Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/833901
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 7 JUNE 2017 News 7 Muscat: PN ignored its own warnings on poison-pen blog association MATTHEW VELLA PRIME Minister Joseph Muscat gave his own dissection of the discordant relationship with Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, saying his adversary had tied the fate of his party to that of Daphne Caruana Galizia by tak- ing ownership of an allegation that his wife was the owner of a secret offshore company. The Egrant claim precipitated a mag- isterial inquiry that is still ongoing and led Muscat to call a snap election, claiming that Busuttil was sowing in- stability in the country. "He took his people out on a na- tional protest on the strength of a lie, and made an appeal to the forces of law and order to take some sort of ac- tion against me, or carry out an act of disobedience… there were moments where my wife and I were listening to a lie that was intended at destroying my career and bringing instability in the country," Muscat said on One TV's Arena. The Labour leader also said that he knew Busuttil had told a dinner guest of the allegation, that the party had documents showing Michelle Muscat was the owner of the Panama company Egrant. "At first we laughed about it, but when we saw it published in the blog, Busut- til's solemn press conference, and the protest… even a Mosta PN club bill- board with my wife and I behind bars, where at that point my children began asking what they would do if we go to prison. These were stressful moments." Muscat said he put his head on the block by calling for a magisterial in- quiry, a move which he feels was noted as a genuine action by voters. "They chose wisely. The lessons the Maltese people have taught us are that they do not reward negativity, and they are not ready to be led by the nose," Muscat said. Muscat was also clear about the PN's seduction by Malta Independent col- umnist Caruana Galizia, describing her actions as a deliberate conflation of lies with a speck of truth. "We now expect a reasonable opposi- tion, not some other electoral loss re- port, to let them know that it should not be used as a prop for Caruana Galizia," he said, referring to the 2013 report penned by Ann Fenech, Rosette Thake (now former PN administrative council president and secretary-gener- al) and Mary Anne Lauri, the former University pro-rector who lent her face to PN billboards this year: that report had clearly referred to "sympathisers writing in their own blogs... whom the PN should have repeatedly disassoci- ated itself from when such blogs dealt with comments of a personal nature", without expressly mentioning Caruana Galizia. "If Busuttil's successor keeps up the same tactic, the same electoral result will be brought upon them," Muscat said. File photo shows Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Michelle Muscat cast their vote (Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday) Busuttil: 'I will not abandon you' CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The sizeable crowd, including a few teary-eyed activists, chanted "Simon, Simon" as Busuttil made his way to the stage at the party's HQ in Pi- eta. "Seriousness requires us to face you and explain the elec- toral result, which was neither desired nor expected." He said the result must be accepted with dignity and re- assured that the electoral pro- cess was fair. "It's not about being right or wrong, it does not mean that the majority is right or wrong, but there are different opin- ions and the majority chose a different opinion. This does not mean that we are wrong or the majority is right. Democ- racy demands us to accept the result even if it went against our wishes." Upon announcing the pro- cess to elect a new leader, Bu- suttil was interrupted by cries of "Simon, Simon" as part of the crowd urged him to stay on. However, Busuttil went on to assure them that "the party is here and here it will remain." He added that the PN's exec- utive will in the coming days decide on the process of elect- ing a new leadership, which will for the first time be elect- ed by all paying members. He said this will be a lengthy process and explained that some 23,000 members will be eligible to vote. Nominations will open in the coming weeks and the list of candidates will be narrowed down to two by the PN's general council, made up of over 1,500 officials. The two final contenders will then be elected by the members in September. While thanking the activ- ists, volunteers and party employees, Busuttil also ad- dressed the 135,000 people who voted for the PN-PD list and said that the party's nar- rative on good governance and the need for strong and independent institutions will not be set aside. "We believe in these values and we still believe in them. Let's not for a moment think that what we stood for is wrong or should be discarded. We should be proud of what we believe in. We, you, believe in good things. "We embrace honesty, be proud of these values, keep your heads up. Be proud of honesty, truth and integrity. Be proud that you are Maltese, be proud that you are Nation- alists," he said. In an inclusive pitch, Busuttil said being a Nationalist does not mean being anti-Labour. "Being a Nationalist means loving your country, that is why we welcomed Labourites with open arms. The Labour- ites who joined us in this elec- tion are as Nationalist as eve- ryone else, this is their home as much as everyone else's." Shouldering full responsibil- ity for the catastrophic loss, Busuttil said "I cannot talk about good governance, ac- countability and political re- sponsibility without shoulder- ing responsibility. I believe in leadership by example." Reassuring the activists that the PN is financially and or- ganisationally sound, Busut- til said "I am proud of leav- ing a party in a healthy state, a strong, organised, efficient party, and your presence here tonight is testament to this." Describing his four years at the helm of the party as the most beautiful experience in his life, Busuttil said "I gave a lot but I also received a lot back, I learned a lot from you, I received your love, your en- ergy. I wish to leave behind an inheritance of proper be- haviour. The PN is a shining example of good behaviour, honesty and integrity." Simon Busuttil was joined on stage by his partner Kristina Chetcuti who he thanked for "standing beside me"