Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/977918
8 ON International Workers Day as loud dance music blasted through the tannoy at the mass meeting gathered around the Triton Foun- tain, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat ignored the elephant in the room by deliberately ignoring new facts emerging from the Daphne Project: the clear connection between the offshore Panama companies set up by his minister and chief of staff, and a secretive Dubai firm connected to a supplier of the LNG project. And Opposition leader Adrian Delia? In a quirky sidestep back- wards, the PN leader evoked fears of Malta being swamped by foreigners. What the hell is happening? The context and set-up for the speeches made by the two political leaders was completely different. Muscat addressed the annual May Day mass meeting which was how- ever hyped up as a response to the Daphne Project, which saw leading global newspapers puncturing his 'best of times' narrative through revelations on his two closest allies, Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri. On the other hand Delia was ad- dressing a sombre 'business break- fast' organised by the PN to mark Workers' Day which saw the party listening to social partners, econo- mists and intellectuals in a serene set-up. So, while Muscat was expected to make a politically charged speech meant to reassure and galvanise the Labour crowd, Delia was expected to give an indication of his party's roadmap and in which direction he would steer the country if given the chance to lead it. Both leaders ignored new facts emerging from the Daphne Project. While Delia could well have avoided the topic not to sound divisive in front of the party's guests, Muscat was expected to address concerns which have put Malta under the in- ternational radar. But at the end of the day it was Muscat who managed to outline a cohesive vision of an open, cosmo- politan Malta, which contrasted with Delia's myopia on identity is- sues. Muscat: Silence is golden It was Muscat himself who a week before the meeting urged Labour supporters to attend May Day cel- ebrations, in response to Daphne Project revelations. "The best reply we can give is on May 1, when the people will unite as one in Valletta to convey our message," he said. Yet after achieving his aim of gathering the crowds, Muscat chose not to reply to the specific issues raised by the Daphne Pro- ject. In this way, the build-up to the meeting evoked the worst fear of non-partisans: that the meeting itself would see the country's PM lashing out at the international me- dia in an evocation of Mintoffian- style point-and-blame politics. Muscat did nothing of the sort in his speech. He limited himself to deliver a speech based on a narrative that twins economic growth to so- cial spending, and which addition- ally manufactures consent for the passports-for-sale IIP by twinning it to greater expenditure on social housing. Indeed, instead of sounding divi- sive Muscat reiterated his call for national unity and in this he dis- tanced himself from the more ag- gressive informal campaign on the social media to delegitimise critics. And in this way Muscat once again presented himself as a master in the game of political chess. But still, there was one notable ab- sence in his speech: any reference to damning revelations involving his chief of staff Keith Schembri and his tourism minister Konrad Mizzi. The fact that Muscat once again chose to pronounce his innocence on the Egrant allegations simply reinforced his silence on evidence, which suggests impropriety on the part of his closest collaborators. For it may well appear that Muscat finds it easier to ignore than to defend the indefensible. For the contrast between his de- fence on Egrant and his silence on the 17 Black revelations, it suggests that while the PM can vouch for himself on Egrant, he is not able to vouch for two of his closest allies who remain entangled to his politi- cal fortunes. Muscat's attitude suggests that he is simply waiting for the storm to pass, banking on the Opposition be- coming more frustrated and pushed into more divisive positions. Indeed, the PN still seems intent on fighting it out against Labour on identity is- sues and similar debacles such as the IVF law reforms. But this may not dispel the grow- ing doubts among middle-of-the- road voters who expect Muscat to take decisive action against any im- propriety. Muscat also failed to send a strong message against corruption and abuse of power, ignoring fears that his lack of action with regards to Mizzi and Schembri may send a message of impunity. He rebutted criticism on rule of law issues by referring to the party finance bill and the abolition of criminal libel. News maltatoday SUNDAY 6 MAY 2018 Sealed tenders in respect of the following advertisements have to be dropped in the Tender Box at the Lands Authority, Auberge de Baviere, Valletta by 10.00 am on Thursday, 17th May, 2018. Advert No. 5 - Land 519/1976/1 Sale of a site in Triq Il-Karmelitani, Fgura, shown edged in red on plan P.D. 2017_0421. Tenders are to be accompanied by a Bid-Bond for an amount of €6,000 as stipulated in the tender conditions. Offers below the amount of twenty-nine thousand Euro (€29,000) will not be considered. A fee of €50 will be charged for each copy of tender document. Advert No. 6 - A 66/2001 Grant on a temporary emphyteusis, for a period of forty-five (45) years, of the site at Triq Guze. Azzopardi, San Gwann as shown edged in red on plan P.D.JO_13_2010_B. Tenders are to be accompanied by a Bid-Bond for an amount of €500 as stipulated in the tender conditions. Offers below the amount of one thousand and three hundred Euro (€1,300) per annum will not be considered. A fee of €50 will be charged for each copy of tender document. Advert No. 7 - Land 472/78/4 Lease, tale quale, of Garage No. 4 at San Gwann t 'Għuxa Housing Estate off Triq San Gwann t'Għuxa, Bormla shown edged in red on plan P.D. 23_80_26. Offers below the amount of nine hundred and fifty Euro (€950) per annum will not be considered. A fee of €10 will be charged for each copy of tender document. Advert No. 8 - Land 502/73/2 Lease, tale quale of Garage No. 2 off Triq in-Naxxar, Lija shown edged in red on plan P.D. 2008_104. Offers below the amount of eight hundred and fifty Euro (€850) per annum will not be considered. A fee of €10 will be charged for each copy of tender document. For more info visit our website on: www.landsauthority.org.mt/services/tendering ISSUE OF TENDERS Lands Authority St. Sebastian Street, Valletta Elephants bogeymen JAMES DEBONO Parties on 1 May Adrian Delia speaks of the foreign invasion, and Joseph Muscat avoids mentioning Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi on May Day. Clearly, one plies the bar talk vision, the other chooses golden silence Joseph Muscat was expected to address concerns which have put Malta under the international radar, but skirted well clear of them