dr.Gonzi for?.Finding jobs that employes you with reduced hrs for euros3.65 an hour and in valletta.For paying taxes to dockyard workers to retire early with a lump sum?Airmalta employees the same.For paying a VAT fine because i was not in a position to pay in time and those who intentionally defrauded thousands of euros had a fine of 800e,100e more than i paid for 1500e?more....
Andrew John Mercieca
Mar 20th, 22:32
I wish all the best to the new administration of our country; the PL has earned its place and should be fully respected as our government and given time to work. Yet it is only fair to expect answers and action considering all the criticism put forward to the prior administration just a few weeks ago. The PL should also get used to be objectively criticised on its way to achieve its high goals .
Andrew John Mercieca
Mar 20th, 22:28
The huge loss suffered by the PN should be shouldered equally not only by the leadership of the PN but also by the rebels who should have never crossed the line of loyalty to a party they once (if ever) loved and by silent members of the PN that just watched when the party was in difficulty!
Andrew John Mercieca
Mar 20th, 22:25
Gratitude to our outgoing PM. I am very grateful for a country that performed well where other countries faltered. LG should have no regrets at guaranteeing employment, education and strong finances. I do strongly advice respect to a great statesman as some people do not have a clue what might have been and what was in truth achieved; especially in such difficult times.
Nicholas Ellul
Mar 20th, 22:16
La kont mithla tal-partit u lanqas impjegat mal-gvern jew xi kuntrattur. Sempliciment cittadin Malti li rajt pajjizi ikompli miexi l-quddiem waqt li pajjizi ohra kienu u ghadhom qed jeghrqu. Issa strieh ghax xoghlok ghamiltu b'impenn u success. Grazzi ta' kollox. It-telfa tal-partit ma hiex htija tieghek u lanqas ta' shabek, imma ta' dawk madwar il-gvern li ma jafux x'inhi xaba u tkesshu. Grazzi
Joseph Cini
Mar 20th, 21:20
I AM SURE THAT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE WE WILL HAVE A GOOD NEW LEADER, DEPUTY AND A GENERAL SECRETARY. DR. GONZI DESERVES BETTER AND I AM SURE THAT HE WILL HAVE A LOT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNTRY.
I Mercieca
Mar 20th, 20:52
Dr.Gonzi irnexxielu kontra x-xejra internazzjonali ta fallimenti totali jhalli pajjiz b'finanzi fis-sod. Il-bierah stess
Dr.Muscat bezaqha li ghandna finanzi fis-sod bhall-ma bezaq li l-onorarja thallset kollha.
Grazzi mill-gdid tal-hidna tieghek favur pajjizna fl-ghar zmienijiet li qatt ghexna fiehom fejn rajna pajjizi gganti gharkubtejhom.
Anthony Grech
Mar 20th, 20:50
We have lost a statesman and replaced him with a very average prime minister. I am sure in the near future many people will regret their decision to 'switch'..Dr. Gonzi, I wish you all the best!!!
marius mifsud
Mar 20th, 21:47
a statesman who was not even able to control a bunch of ministers! ha ha ha so very funny! so according to your yardstick an average politician crashed your statesman by 36000 votes!. god only knows what would have happened if joseph was on the same scale of your yardstick. ha ha ha again
C Baldacchino
Mar 20th, 22:04
Very well said!
Mr C Galea
Mar 20th, 22:33
who do you think you are to judge a person that has not even had a chance to prove himself? it's people with this kind of attitude that make maltese polictics a shamble. may joseph rule. is one forgetting that the pn was voted out for a reason? could gonzi be part of that? the answer in one word, yes.
Ann Vella
Mar 21st, 08:13
Agree absolutely........Gonzi years were the Golden Years.
Anthony Grech
Mar 20th, 20:49
Thank you, Dr. Gonzi for your selfless dedication to Malta in the past legislature.
You not only kept Malta afloat in the worst economic crisis in a century, we are actually among the 4 best performing countries in the EU! And this in the midst of spiralling oil prices, an upheaval in Libya, and not least a pathetic, egoistic rebellion from your own ranks joining hands with an opportunistic JM.
C Zammit
Mar 20th, 20:58
Agree 100%
Gina bugeja
Mar 20th, 20:40
Thanks Dr.Gonzi for all that you done for our country.You will surely be missed.
marius mifsud
Mar 20th, 21:48
yes thank you dr gonzi for wasting a whole year to try to recuperate the polls. so much dedication for our beloved country from dr gonzi! yeah right
Tony Scicluna
Mar 20th, 20:16
Thank you Dr.Gonzi. It is now time for PN to reorganize and be humble in defeat. The party needs to do some honest and a clear post mortem. The new leader has to be inspiring, hard working and intelligent and above all have the respect of Nationalists outside of the executive. In this light Mario DeMarco and Chris Said have to be the only two candidates Ann Fenech decided not to be considered,pity
Jesmond Chetcuti
Mar 20th, 20:10
If I have to give a vote from 1-10 to Gonzi , I will give him a 6....he was responsable for good things and also less good...but the maltese people want an 8 plus thats why the change...lets wait and after the 5 years we can judge/compare...
mark borg
Mar 20th, 20:08
The quick approval of the Budget, he said, had assumed even more importance in view of the international situation, especially in Cyprus.
ISSA INDUNAJT DRGONZI ?? kif ma indunajtx ta l-anqas ghaxar xhur ilu ?? kont taf li niesek stess mhux se jivvutawlek ghal budget u int biex bqajt igranfat mas siggu .issa illum tigi tilghaba tal qaddis u tghidilna kemm se tahdem ghal pajjiz !
Angelo Xerri
Mar 20th, 19:58
Angelo Xerri
The PL came out lucky because they adopted the PN budget before and after the election, otherwise if they ware in government the PL would have had a budget that resembles Cyprus and bail out big time. Thank you Gonzi PN. 36000 floaters that voted PL, think about it.
Mark Stivala
Mar 20th, 23:36
Its 18,000 floating voters. These include 18,000 people who put personal interests before general well being, ultimately resulting in 'collective' bad burden sharing.
Anthony Grech
Mar 20th, 19:48
Thank you, Dr. Gonzi for your selfless dedication to Malta in the past legislature. You not only kept Malta afloat in the worst economic crisis in a century, we are actually among the 4 best performing countries in the EU! And this in the midst of spiralling oil prices, an upheaval in Libya, and not least a pathetic, egoistic rebellion from your own ranks joining hands with an opportunistic JM.
Joseph Grech Attard
Mar 20th, 19:48
The PN would do well to follow Franco Debono's, JPO's and Mugliett's advices. They have been proved right. People are still waiting for the outcome of the oil scandal and who are 'A.G.' and 'Aust.' The election results have diverted everyone from this most serious matter.
Charles Cremona
Mar 20th, 19:41
History will prove Dr Gonzi as one of the best Prime ministers we ever had, in fact we might yet regret voting him out , only time will tell, he was an honest hard working PM who always put the interests of Malta first, good luck Dr Gonzi and thank you.
Joe Grech
Mar 20th, 19:17
To Mr. Alfred Cassar. You just watch too much NET TV!!!
marius mifsud
Mar 20th, 19:11
yeah go where you belong to the opposition! you will be remembered as the priminister who double the national debt, the most hard headed priminister ever and the priminister who had the least control on his cabinet ever. now we see you where you belong 'bil-qalb'. and so much for ' s-sibt 9 ta marzu nivvutaw u il-hadd niccelebraw'.
george grech
Mar 20th, 19:08
Il pn vera tilef l elezzjoni imma xorta ghadu partit kbir.
Tinsewx li dawk li ivvotaw lil labour, kienu u jibqghu nazzjonalisti.
Kulma ghamlu protest vote, ghal gid tal partit.
Naf x jien nghid.
j camilleri
Mar 20th, 23:33
Mid-dehra ma' kontx fuq il-fosos imdawwar b'ex gonzipn biex tara b'ghajnejk kif daru bl-ikrah kontra l-gvern korrot li haddant int. Ma' tantx ha jduru malajr sakemm jerga jigikhom xi hadd u jibnielkom il-partit :) il-poplu m'huwiex CUC kif gie mghajjar minn Tonio . Il-hsara li saret ma' tantx ha jinsa malajr ic-cittadin. Ma' ntikhom tort dawk li gawdew ovvjament ha jfahhru.
Joseph Cini
Mar 20th, 18:12
Thank you for everything you did for our country, no matter what others say. You may have not been perfect but I am sure that you did your utmost.
marius mifsud
Mar 20th, 19:13
yeah thank him for doubling the national debt! and thank him for the state that he leaves your party! and for rejecting a possible leader as franco debono but impose one of his acolytes!
Eddy Privitera
Mar 20th, 17:43
Inzerta li anki hu Dr. Gonzi, it-tabib Michael Gonzi, fl-ahhar iddikjara li kien hemm il-korruzzjoni, li kien hemm cirku zghir ta' nies li kienu hatfu l-partit u akkuzi serji ohra !!!
albert galea
Mar 20th, 17:40
Hope that he will be a better leader of the opposition then he was Prime Minister. At least from the opposition he cannot give himself and his Klikka € 500 per week
Alfred Cassar
Mar 20th, 18:42
Mr Galea those €500 were going to cost us a total of €1.5m during the full legislature. The super cabinet now will cost us over €30m extra during the present legislature. We are forking out €29million more
Are you happy now?
Joseph Grech Attard
Mar 20th, 19:36
Mr. Alfred Cassar from where did you get the 30 million Euro EXTRA? Can you give us the exact figures please? A government with a majority of 36,000 votes and 13 seats, decreased to 9, EXTRA in parliament deserves a bigger cabinet. When compared to the sleek majority of GonziPN during the past five years, the present cabinet lags behind!!
P. Zammit
Mar 20th, 20:14
@A.Galea ..you should take off your political blinkers. J.Muscat said that during this legislature there will be no increase BUT he intends to form a committee to propose amendments ( hence increases ) in the future.
Also do you think that a yearly salary of 64 KEuro for a Prime Minister and 57 KEuro for a Minister is high considering the responsibility they have ?
L Zammit
Mar 20th, 20:47
Muscat ammetta li l-ministri kienu rrifondewl-onorarja li kienu hadu kollha. U intom bhal boloh tirrepetu l-gideb.
R. Azzopardi
Mar 21st, 08:12
@Alfred Cassar,
Tahlix hin ma dawn in-nies. Matters of simple mathematics make no sense to them. Semghu l-kelma 500 euro pero week u tbewllhu. imma 30 miljun lanqas jafu jghiduha ahseb u ara jikkalkulawha.
Jo Camilleri
Mar 20th, 17:17
Grazzi mill qalb Dr Lawrence Gonzi tas servizz tieghek li tajt lil pajjiezna.
Roy Muscat
Mar 20th, 17:10
Grazzi ta kollox Dr.Gonzi .
Come on joseph ,ibda amel il wedi li ilek 5 snin tajd bijom , ha naraw xinu gej!!!!
Zgur li mux ha jkolna Prim Minstru bhal ma kelna .
Aldo Buttigieg
Mar 20th, 17:16
Prosit Bravu diga taf li mhux ser jkollna Prim bhal ma kellna? Nahseb kont gej Nostradamus int hux!
J. Camilleri
Mar 20th, 17:20
L ahhar zewg linji ma tahsibx li ma jaghmlux sens. Ha nkun ftit kisah jien issa, tinkwetax mhux ser ikollna prim li jlaqqat tkaxkira ta 36000.
R Axisa
Mar 20th, 17:37
Ghandi kurzita' kemm-il darba ghamilt pressjoni fuq Dr Gonzi biex iwettaq il-weghda tatt-tnaqqis tal-income tax - xi haga li kien wieghed li kellu jaghmel fl-ewwel sena tal-legislatura.
R Axisa
Mar 20th, 17:39
Ghandi kurzita' kemm-il darba ghamilt pressjoni fuq Dr Gonzi biex iwettaq il-weghda tatt-tnaqqis tal-income tax - xi haga li kien wieghed li kellu jaghmel fl-ewwel sena tal-legislatura.
Andrew Cumbo
Mar 20th, 18:12
@Roy Muscat, Jekk Dr. Muscat iwettaq nofs dak li wieghed ikun diga ghamel hafna izjed min dak li wieghed il- Partit Nazzjonalista. Ghandek ragun zgur li mhux ha jkollna Prim Ministru,li jmur kontra rieda ta' poplu bhall ma ghamel fi referendum ta' divorzju. Zgur mhux ha jghid li ha jivota bil qalb biex il- kontijiet ta dawl jibqaw gholjin. Li hu zgur li ha jkun PRIM MINISTRU MHUX IMEXXI MIN KLIKKA
G Borg
Mar 20th, 18:25
@Andrew Cumbo 'Li hu zgur li ha jkun PRIM MINISTRU MHUX IMEXXI MIN KLIKKA' nispera li qed ticcajta!! jekk thares madwar Il - Prim bizzejjed min ser jibda jmexxi
anton cassar
Mar 20th, 18:37
Roy nisperaw li JM ma jkunx PM bhal ma kellna ghax vera gol-hajt inkunu dhalna !!!!
Andrew Cumbo
Mar 20th, 18:47
G. Borg, Sakemm il- Partit fil- Gvern ma jkun hemm hadd, li johrog bl-akkuzzi li huwa mexxi min ORIGARKIJA dan ma jistax jigi qatt pruvat. Min naha taghkhom dan ma tistawx tichduh ghax mhux wiehed jew tnejn imma hafna kienu dawk li stqarrew li l-PN fil Gvern huwa mexxi min KLIKKA. Sahansitra ghadna nisimaw kuljum. L-izjed li stqarrew dan imm kien 36000 vot li ma nahsibx li dawn kollha Laburisti.
G Borg
Mar 20th, 19:45
@Andrew Cumbo.... Iz-zmien itinha parir u hekk ghandu jkun li Joseph huwa l-kap ghax ghalhekk gie imtella biex jigverna hu u hadd iktar... ghax inkella ma jibgqghux 36000 iktar li afdawh bit-tmexxija!! issa kulhadd qed jistenna bil-herqa il weghdi li sar min Fomm il Prim ministru Joseph Muscat!
Neville Carabott
Mar 20th, 19:55
ghaziz Roy,
Jekk jirnexxielu l-Priministru JOSEPH MUSCAT jaghlaq il-powerstation tal-marsa biss,ukoll ikun ghamel ahjar minn ta qablu ghax ta qablu ilu 20 sena jwedna li se jaghlaqa.U ghada hemm!!!
Jigifieri tkunx vojt u ghatih cans ha jwettaq dak li wieghed,u forsi parla 5 snin ohra jekk xejn.Hu pacenzja!!
mark borg
Mar 20th, 20:00
alla hares !!! ikun imqar gurnata wahda biss flok Gonzi..ommiiii maaaaaaaaaaaa
David Griscti
Mar 20th, 17:04
Interesting contribution from Andrew Camilleri. Can he kindly give examples on when, why and how the PN in opposition did not act in the national interest? During the period of colonial opression in the 40's and 50's, the Socialist utopia in the 70's and 80's, or during the 22 months that nearly cost this nation its EU status? Please Mr. Camilleri, enlighten us, so we will not be conned again!
Eddy Privitera
Mar 20th, 17:38
David: When a TOP PN MP and OFFICIAL ( I won't mention his name because he is dead) went to Germany and appealed to German entrepreneurs not to invest in Malta. And for German companies already in Malta to leave !
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Mar 20th, 18:22
You don't not need to go far back, David. Look at the last year when Gonzi turned parliament into a mere talking shop just to give his party time to get ready for the election when he knew he had no majority. Not one law was passed. Look at the lengthy campaign - in whose interest was that? Just two examples that quickly come to mind.
marius mifsud
Mar 20th, 19:16
have you ever heard about the malta file? have you ever heard the joe saliba recording? have you ever heard about how the pn managerial staff behaved under the sant government?
Joseph Grech Attard
Mar 20th, 19:41
Mr. Griscti I remind you of the booing in Helsinki during the meeting of the CSCE by the PN members when Dominic Mintoff vetoed the meeting because he wanted a Mediterranean inclusion. After over 42 years the EU has now decided on the importance of peace in the Mediterranean.
L Zammit
Mar 20th, 20:53
Joseph Muscat stess pprova jcahhadna mill-flus ta l-EU li kellna ghal progett ta' Marsaskala. Kemm tifilhu tkunu kretini!
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Mar 20th, 16:13
The Leader of the Oppostion will be watched closely to see whether he really will act in the national interest. From past operformace by a PN oppositon, this has not always been the case. The PN has to keep in mind that the electorate is not stupid and will see through any playing around to gain the PN votes, as it tried to do in the last legislature. Time will tell whether the PN is loyal.
joe farrugia
Mar 20th, 17:06
il leader tal-oppozizjoni tant huwa ragel li avolja kien jaf li ser jitlef l-elezzjoni min hafna zmien qabel xorta ghamel hiltu kollha biex gab 1,128,000,,000 euro ghax l-ewwel interess tieghu dejjem kien il pajjiz ghalekk hafna nazzjonalisti jikritihaw li kien Prim Ministru tajjeb izda lil partit ma hax hsiebu daqs il pajjiz.
Eddy Privitera
Mar 20th, 17:40
Joe Farrugia. Jekk diga kien jaf li se jitlef l-elezzjoni ( ghandek ragun tghid dan ), ghaliex qalilkhom, " Fid- 9 ta' Marzu nivvutaw u fl-10 ta' Marzu, niccelebraw " ? Mhux biex jghaddikhom biz-zmien ???
Alfred Cassar
Mar 20th, 18:37
Eddie ghandek habta taqbad parti minn sentenza u tikkwotaha barra mill-kuntest (qisek Super One).
Gonzi wara li appella biex dawk kollha prezenti jaghmlu sforz u jikkonvincu 2 minn nies biex jivvutaw ghall-PN qal: 'u jekk taghmlu hekk fil-9 ta MArzu nivvutaw u fl-10 niccelebraw'. Imma f'dak il-kuntest tiehu sens iehor. Wara kollox kull kelliem jipprova jaghmel kuragg lill-partitarji tieghu.
Eddy Privitera
Mar 20th, 20:11
Alfred Cassar: Mela ghaliex Gonzi qal ukoll: " Muscat se jkun repeater " ? Ghaliex kien qal ukoll: " Dr. MUscat, mhux se nohodlok postok bhala Kap tal-Oppozizzjoni " ??? Ghandek xi skuza ohra biex tghatti l-hmerijiet kollha li qal Gonzi f'din il-kampanja elettorali ???
Nazzareno Cortis
Mar 20th, 20:17
@ Eddie Privitera
Correction
Gonzi PN qalilhom " Fid- 9 ta' Marzu nivvutaw u fl-10 ta' Marzu, niccelebraw "-----Nahseb ha zball kbir!!!
Ried jghidilhom " Fid 9 ta Marzu nivvutaw----u 10 ta Marzu NIMMUTAW"!!.
Nispera li tehduha b'cajta!!!
John Caruana
Mar 20th, 16:01
Jiena nemmen li Dr. Gonzi tilef, ghax il-pajjiz tant kien sod finanzjarament, tant saru progetti utli, tant sar pajjiz sabih, li hafna daru ghax ippruvaw jaraw x'jistghu jakkwistaw fuq livel personali fi kliem iehor raw x'jaqbel ghal buthom.
Horace Schembri
Mar 20th, 16:38
u fuq il kurruzjoni li kien hawn ma tghejd xejn ???
Doriese Vella
Mar 20th, 16:45
Naqbel mieghek perfetament Sur Caruana !!!!!!!
LJN Galea
Mar 20th, 17:01
With all the respect Mr.Caruana, ma nghidux erezijet!...Ahseb ftit sewwa ghaliex tilef Dr.Gonzi and Co. !!!
Joshua De Bono
Mar 20th, 17:39
tlifna ghax il-PN ta kas hafna il-holqien tax-xoghol u l-investiment u ma tax bizzejjed importanza lil poplu sur Galea!!!
D Mifsud
Mar 20th, 17:41
lol
Andrew Cumbo
Mar 20th, 18:19
Possibli 36,000 kollha riedu xi haga fuq bazi personali? Jew ghax tant ckien ic-cirku li dawk li kienu ta' gewwa baqaw barra dawn l-ahhar snin? Jew ghax bdejna naghtu il- kuntratti ghall 5 snin lill tal- qalba biss? Ahseb kemm hsiebtu f'dawk li mhux tal- fehma taghkom kemm kienu jiehdu dak li haqqom, staqsi lill min kien jisometti tenders ha tkun taf.
G Borg
Mar 20th, 18:27
Agree 100%
LJN Galea
Mar 21st, 16:22
Ghalhekk il- PN ha tkaxkira storika ta' 37,000, tant kemm holoq xoghol Sur De Bono!
Lawrence Fenech
Mar 20th, 16:00
Daqxejn imhawda l'affari. L'ewwel Gonzi tellaq wahdu ghal kap tal partit issa f'daqqa wahda gejjin minn kullimkien ghal dan il-post li ser ikun vaganti! Ghax ma resqux qabel?
Victor Baldacchino
Mar 20th, 17:20
Nitolbok Lawrence jekk tahseb li int utli ghal kap tal-oppozzizjoni kun ma dawk li jixtiequ johorgu.
Inkun grad lejk.
Anthony A. Mifsud
Mar 20th, 15:50
Well to be quite honest, this is a waste of mony and time on the country
We pay tax to keep the AG and the Hon Presedent in office.
Now if I may ask .... Why swarn the ops when he is trowing in the towel ...
Why?
Ninu
David Griscti
Mar 20th, 16:57
Because it is a constitutional necessity. Shall we blame it on the PN too?
Kevin Azzopardi
Mar 20th, 15:40
Gonzi's biggest mistake was not accepting Austin Gatt’s resignation offer.
Albert Spiteri
Mar 20th, 17:04
Gonzi's mistake was creating the GonziPN risotto. No Prime Minister shoulders so much for a cabinet whose individual weaknesses and glaring arrogance were even then common lore . Now, with his pathetic shouldering of ALL responsibility he insists on learning nothing. His yellow-livered cabinet now turn tail, leaving GONZI alone in the lurch to pay the pipe and with rare cheek blame him!!
R. Azzopardi
Mar 21st, 08:10
Yes, everyone agrees that the GonziPN risotto was wrong from start to finish. I personally believe that it was the same mistake that Alfred Sant made.
Charles Mangion
Mar 20th, 15:37
You dont deserve this Dr Gonzi its your Ministers mistake and they are the ones who should pay especially the one that left the ship in stormy weather A G hope none of the clikka present themself for the party leadership posts
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Mar 20th, 16:15
The Pn deserves to be in opposition because in the last year or so it worked in its own interests only. It reduced parliament to a talking shop with no power to oversee government, a threat to our democracy. Now lets see if they will keep this attitdude in oppositon.
Gaby Spiteri
Mar 20th, 15:37
To be fair.. I think that Gonzi, was a genuine politician - despite his non-democratic vote for divorce.. His fault was a MEGA one.. he was too weak to stand up, and chuck the corrupted ones around him! Still for the services given to this country - right or wrong, thank you Dr. Gonzi.
Nicholas Ellul
Mar 21st, 00:09
What a load of nonsense Ms Spiteri. How did the whole Labour MPs vote in 2003 when the referendum results showed the majority of the Maltese wanted to join the EU? Good thing (for you and him) that Joseph was not a Maltese MP then because he would also have voted NO even when the majority voted YES.
A Spiteri
Mar 20th, 15:30
Grazzi mil-qalb Dr Gonzi, talli hallejtilna pajjiz sod, b'ekonomija b'sahhitha minkejja diffikultajiet ekonomici fid-dinja u fil-partit u minkejja li kont taf li se titlef bqajt thares l-ewwel il-gid taghna u ta' Malta kollha biex b'hekk il-gvern il-gdid ikun jista ikompli jahdem bhal meta bqajt tinnegozja pakkett finanzjarju mil-EU. IL-PL fuq l-ekonomija ta Cipru issa qed juruna, kellek ragun...
marius mifsud
Mar 20th, 19:18
ekonomija fis-sod? and the standard and poors downgrade? jew dik tort ta muscat ukoll? ha ha
L Zammit
Mar 20th, 22:37
Naqbel perfettament mieghek. Ta' l-oppozizzjoni ghandhom ghira kbira ghal mahbub taghna Lawrence Gonzi ghaliex jafu li dak li ghamel tul kemm ilu fil-gvern qatt ma jista jghamlu xi prim ministru iehor. Dr Gonzi barra li kellu l-ghedewwa min gewwa l-partit sab lill-PL juza deputati tal-PN fil-kampanja elettorali taghhom.
A Spiteri
Mar 20th, 23:18
Marius Zerafa kien JM stess wara li sar Prim Ministru li iringrazzja lil Dr Gonzi ta xoghol ul gid li ghamel ghal pajjizna. Iva Futur fis-sod ghax gablek 1128,00,000 euro biex ikun jista juzhom dal-gvern.Ma tistax tghid mhux veru ghax JM ghadu kif mar EU li qatt ma riedu tidhlu u serhilna mohhna li mhux se jintilfu.Ara differenza bhallissa bejn Malta taht Gonzi b ekonomija soda u Cipru b dizastru.
R. Azzopardi
Mar 21st, 08:09
A Spiteri, I can assure you that had we had a labour government during the past 5 years, we would have more than one standard and poors downgrade. Nitkellmu minn hawn u sentejn ohra. Let's give the new government time to settle in, u naraw il-pudini isiru.
G. Borg
Mar 20th, 15:28
Grazzi mill-qalb Dr. Gonzi.
P. Ciantar
Mar 20th, 15:26
A man that with everything against him from the Financial crisis, libia crisis and war mongerring by JPO and Franco was able to steer Malta away from the disaters that happened in Spain Greece Cyprus etc.
Thank you just the same and may you have the break that you well deserve with you family.
R. Azzopardi
Mar 21st, 08:08
Amen to that. Truer words were never spoken. Grazzi Dr. Gonzi. Iz-zmien ghad jaghtina parir.
Mark Spiteri
Mar 20th, 15:09
Grazzi ta' kollox Dr. Gonzi..
Thomas C. Cassar
Mar 20th, 14:44
'The Opposition would vote in favour of the Budget as long as there were no changes other than an amendment to ensure that minimum wage earners did not pay income tax.'
Another proof that Dr. Gonzi and Dr. Muscat are working hand in hand. Well done to both leaders.
Simon Scerri
Mar 20th, 15:09
So why did not twhen PL in opposition vote in favour of Budget???? just for political advantage and to win elections and turn around the minds of the people. So can I trust labour??? answer is obvious then!!
S Vella
Mar 20th, 15:21
@ Simon Scerri
ghadek ma fhimtx int habib? li dak kien vot ta fiducja fil-Gvern? u li l-gvern kien tilef il-maggoranza ghax kieku kien kapaci jzomm id-deputati tieghumaghquda ma kellux bzonn voti tal-oppizizzjoni?
Anthony Scicluna
Mar 20th, 15:22
No Thomas. The budget was designed and developed last November by the PN. Why should the PN vote against something it proposed and agrees with? It goes to show the political opportunism of the Malta Labour Party at the time
Joseph Borg
Mar 20th, 15:24
@Simon Scerri
Tidher li ma tifhimx fil politika siehbi. Il budget minnu innifsu marbut ma vot ta fiducja fil gvern. Allura ghalhekk min ikun fl-oppozzizjoni qatt ma jivvota favur. Mhux neccessarjament ghax il budget ikun hazin imma minhabba vot ta fiducja fil gvern. Semmi darba fejn l-oppozzizjoni ivvutat mal gvern fuq xi budget. Qatt u hekk jibqa jigri. Gonzi issa bil fors irid jivvota favur.
Victor Caruana
Mar 20th, 15:27
Simon, konvenjentament insejt li l-istess Gonzi kien rabat il-budget ma' vot ta' fiducja fil-gvern. Donnok insejt ukoll li l-budget m'ghaddiex mhux minhabba l-oppozizzjoni imma minhabba membri fuq in-naha tal-PN fil-gvern. Din il-haga qalha wkoll EFA jigifieri tibqax tirrepeti l-istess spin bazwija.
Neville Carabott
Mar 20th, 15:47
Dear Simon Scerri,
Unfortunately for you and luckily for us maltese people,Labour do not need your trust anymore.They have some 167,000 peoples trust now.So please come back in 5 years time!!!!!
A Cuschieri
Mar 20th, 15:51
S Vella & Victor Caruana
Tant mhux kif qed tghidu li Gonzi stieden lil Muscat biex jivvota favur il-budget, halli jghaddi u jgawdu l-familji Maltin, imbghad isejjah vot ta fiducja fil-Gvern - u hemm l-oppozizzjoni kienet tivvota kontra u ssir elezzjoni xorta wahda.
Kieku vera hadmu hand-in-hand muscat kien jaccetta din l-istedina mhux halliena minghajr il-beneficji kollha li kien fih il-budget.
S Vella
Mar 20th, 16:37
@ A Cuschieri
semmili Budget wiehed meta l-oppozizzjoni vvutat mal-gvern, apparti hekk Gonzi stess rabat il budget ma vot ta fiducja kif issa tigi inti tghid li ppretenda li l-oppozizzjoni ta dak iz-zmien tivvota mal-gvern?
Wara kollox kien xoghol il prim ministru li jzomm it-tim tieghu maghqud u mhux jipponta subajh lejn il-PL.
Ghal gid tal-ekonomija l-PL qal li kien sa jzomm dak li hu tajjeb!
Eddy Privitera
Mar 20th, 17:46
Simon Scerri: Anki Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami qal li l-oppozizzjoni qatt m'ghadha tivvota mal-gvern fuq il-budget ghax dak vot ta' fiducja !
L Zammit
Mar 20th, 22:43
Il-passat tal-PN juri li l-PN dejjem zamm id-dinjita tieghu fil-parlament Malti. Qatt ma ghajjar lill-hadd. Qatt ma attakka lil hadd u dejjem wera rispett lejn is-sedja. Tan-naha l-ohra meta ssemmilhom dawn l-affarijiet jiddejqu u jirvellaw, ghax il-passat taghhom tal-misthija.
K. Vella
Mar 20th, 14:42
GRAZZI ta' xoghol siewi li ghamilt ghal pajjiz Dr Gonzi
Dominic Chircop
Mar 20th, 14:52
Grazzi ħkoll talli Eddie għaddielek partit kbir li int irnexxilek iġġibu partit żgħir.
K. Vella
Mar 20th, 16:25
Dominic Grazzi talli wrejt kemm int pozzitiv....
Ara vera tal Labour ma nbidlux....
L Zammit
Mar 20th, 22:48
K. Vella: U x'jinbidlu, jinbidlu. Dawk ma jafux ahjar min hekk. U hekk se jibqghu sejrin sa elezzjoni ohra!
Jason Zammit
Mar 20th, 14:25
Grazzi Dr Gonzi , ghalkemm dawn lahhar 5 snin il poplu malti u ghawdxi inata il genb xorta jibqa bhala fatt sakru sant li il Gvern imexxi minnek holoq hafna xoghol, igenera lekonomija u komplejt is sahhah pilastri importanti bhal muma l Edukazjoni u is sahha, It telfa kbira li garrabt bhala mexxej ma tirifletix ix xoghol kollu li sar dawn lahhar snin,
GRAZZI MIL QALBI DR GONZI
David Farrugia
Mar 20th, 15:09
Kieku dak li qed tgħid kien minnu allura GonziPN kellhu jerġa jingħata 5 snin oħra fil-Gvern, pero mhux hekk ġara. Il-poplu xeba' bl-arroganza tal-Gvern tiegħu. Is-Saħħa kienet fi stat diżastruz, l-Edukazzjoni ukoll fejn ħafna guvintur kienu qegħdin jispiċċaw l-iskola illitterati u l-ekonomija b'siit bilju euro dejn. Ħallieħ sabiħ il-pajjiz il-PN.!!!
Jason Zammit
Mar 20th, 15:48
@ David Farrugia
Nahseb li jew jien jew int siehbi qet nejxu iz zimbabwe.....hares harsa madwarek u tarah il gid , jekk ma tarahx iftah it TV ghamlu fuq Euronews u qabel listat ta Malta ma Ta Spanja, cipru , italja , olanda, Franza u il portugal u tkun taf ezatt kif mexxa Gonzi .....ahna studenti jicelebraw fit toroq kelna u mux studenti ikisru u ifarku
saviour Tabone
Mar 20th, 14:23
I do not understand why Dr Gonzi, was appointed leader of the Opposition, when he said that he will not seek re-election. Why does it take so long for the PN to appoint another person. It should be done within a week. Surely they must have an idea as to who is best to lead the party.,
MT Caruana
Mar 20th, 14:54
@saviour Tabone
Fil fatt mid derha spiccawlhom ideat ukoll.
carmel parnis
Mar 20th, 14:55
Mr Tabone sorry if you have a sh
ort memory , but what actually happened when Dr SANT resigned and Dr Mangion was sworn in as Leader of the oppositon ?
R. Azzopardi
Mar 21st, 08:07
Saviour Tabone, perhaps your memory is a bit hazy. Dr. Sant resigned on the 9th March 2008 with immediate effect. If I recall correctly, Dr. Muscat was elected in the 7th June. Simple mathematics tells me that it took almost 3 months. Why the hell should the PN choose a leader within a week?
M. Spiteri
Mar 20th, 14:04
how nice lol
Ms Maria Vella
Mar 20th, 14:02
Minimum wage earners should pay tax in proportion to what they earn, they should also contribute to society like most of us do
Matthew Grima
Mar 20th, 16:25
If that happens, you'll be paying more as well.
twanny borg
Mar 20th, 14:01
Grazzi dr. Gonzi z-zmien ghad jghatik ragun. Mexxejt il-pajjiz tajjeb fi krizijiet li d-dinja qatt ma rat bhallhom qabel.
S Vella
Mar 20th, 15:06
@ twanny borg
Nahseb iz-zmien ta' ragun lil Dr Franco Debono u lil Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando u lil dawk kollha li pruvaw jifthulu ghajnejh lil Dr Gonzi li kellu klikka tmexxih u tefatu go hajt!!
twanny borg
Mar 20th, 16:20
@s. vella- il-pajjiz tmexxa tajjeb tahtu. ghal gol-hajt marru dawk li semmejt ghax baqghu minghajr ma saru ministri kif riedu. Il-poplu ried bidla jipprova l-hafna weghdi li wieghed il-pl. il-bqija kollha fissazjoni mentali.
S Vella
Mar 21st, 15:03
@twanny borg
Mela kien hawn bil fissazjoni mentali ta!! ghax 36000 vot distak li jiriflettu 9 siggijiet mhux cajta....nahseb iktar inti ghandek fissazjoni mentali biex tibqa tiggustifika dak kollu li krolla l-GonziPN.
Mela nsejt kemm iweghed kollox lil kullhadd GonziPN? biex gej takkuza lil PL bil wieghdi? Il-proposti tal-PL huma kollha fattibbli u costed u dik id-differenza li gabet il-biddla.
Mr Lawrence Calleja
Mar 20th, 14:01
Thank you Dr Lawrence Gonzi. You made every Maltese person particularly those visiting abroad to be proud of Malta.
Anthony Lee Baldacchino
Mar 20th, 13:33
Dan mhux dak il-bniedem li kien qal li Joseph se joqghod repeater?? Dan mhux dak li kien qal lil partitarji nazzjonalisti li fid-9 ta` Marzu jivvutaw, u fl-10 jiccelebraw?? Allura bniedem li qal hekk, kif qieghed kap ta` l-oposizzjoni?? :) Dan hu bniedem li l-UNIKA elezzjoni li rnexxielu jirbah kienet b`rebha ta` xi 1500 vot.
S Vella
Mar 20th, 15:08
DAK HU!!
....u li rebah meta tellaq wahdu lol !!
mario scerri
Mar 20th, 15:36
Sur Baldacchino,
Ippermettili nispjgalek Ghaliex Dr Gonzi llum huwa Kap ta l-Oppozizzjoni. Ghax il-paroli zejjed anqas ghall l-avukati m hu tajjeb. Dak id-diskors fid-9 ta Marzu nuvvutaw u fl-10 ta Marzu niccelebraw. Qatt ma jmissu qalu.
Emanuel Micallef
Mar 20th, 13:23
tilfet malta u tlifna il quddiem inkunu nafu min kien gonzi. grazzi gibt il pajjiz il quddiem
MT Caruana
Mar 20th, 14:53
@Emanuel Micallef
Tilfet Malta? Ezempju zghir hafna, inzel sa Bormla u tara kemm tilfet Malta, ara ftit fi zmien gimgha il bidla li ga saret fit toroq, iva iva tilfet Malta!!!!!
carmel parnis
Mar 20th, 14:57
Gh al liema toroq f Bormla qed tirreferi ?
S Vella
Mar 20th, 15:13
@Emanuel Micallef
Veru tilfet Malta.....5 Biljun Euro dejn mhux cajta!!
Etienne Borg
Mar 20th, 16:59
Xbidla saret go bormla ghax twahlu 20 metru paving ma li kien hemm!!!!!! Fdaqqa wahda dan il progett sar sabih.
L Zammit
Mar 20th, 17:06
@MT Caruana: Mn'Alla kien il-PN biex sar xi caqlieq fil-Kottonera ghax taht Mintoff, KMB u Sant qatt ma sar xejn.
Clayton Borg
Mar 20th, 13:21
Dr. Gonzi . 5 years ago he was PN's greatest asset , today he is PN's bigest liability .
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Mar 20th, 16:18
In fatti, dahhal lill-PN gass down gol-hajt.
R. Azzopardi
Mar 21st, 08:05
@Andrew Camilleri,
Gonzi qatt ma kien popolist. Vera forsi dahhal lil partit gol-hajt, pero nippreferi li dahhal lil partit go hajt milli lil pajjiz go hajt kif ghamlu hafna poltici ohra madwar id-dinja.
Please choose the reason of your report below: