An unusual judicial protest has been filed against Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to try and stop him from reappointing Manuel Mallia as a minister.
Dr Muscat, while keeping his cards close to his chest, fired back immediately and in a counter-protest defended his right to reappoint the controversial politician to an executive post.
Frank Teuma, who describes himself as the spokesman of a newly-founded political group – a one-man band calling itself Moviment Laburisti Batuti – filed the judicial protest saying his movement felt Dr Mallia should not again be given a ministerial role.
Signed by lawyer Leslie Cuschieri, the protest states that Dr Mallia’s past “is tarnished with grave mistakes, which show he is not fit to become minister”, especially since such a post required honesty and integrity.
He is not even a Labourite today, neither in practice nor in actions
Stating that Labour’s principles always favoured the working class and the underprivileged, the judicial protest said Dr Mallia never had Labour’s principles at heart and “he is not even a Labourite today, neither in practice nor in actions”.
The legal protest asked Dr Muscat to take into consideration the opinion of the movement and not give Dr Mallia a ministerial position.
Responding through a counter-protest, Dr Muscat denied all the allegations made against Dr Mallia and warned Mr Teuma and his movement that legal action would be taken if he persisted with his allegations.
Dr Muscat said the appointment of ministers was his sole prerogative and did not fall under any judicial process.
Contacted by Times of Malta, the 66-year-old from Cospicua, who described himself “a Labourite since birth”, said his actions were aimed at stopping the Labour Party from continuing to lose its principles.
Asked whether his movement was just a one-man show, Mr Teuma said he had established it a few weeks ago and was in the process of recruiting members. However, he admitted nobody had been recruited yet.
“I can tell you that here in Cottonera many are fed up with the way Labour is treating them. But many are afraid to speak up, or are still being brainwashed,” he said.
Speculation has been rife in the past weeks that Dr Mallia will be given a new ministerial post in Dr Muscat’s Cabinet.
Although the Prime Minister never confirmed this, the sudden presence of Dr Mallia in Labour’s political activities in the run-up to the local elections continued to fuel this speculation.
Last week, Dr Muscat heaped praise on Dr Mallia, describing him as a gentleman and an example of Labour’s team spirit. Speaking during a political activity in Żebbuġ, Dr Mallia described himself as “soldier of steel” and said he would “remain here”, with reference to the Labour Party.
Dr Muscat had to sack Dr Mallia from his ministerial position last December after he refused to resign.
An inquiry found that Dr Mallia had failed to correct a public statement issued soon after his driver was involved in a shooting incident while driving his ministerial car.