Please don’t tell me that Muscat’s personal car is now the prime minister’s official car
Published:
March 24, 2013 at 1:19pm
Unless the prime minister loves this car model so very much that he very quickly sought and obtained finance ministry approval for the purchase of another one to replace the existing prime ministerial BMW, then what we are seeing here is Joseph Muscat’s family car being used as the prime minister’s official car.
Why, though, when there was a prime ministerial BMW already?
Perhaps we need to be told what the financial arrangement is.
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Yes, it’s the same one. Had a look at it last week. The tax disc is EMS something, and it’s the same car to the least spec detail (in case the tax disc was wrong) i.e. a black 2008 Alfa Romeo 159 1.8 with beige leather.
What happened to the EMS number plate? Did he sell it to the Hard Rock Cafe’?
Nope. If you zoom closer zoom closer you’ll realise that its the PM number plate is affixed in a holder. Thats replaced with the EMS one when hes not doing his PM duties. The flag holder is also a temporary one affixed between the mudguard and the bonnet (rather than a normal door lock like holder). That’s removed simply by opening the bonnet and taking it out.
Who’s using the BMW now? Me-shall?
We need to be told what happened to the BMW. Based on what I read in The Times, it was not reported as stolen when Joseph Muscat moved into Castille – but then I am not morally convinced that The Times is credible enough these days.
Was the BMW owned by the government, or was it held under lease?
If it was owned, where is it now?
If it was sold, who was it sold to, for what price?
I’m not a 100% sure but I think it was leased, as (a) that car changed 3 times in the past 5 years and (b) the number plate always remained the same.
Joseph Muscat is not the type to give up a privilege.
Now the prime minister probably has two official cars. This suits the Muscats just fine since they are Mr and Mrs prime minister.
Michelle is probably still cross at Joseph for buying her such an inferior and cheaper car to his own. Now they have levelled off with an Alfa Romeo and a BMW.
Apart from the fact that that particular model of Alfa is absolutely chavtastic. Gabiex second and mill-Inghilterra ukoll?
Maybe he’s using his car to pocket the car allowance in cash or he’s afraid that the state’s car might be taped with some listening device.
For Joseph Muscat money is no problem.
Money is no problem for many people. It doesn’t prevent them from being greedy.
Who knows, maybe he needed to service his car free from the taxpayers’ money. Because now “Malta Taghna Lkoll” and all pigs are equal.
Alfa Q
And he’ll get the VAT refund as he promised.
Does it really make a difference to you Daphne?
[Daphne – Very little makes a difference to me, Kurt. But my democratic duty is to point these things out. Did Tonio Fenech’s clock really make a difference to you?]
Something tells me he got his VAT back.
This may have something to do with socialists giving a good example and opting for smaller cars.
I wouldn’t be surprised if a statement to this effect is issued shortly. I believe that as Leader of the Opposition Muscat was entitled to a chauffeur driven car, hence the Alfa could well have been state owned.
[Daphne – No, it was his personal car and he took an allowance of around Eur7,000 for its running costs.]
Sewwa jghamel….Actually this is sending a strong message that he means business and is not ready to give in to all the pompous that the Government comes with….well done Dr Muscat for not ordering a new BMW worth over 100,000Eur like Gonzi did !
[Daphne – He didn’t have to, Ian. The BMW was there waiting for him. Gonzi didn’t steal it, you know. By adding his car to the list, he’s just made that list more expensive to maintain. Who’s going to be using the prime ministerial BMW?]
Ian, the strong message that I am receiving is that he wants his car running expenses to be paid mill-kaxxa ta’ Malta.
Had he kept his Alfa 159 for his personal use and accepted the BMW as his official car, he would have had to maintain it and pay the running expenses out of his own pocket, road tax, insurance, car services, car wash, windscreen washer liquid, petrol, CVA, parking fines should he park in a Sliema residential bay for more than two hours, should he wish to go along to the Sliema Ferries to boost Malta’s economy on a Saturday afternoon, along with his wife.
While he’s there, he can stroll down the pedestrianised Bisazza Street which won him a vote or ten. You know, he’d have to pay for stuff like that.
And please unless you use the ‘he means business’ line in a sarcastic manner, just don’t use it at all.
What is certain is that it will be costing the taxpayer a bomb in maintenance costs.
So on a Saturday morning, when Joseph Muscat takes his children to Stagekowc and futbol, you know business as usual, does he drive his, and I mean his, car or does his driver drive them escorted by two policemen on bikes?
It seems he either didn’t know or doesn’t want to damage the bonnet of his personal Alfa 159.
’The Prime Minister shall fly the National Flag from the centre mast of his car except when he is travelling in the same vehicle with someone of his own rank; in this case the flag of the visiting Head of Government shall have the courtesy position on the right side.’
https://gov.mt/en/About%20Malta/Pages/Flags-Symbols-and-their-use.aspx
Did Joseph Muscat return his personalised number plates?
Did he claim a refund on the road tax he paid?
Did he claim a refund on his car insurance?
Pretty obvious that he is not going to use the same car as our previous prime minister. He will order (or probably already did) a new car so that is another Eur100,000 down the drain. Seems it’s money no problem now. Hope it’s also ‘kosted’.
Daphne, kun af li JM se juza l-karozza tieghu stess minghajr ma jzid l-ispiza tal-gvern. Mhux bhal dak il-muqran Gonzi li xtara BMW gdida minn fuq dahar il-poplu. PN R.I.P bhallek.
[Daphne – Joseph, jekk kien hemm karozza BMW diga, la Joseph zdied il-karozza tieghu fil-lista tal-karozzi tal-gvern, allura l-ispiza se tizdied u mhux tonqos. Simple arithmetic.]
Joseph ser jdahhal il-kera taghha.
Many, but many people will probably see nothing wrong with this. Just as they see nothing wrong in declaring political parties obsolete.
It is another move in the blurring of political and state functions. In this case it has been taken to a higher level because we’re now talking of the Great Leader’s personal assets being incorporated into state operations.
In other words, I see it as another move towards the ‘totalitarianisation’ of the country’s political life.
I noticed this a few days ago and came to the conclusion that he probably refused to use the same car Gonzi used and has now ordered something grander.
Till then he will use his personal car to show how frugal he can be. When the new vehicle arrives it will be declared as a necessary step for the better administration of the country.
I agree that he has probably ordered something grander and this is probably an ‘ad-interim’ solution.
Unless he will be borrowing Sandro Chetcuti’s Ferrari. Considering that Muscat is usually late to important appointments, the Cavallino Rampante may come in handy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYpXeGec8r8
Sigh.
Mind you, Touring’s used to certain customers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4yS0m5_RHc
And before the election they were so concerned about the PN government spending. Alfa Romeo, ma tahlix fuel dik eh!
But you are being unjust to the Great Leader. If he uses his car the government saves the cost of a new one.
And perhaps he will do away with the driver like the previous Labour PM, who if I remember well, was still paid his salary although he never drove Sant anywhere.
And then there’s another advantage, should his wife need to use it she can’t be accused of using an official car for personal use. Hekk, hudu go fikom.
Muscat’s driver is now executive chairman of Transport Malta.
No, isn’t his a lighter, older, 156? Not his car, but a new one I think.
With the ministries spread all over Malta, he will either need a helicopter or molecular transporter, beam me up Scotty type of box, a BMW bike would be good, or riding pillion behind a traffic policemen, now that will be coooool.
Perhaps he’s thinks someone will tamper with the brakes. So he uses his own car.
And Caesar reigned, looking nervously over his shoulder, never drinking but from his own cup.
Brakes? Joseph Muscat xi jridhom il-brakes jekk sejrin gass down ghal-gol hajt?
Ahna iva. Imma hu le. U qed igawdi.
At least, judging by the badge the Alfa has a very small 1.8 liter engine and should def consume less petrol then the BMW.
[Daphne – Who’s using the BMW?]
Which consumes the most is not the point, what happened to the Government car is what we’re trying to find out.
The Alfa 159 has a history of breaking down and not considered to be a very reliable car, it has a very poor resale value too, as most Alfa models are. Using his personal car will keep maintenance costs free (for him).
He is using his own car so by the money saved on wear & tear, we can buy lot’s of lemons for PN supporters ha ha ha ha :)
[Daphne – Kemm int injorant u stupidu, Coleiro. Mintoffjan ahdar li hadt ‘gopp’ il-Freeport ghax int min int u hlief tibummja u taghmel li trid minflok tahdem ghas-salarju minn fuq dahar il-poplu ma taghmilx. Socjalist mnejjek minn guf ommok. People like you have been the ruin of Malta in the past, have held Malta back over the last 25 years, and will be Malta’s ruin in the near future if given half a chance. You’re a ruddy prole of the sort who set fire to all the mills and sacked ‘id-djar tas-sinjuri’ in Valletta on that day almost a hundred years ago. And what are the odds that you were one of those who set fire to The Times? Of course you can always deny it because who’s to contradict you. Nice car, by the way – did you buy it off your Freeport wages? http://www.facebook.com/mario.coleiro?ref=ts&fref=ts ]