Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/817563
5 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 APRIL 2017 News x ur's troubles persist ian games' after the Panama Papers scan- dal erupted last year, and that some Labour officials and sup- porters had done their utmost to deny him media coverage. "I suffered in silence and I forgave these people, but as a Whip I al- ways remained loyal and worked responsibly for what is right. I never liked the political game of illusions, let alone the intrigue of a Machiavellian, post-truth, and hypocritical game." PN reacts to Farrugia's resignation In a press conference yester- day, PN deputy leader Mario de Marco listed the points raised in Farrugia's resignation letter. Amongst the most serious accu- sations, de Marco said, was that Malta had reached a point where it was being brought into disre- pute abroad, right as it is hosting the EU presidency. 'The people's trust in Labour's ideals was betrayed,' de Marco read, 'and the agenda of a few who do not have the national in- terest at heart was being pushed instead.' "Who was he referring to here? Why was he saying the ideals were being betrayed? I think the answers lie in the same letter." The country had reached an important crossroads, de Marco said. "It is no longer an argument between the PN and the PL, it is no longer a dispute between the ideals of the PN and the PL, be- cause the ideals of the Labour Party are being betrayed by the very same leaders of the PL." De Marco appealed to persons of good will of all beliefs to join the PN's 'national force', which now includes the Democratic Party's candidates on the same ballot sheet as the PN's. "We are talking about values which are the most basic and also the most important. Truth. Hon- esty. A new movement must be created, a new force that unites all persons of good will. I make this appeal to all genuine Labour- ites who like Dr Farrugia, feel betrayed by the actions of the La- bour leadership. "These Labourites, who worked so hard for their party. Their party deserves better. Now's the moment to stand up to be count- ed, because our country truly deserves a different leadership, a better leadership." we started losing credibility. We did not lead by example from top to bottom. The Office of the Prime Minister ended taking more and more leadership in its hands, even when it fell under the dark shadow of the international Panama scandal. I worked beside you, expressing my reasons genuinely, and you heard me, but I cannot say that you always listened to me. I wished the best for you, but I could not always understand your rationale. Smokescreens were employed to undermine my reasons. I experienced uneasy moments as well… the spokes in the wheel from Labour officials and activists never stopped. They did all they could to hide me from the glare of the media. I suffered in the silence of my heart and I forgave, but as Whip I remained loyal to my duties. I worked responsibly for what I believed was right. I never liked the politics of illusion, least of all the Machiavellian game, hypocritical, anti-truth and post- truth politics. In certain reforms on the creation of regulators I felt that the politician should no longer be at the centre of everything, but stay at arm's length. This did not happen. Indeed what we did was the contrary. We strengthened the politician's hand when there was no better time than today to put into practice a devolution of power, if we ourselves believed that we wanted to lead our country on the road of maturity. I also feel the primary foundations of our electoral manifesto, to guarantee an administration that is accountable and transparent, were shaken to the core. The bad administration that was not remedied at the start, created repercussions that put our backs to the wall. We lost our moral fibre. We did not manage to unite the people. They ended up being confused, looking around in the dark, thirsty for the truth. We arrived at a point where we are giving Malta a bad name overseas, even throughout the Presidency of the European Union. These latest allegations have hurt me, because I have love for my country. I have thought for long, spent sleepless nights, and remembered those main speeches I made in Parliament. I voted as Whip, even when I was asked to vote against my own conscience. So it is with responsibility and respect that I feel I have to do what is right, and inform you that I am resigning from my role as Whip, but not as a backbencher, in the hope that I bring this leadership to its senses and stop using the people to preserve its own power. The people's faith in the historic Labour ideal should have never been betrayed and used to push the agenda of the few, who clearly don't have the national interest at heart, let alone in their minds. The tools and mechanisms for civil justice are there, and I am sure that in the years to come we can change our direction with determination. To do this the government must take the shape and composition to build up the credibility it has lost. We are in politics to serve with humility, and that's what I will always believe and live.