So now we have not one, but two known Gaddafi admirers in the Office of the Prime Minister
Mario Farrugia Borg – the Maltese Muslim convert to whom the prime minister has just given a job in his office at the Auberge de Castille – is a known Gaddafi man who has written and spoken publicly in his praise.
He has gone rather quiet about the subject since his hero’s murder after the mass uprising against his brutal, horrendous regime, but the fact remains that he is/was a Gaddafi supporter and admirer.
Given that not all Libyans/Muslims in Malta/Maltese Muslims were supporters of the Gaddafi regime – many are here precisely because they escaped it and did not agree with it – his role as the prime minister’s interlocutor with them is going to be rather difficult.
I wonder how all those Libyans/Maltese of Libyan origin protesting outside the Libyan embassy for weeks are going to react to Joseph Muscat’s appointment of a Gaddafi-lover to the Office of the Prime Minister, dealing with their affairs.
The trouble here is that so many Maltese think of ‘Libyans’ and ‘Muslims’ as some kind of homogenous group, which is a bit like lumping, say, Martin Scicluna and Kenneth Zammit Tabona with Antonella tal-iSnobby and her sisters, on the basis that they are all Maltese and (at least nominally) Roman Catholic. The difficulty with this comparison, of course, is that they all share the same political views and vote for the same political party, so maybe I should have said Simon Busuttil/Mario de Marco being thought of as homogenous with Silvio Parnis.
They are not homogenous at all. The group with which the prime minister (then the leader of the Opposition) has been dealing, through the agency of Mario Farrugia Borg, is that of Gaddafi supporters in Malta. That’s why the group is centred on the Corradino school, which was set up and funded by Gaddafi until the Libyan Spring of two years ago.
This distinction should have been made at the outset. Being Gaddafi men (and women) they are naturally and politically inclined towards the Malta Labour Party, not least because of the 40-year association between Muammar Gaddafi and Labour.
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http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091229/letters/the-libya-i-have-grown-to-love.287634
So , we have to assume that Gaddafi still has supporters in Malta and now even in the office of the Prime Minister.
News items on timesofmalta.com are being summarized with “Full story and exclusive picture can be seen on the Times” at the end.
Have circulation figures fallen ?
‘pimps, thieves and scoundrels’
Mario Farrugia Borg’s article shows a superficiality that is astounding.
Let us first start by establishing an undeniable fact. Gaddafi was brought down by the people of Libya who saw him in a light which is completely differed from that seen by the dazzled Farrugia Borg.
Farrugia Borg’s role in encouraging Muslims in Malta to support the Labour Party which, as the MLP, received active support from Gaddafi, is harmful to the Islamic community in Malta. Apart from differences of a cultural-religious nature, he now wants to add a political one.
And Joseph Muscat has willingly accepted and publicised this initiative.
As rightly pointed out above, how will the Libyan Muslim community in Malta, as well as whoever is governing post-Gaddafi Libya, look on this close association of a Maltese government engaging the services of a self-proclaimed Gaddafi admirer?
Is Mario Farrugia Borg taking over from Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and Alex Sceberras Trigona?
http://www.mariamalbatoolschool.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=8&lang=en
400.000 Euros for a Sharia school with 300 children. Maltese children in ALL other private schools schools cost the state a lot less per capita.
Completely off topic, but has anyone noticed that timesofmalta.com is now restricting access/commenting to 10 articles per month for non-subscribers?
It blocks access unless one subscribes at “Only €2.99 per week” (usually ‘Only €3.99 per week’).
It does not specify how long the ‘Only €2.99 per week’ applies and when the €3.99 per week kicks in.
Maybe they should have instituted this policy five years ago and would have saved us from many Labour letter/comment writers from boring us to death.
Ghal anqas Eddy Privitera se jkollu jhallas xi haga talli kulhadd ikollu jisma l-opinjoni bazwija tieghu fuq kull kritika kontra l-LP.
“Malta hanina, hobz w’sardina”
http://www.esceurovision.com/song/singer.php?id=1199
Hi Daphne, I know this has noting to do with this post but I came upon this while surfing.
Kevin Wain
Today, 16:04
So you are justifying harassment, aren’t you? You are stating that because you do not like what she says, then she should pay for her actions. Arrogance at its best.
I would like to say again thank you to Dr. Gonzi. He worked so hard for Malta and I feel that not enough appreciation has been shown in his regard.
As time goes by, people will start to realise more and more what a really great leader he was. I hope that somehow he remains politically active as he still has so much to offer.
THANK YOU DR. GONZI.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtGZ-iwtZGQ
The Political Isolation Law just passed in Libya this week does not allow any Gaddafi supporters to work in any government department. Maybe they can now find asylum in Joseph Muscat’s government.
This appointment is of concern regarding the PM’s and Malta’s relations with Free Libya. Currently the Libyan Parliament is going through the process of enacting the Isolation Law which will forbid all Gaddafi sympathizers to hold any positions government and all managerial positions.
How is the PM going to justify this appoint with the Free Libyans and especially when this gentleman will accompany the PM to his official visist to Libya.
And then there is this piece.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110207/local/muslim-and-former-pn-councillor-converts-to-labour.348995
“When Joseph Muscat was elected as Labour’s leader in 2008, Mr Farrugia Borg was inspired and sent Dr Muscat a letter, asking if there was space for Muslims within the party and the quick reply was: “Malta cannot simply be an EU state on paper but must provide the same civil and religious rights of all other member states.””
Ah, so according to Joseph Muscat’s own reply to Mr. Farrugia Borg, there is place for Mr. Farrugia Borg and Muslims in Joseph Muscat’s Labour – but this is not because Joseph Muscat firmly believes in the rights of Muslims and in their place in his party. It is because Malta is now part of the EU, where people enjoy civil and religious rights.
And guess who wanted Malta to stay out of the EU? Joseph Muscat and his Labour Party.
And guess who worked hard against all odds, including Labour’s obstacles, to put Malta in the EU? The PN.
I can’t understand Mr. Farrugia Borg’s logic.
Have to highlight this bit also:
“During the 1980s, Mr Farrugia Borg, who came from a staunchly Mintoffian background, had begun to reject Labour and, due to the political circumstances of the time, started militating within the PN.”
So he did come from a Mintoffian background, after all. No surprises about his joining – or shall I say return to – Labour, then.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Former-Nationalist-MP-sheds-doubt-on-creation-of-new-PN-role-20130510
“That is how the PN still works. If a person wants a place in the Cabinet he is appointed even if elected through a by-election (Austin Gatt in 1998) and if the prodigal son (filjozz) is hell-bent on becoming deputy leader we create two (posts),” Jean Pierre Farrugia.
1) Malta Today does not differentiate between prodigal son (L-iben il-hali) and godson (filjozz).
2) I never wanted to believe the logic this ex-MP uses, but now I have to confirm that this guy is either naive or has various axes to grind.
Can’t Dr Farrugia use his hindsight and see how illogical his reasoning was when he opposed a reasonable income for a full-time Prime Minister? Before writing on FB on other subjects, Jean Pierre should write an apology to the supporters who he let down and to Lawrence Gonzi.
It is more than obvious that Jean Pierre supported Simon but does not want Beppe, who has wider support than Mario, as deputy leader. By Jean Pierre’s standards he should also be labelled a filjozz.
I thought he called it quits from politics.
http://www.independent.com.mt/mobile/2013-03-12/news/jean-pierre-farrugia-retires-from-politics-1146028033/
Two deputy leaders can be MPs, even a secretary-general can be an MP. Is this appeasement? I would say it’s inclusion.
I think that if you toss him a donut he’ll come and sing your praises too Daphne, nothing personal . . err principled I mean
Most PL supporters are Gaddafi admirers.
Two pro Gaddafi admirers in the OPM? Is this not treading on eggshells for the PM, especially when he meets a Libyan delegation or the Libyan PM? Are not journalists asking this question to the PM?
A naive brain-washed man.
Came to Gozo for Lejlet Lapsi and found out that the main event is going to be ‘Gensna’.
Not only that, apparently the people in charge are insisting that no other concerts or events take place at the same time and refused to add such items to the official programme.
Stephen Farrugia qed jibghat l-emissarji?