Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1068299
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 6 JANUARY 2019 Muscat also faces flak over the deci- sion to keep Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri in office despite their in- volvement in the Panama Papers scan- dal. This state of affairs keeps feeding fuel to the criticism from several EU countries over Malta's advantageous tax system even though it has nothing to do with Mizzi and Schembri. These two domestic issues will curry no favour with MEPs and any new in- formation linked to 17 Black that may emerge in the months ahead continue to make Muscat's life difficult in a complicated European context. A party leader and prime minister The prospect of Muscat landing a European post remains bleak at this stage but if he manages, the Labour Party would have to brace itself for a leadership contest during the sum- mer months. The contest to replace Muscat is likely to be a hotly contested four- way race between Miriam Dalli, Rob- ert Abela, Chris Fearne and Ian Borg. The field may whittle down in due course depending on various factors. But any leadership contest may have to wait if Muscat does not secure a European appointment, leaving open the question as to when he will leave. Sources have posited the option of Muscat staying on as prime minister until the end of the term but making way for the election of a leader for the PL just the same. This decision would, for the first time in Malta's political history, split the roles of prime minister from par- ty leader. "It is uncharacteristic in the Maltese scene and not a likely option but with Muscat one can never tell… he has broken convention on more than one occasion," sources said. But Muscat may yet decide to break his own pledge and stay on to chal- lenge a third PN leader in as many general elections come 2022. It will be a sweet victory for Labour if Mus- cat demolishes the third PN oppo- nent in a row, although this is not something that enthuses the Prime Minister, people close to him tell me. Whatever the Prime Minister will decide about his future, he still has some key decisions to make before the EP election. A president and European Commissioner In April, the presidential term of Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca comes to an end and Muscat will have to nomi- nate someone in her stead. Names have been bandied about, including that of Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, but Muscat may want to look outside his Cabinet for the next president. Former foreign minister George Vella is an option Muscat is believed to be considering actively, although it also depends on whether the Zejtun doctor is interested in the role. Choosing the next president from outside the Cabinet will help avoid a reshuffle. It is unlikely Muscat will want to ruf- fle many feathers, especially if he in- tends to leave. Any reshuffle would be left to his successor. The Prime Minister will, however, have another decision to make in the first six months when Malta nomi- nates its European Commissioner. Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, Equality Minister Helena Dalli and former deputy prime minister Louis Grech are all potential candidates for the role. Scicluna and Grech are former MEPs and know what makes the European Parliament tick. Furthermore, Sciclu- na and Dalli have acquired a European profile because of their domestic suc- cesses in finances and LGBTIQ rights. If the choice falls on any of the min- isters, their replacement is likely to be a parliamentary secretary to minimise the disruption to Cabinet. The unknown Politics is also about unpredictable circumstances that may develop along the way. One of the unknown factors that will continue to hound Muscat in 2019 is Panama Papers and any new information that may emerge linked to 17 Black and Macbridge, the Dubai companies listed as target clients for the Panama companies of Mizzi and Schembri. So far, the damning information linking 17 Black to Tumas Group managing director Yorgen Fenech, has failed to dent Muscat's popular- ity. The Prime Minister brushed off the matter, insisting he will only act after investigations are over. Whether the new year will bring with it fresh information on Macbridge still has to be seen and although an elector- ate enjoying a period of affluence may still close one eye, a second bombshell may be a tad harder to simply ignore. Muscat may very well use the occa- sion to do what he should have done in 2016 and ask Mizzi and Schem- bri to step down, or stick with them, knowing full well that he will be leav- ing soon. NEWS Sources have posited the option of Muscat staying on as prime minister until the end of the term but making way for the election of a leader for the PL just the same. This decision would, for the first time in Malta's political history, split the roles of prime minister from party leader. The contest to replace Muscat is likely to be a hotly contested four-way race between Miriam Dalli (pictured, below), Robert Abela, Chris Fearne (pictured right) and Ian Borg. The field may whittle down in due course depending on various factors