Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1500676
IT was very hard and painful to watch Joseph Muscat talking to Manwel Cuschieri on Smash TV last Friday. I use the word 'talking' not 'replying to questions', for this was not an interview but a rant with Cuschieri nodding and smiling in awe. Way back in 1998, as deputy editor of The Malta Independ- ent, I had written a feature and suggested that Labour need- ed to go for a fresh face. I had identified the young Joseph Muscat, as leadership material. I remember him laughing it off. I did not read it at the time as false humility. In 1998, he was nicknamed the poodle by his detractors (for his blind defence of Alfred Sant's politics), but that did not stop others from seeing him as someone with the personality and determination to reshape a future Labour Party. We tend to judge people not on all the episodes in their life but on the ugly chapters that stick out like a sore thumb. And for far too long many of us, me included, gave Mus- cat not only the benefit of the doubt but also believed that he was a worthy political leader and prime minister. I know he now thinks that everyone should be grateful to him for making their lives easier or even better or for fu- filling their dreams. But being greedy, self-conceited and al- lowing Malta to fall into such a colossal mess was not part of the deal. By mess I mean: Panama Pa- pers, the Daphne murder, the Vitals/Steward deal, Electrogas and others. No one voted for Joseph Muscat to have these episodes of shame. Neither were the consultancies with companies or individuals that had some form of connection or dealings with the govern- ment part of the plan either. In his chat with Manwel Cuschieri (who was quietly banned from One Radio some months ago for his adulation of Muscat), Muscat did not explain the story behind his €12,000-a-month from a com- pany involved in the purchase of exotic birds but owned by one of the shareholders of the Dragonara Casino. The Dragonara Casino had its concession extended un- til 2083 in 2019 by Muscat's administration. Dragonara was then co-owned by Johann Schembri and Michael Bianchi, and previously had a 10-year lease agreement with govern- ment-owned Casma Ltd. The new lease extension agreement was approved by the Maltese parliament after a motion presented by Econ- omy Minister Chris Cardona, and seconded by Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne. It was not contested by the Opposi- tion. It is no secret that Muscat had intervened to see that Drago- nara was given an extension to the concession to the chagrin of the Tumas Group and es- pecially Yorgen Fenech and all those who played to his tune. It could very well be and proba- bly is that the present owners were, and are the best investors in this kind of business. But when it transpired that Muscat started receiving €12,000-a-month from the same owners of the casino, there were all sorts of sugges- tions of inappropriate behav- iour by Muscat. Muscat on Smash TV (he is no longer invited on One TV) has accused a network of 'very horrible people' of wanting to bring him down inspite of the fact that Malta had democrat- ically chosen a Labour govern- ment. The truth is that he has only himself to blame for this state of affairs. And if he had any respect he would stop act- ing as if wants to bring down the Labour Party and the gov- ernment too. Which is what will happen, if someone does not separate his exploits from that of the La- bour government. It may be true that the inquir- ing magistrate Gabriella Vella is someone who comes with political baggage, but this hab- it of hitting out at a magistrate was also employed by Repub- blika (as was the case with Na- dine Lia). It is a habit to start questioning the judiciary when things don't go the way we like them to go. In his TV appearance Muscat was not asked questions but allowed to vent, he simply said that he would be prosecuted and face a court of law, empha- sising this in a clear message to his core supporters. He is hoping that when that day does finally come he would be greet- ed by hundreds of his acolytes outside of court. This is not the first time a for- mer head of state has faced the law. And it is not the first that a popular political figure has tried to rally his supporters to his rescue. But nothing chang- es facts. But is there a good enough reason to prosecute Muscat? There are definitely questions that need answering. That he received money from Accutor when Accutor was linked to VGH raises eyebrows and the recent discovery of a consultancy contract with a company linked to the Drago- nara Casino owners also raises serious questions. There are rumours of other consultancies and payouts that may compromise Muscat. Muscat consistently makes it a point to remind us of the past misdemeanours of other pol- iticians to justify his own sins and we can expect this line of defence to continue. Muscat will also argue that he has a right to earn a living. But this is not the point; the central issue here is the ethi- cal considerations of having a former prime minister take up paid work from businesspeo- ple who had dealings with the government only a few months before. And without doubt this also raised legal considerations as to whether something unto- ward could have happened. Muscat's show on Smash was a far cry from the confidence and flawless interviews he used to give when at his peak. I prefer to reserve two mem- ories of Joseph Muscat: The one which gave us hope and a breath of fresh air; and the other of deceit, arrogance and self-enrichment. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 JUNE 2023 OPINION 5 Saviour Balzan Clutching at straws Saviour Balzan is founder and co-owner of Media Today, publisher of MaltaToday, he is a TV host and pollster Joseph Muscat (right) appeared on Manwel Cuschieri's talkshow on Smash TV