Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/655581
Opinion 23 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 MARCH 2016 Opinion Post of Legal Assistant at the Office of the Attorney General A vacancy has arisen at the Office of the Attorney General Agency to fill the post of Legal Assistant at the Justice Unit. The Agency requires a full-time Legal Assistant to work on a minimum of forty hours per week and who must be in possession of a Doctor of Laws degree with the necessary warrant to practice in Malta as an Advocate. Letters of application, including a detailed CV and a copy of the warrant, should be addressed to: The Administration (ETC Permit 73/2016) Office of the Attorney General, St. George's Square, The Palace, Valletta Closing date; 15th April, 2016, noon. ETC Permit No.73/2016 have the decency to wait for Toni Abela's Brussels hearing before replacing him with Konrad Mizzi. I have no doubt that the Prime Minister thought that Abela would make it through the Budgetary Committee hearing stage, but either failed to think about the disastrous consequences the messy local scenario would have on his nominee's hearing (on top of that was the 'cocaine' case allegations, which came back to haunt Abela), or he just couldn't give a damn. Alternatively, he's short sighted – and is happy to be so; which, I think, is the case. He won an election by over-promising before it finally caught up with him. Abela's horrible show in Brussels defined Muscat's way of doing politics: Cobble something together to get over the line and when it hits a brick wall, blame your opponent. What happened in Brussels was a blow to Malta's reputation but Toni Abela is not entirely to blame. It was horrible to watch, and seemed cruelly unfair. He shouldn't have been placed in that position in the first place. Given the necessary backing from his party leader, Abela should have been asked to stay on as PL deputy leader and initiate a much needed process of returning the party to its well meaning supporters. Toni Abela has what it takes to reach out to the disgruntled Labourites who, according to polls published by this newspaper, are on the increase. The seasoned law yer, aside from his colourful personality, is a social democrat at heart who believes in the core principles of the Maltese Labour party. Unfortunately, for him, his party leader would have none of that. Konrad Mizzi was handpicked by Joseph Muscat and served him well in the run-up to the 2013 general election. He is now his greatest liability – but, strangely, the Prime Minister continues to stand by his man and instead of showing him the door appoints him as his party's deputy leader. Toni Abela had amended the Labour Party's statute to bar the party's deputy leader from contesting the general election. Joseph Muscat changed that overnight, clearing the way for a yes-man. Whether Toni Abela will seek greener pastures is yet to be seen – it is unlikely that Abela will return to his profession, or to the Labour Party for that manner. In his typical manner, Abela's first reaction was "it's all over for me. Leave me alone". Others, in his position, would be baying for their pound of f lesh. He was let down by the people who should have never ever placed him in that awkward position. Should Abela decide to fade into political oblivion, it would be another blow for well-meaning Labour Party supporters who, rightly, feel that Labour has sold its soul. *** It is screamingly obvious that there is an air of discontent within the Labour Party. 2016 is, by the looks of it, an annus horribilis for the Labour Party in government. Veteran Labour MP Evarist Bartolo has shown signs of discontent through subtle messages on his facebook page. Bartolo is a convinced social democrat. Probably, (and hopefully) Bartolo is being less subtle at high profile meetings held at the Labour Party headquarters, and during cabinet meetings. I imagine that the same could be said about Labour backbencher Godfrey Farrugia – who lost his health portfolio to Konrad Mizzi. Other Labour Party stalwarts, including popular Luqa MP Charles Mangion, and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, are conspicuous by their silence on the sorry state of the Labour government. With Toni Abela out in the cold, it is highly unlikely that things will change for the better, within the Labour Party. Well meaning Labour MPs and party officials lost a point of reference and a vociferous loyal dissenter. Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Arnold Cassola summed it up when, in his reaction on Monday night stated: "These are terrible blows for the prestige of our country at international level... it is very unfair that Toni Abela had to pay for the unethical behaviour of our national leaders, Joseph Muscat, Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri". Amen to that. Unfortunately, Dr Abela's rejected nomination not only left a well-meaning politician out in the cold but worse, was yet another blow to Malta's reputation at such an important forum. Frank Psaila, a lawyer by profession, anchors Iswed fuq l-Abjad on Net TV Joseph Muscat kicked Toni Abela 'upstairs' so as to rid himself of a critical voice within the PL executive, and promoted Konrad Mizzi, a man who deserved to be sacked on the spot