Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1263074
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 JUNE 2020 NEWS ANALYSIS How Muscat became the albatross Robert Abela's Labour leads by a wide margin in the polls but Joseph Muscat's toxic legacy, together with his allies Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi's deeds, impede the new PM from governing serenely. Will he ditch his predecessor to win new ground among MOR voters, or will he remain overshadowed by the persistent presence of a predecessor and his toxic accomplices, JAMES DEBONO asks JOSEPH Muscat did his best to protect his legacy. Despite his disgraceful exit in Decem- ber 2019 after being forced to resign prematurely right in the middle of an investigation he had promised to resolve on his watch, he secured a hero treat- ment by party activists on the eve of an internal election. Continuity seemed to have won the day Robert Abela de- feated the more seasoned Chris Fearne who campaigned on a good governance platform, amid strong indications of sup- port from the Muscat camp, as suggested by social media mes- sages by Keith Schembri's ally Neville Gafà. By conditioning a short lead- ership campaign held during the festive season, and refusing to resign immediately, Muscat visited the party clubs in a fare- well tour that ensured none of the contenders could question his legacy. To win, they had to hold his hands to the acclaim of Labour supporters. The party was unable evalu- ate what had gone wrong de- spite revelations related to the Daphne Caruana Galizia as- sassination plot, which clearly suggested that Muscat was – at best – a naïve politician who allowed the wolves inside La- bour's sheep pen. Or at worse, the leader of the same pack that had spent the previous years on a rampage. Even if not directly involved, too many sinister things hap- pened on Muscat's watch: a minister and his chief of staff were involved in a series of controversial deals, ranging from the sale of public hospi- tals, to a wind farm in Monte- negro, being caught red-hand- ed opening secret companies in Panama used by the global cor- rupt elites, and both linked to the secret 17 Black company, owned by Yorgen Fenech, the alleged mastermind of the as- sassination of a journalist who was hounding them. Today, despite his seriously clouded judgement in not tak- ing any action against Schem- bri and Mizzi, and endangering an entire country's reputation, Muscat is still revered in the party as a hero. Traitors or stalwarts? Muscat, and to a lesser extent Mizzi and Schembri, today can rely on a dedicated following of loyalists who see them as par- ty stalwarts and victims of fake news in the media. The party has not disowned them, so Labour pays the price of being associated with them. Without an internal process that clearly re-evaluates their legacy, the average Labour vot- er will regard Muscat as a hero and a victim, rather than some- one who has a lot to answer for, in terms of both political judgement and possibly direct or indirect involvement in the scandals which rocked his ad- ministration. Of the three, only Keith Schembri has resigned from party member out of his own will, without incurring any of- Today, despite his seriously clouded judgement in not taking any action against Schembri and Mizzi, and endangering an entire country's reputation, Muscat is still revered in the party as a hero