I’m going to ask you to look at this video again, and really look at it properly
Ignore the sound of Malta’s ambassador to Belgium, Ray Azzopardi, shouting into the microphone with his creepy-butler announcements, and Toni Abela behaving like a demented ape, and concentrate instead on what’s going on there with the new prime minister and his wife in the first few minutes.
They are not standing there as a couple. As far as he is concerned, he is there alone. His arms are up in the classic stance of a victor accepting the adulation of the crowd. In a situation like that, a man would be hyper aware of his wife/girlfriend/love interest standing next to him, and would instinctively put down the arm closest to her and draw her in close before the crowd, standing there as a couple. Instead, his wife is reduced to the status of secretary or PA, standing there uncertainly and at one point actually shrinking back as he raises his arm again, totally oblivious to her, and almost brushes against her face.
When he finally remembers what he must do, he reaches out woodenly and in her gratitude (I mean, really, poor thing) she flings herself at him enthusiastically and cuddles up. But he doesn’t even glance down. At no point, not even when he is ‘hugging’ her, does he look at her. He keeps looking around him. Then he literally shoves her away.
She tries to tell him something when he takes the microphone to speak, and even then, he barely glances at her – and it’s a look of annoyance and a snapped word. But when Louis Grech comes on, he embraces him immediately and carries on doing so.
If it’s any consolation to Mrs Muscat, it’s not her fault. He would have been the same even if he had married Carla Bruni. But he would never have married Carla Bruni, even if she had been available and willing. Men like Muscat have the same utilitarian approach to marriage that they have to every other relationship, including the relationships of work and politics: they are there to serve his personal purposes and to get out of the way after doing so. Carla Bruni would never have cowered under his arms while he waved them about and ignored her. And worse, she would have eclipsed him, which is never to be tolerated.
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I was mesmerized by Toni Abela’s over-enthusiasm, and by the way Muscat shook hands with him across Michelle’s face.
And I was mesmerized by how short the sleeves of his jacket are.
Same thing in the photo with Obamas. He takes up all her space and pushes her back.
At 1’23” Muscat cuts his wife out completely. She has to lean back to avoid his and Abela’s waving fists.
What’s a double elbow to the face every now and then when you get to play at being Mama Michelle Ohbummer?
It is impressive how there isn’t the tiniest spark of affection in his face when he eventually notices that she’s there.
Even when he puts his arm around her, it’s more of a forced, almost violent, gesture rather that the warm, encouraging embrace of a husband. He visibly has to suppress disgust or distaste as he does this, which results in a frozen facial expression.
As for Michelle, her body language speaks volumes. I reckon she’s actually afraid of the man. If not afraid, definitely cowed by him. I feel sorry for her.
I don’t. She married him because of his prospetti and ambizzjoni. This is the result.
At 1.20 Muscat shoves his arm in front of his wife’s face to hold up Toni Abela’s hand, and Mrs Muscat moves back to avoid getting hit.
Just imagine Dr Gonzi behaving that way. So uncouth.
But Kenneth Zammit Tabona is impressed by his elegance. Ma Tafx kif forsi, jiehu xi haga izjed.
He flirted with Kenneth in front of his own wife. She probably knows that and got what she asked for.
She had a taste for it when she was PA to Alfred Sant and then moved on to the next guy.
The expensive handbags and what she thinks is a glamorous lifestyle make up for the absence of love fulfillment and emotional attention. She might think it is worth it.
We can say after 7 months that the man was lying through his teeth.
He lied blatantly in the electoral campaign. It was all there in front of us. But some did not smell that.
Are you really that unobservant? Muscat is nearly 40. He has been a public figure for two decades. He was a reporter for Super One. He set up and ran Maltastar. He spent years saying that EU membership would be a disaster for Malta. He promised the sun and moon to every susceptible voter.
And you noticed that he lies through his teeth seven months AFTER the election?
A striking difference in mannerisms towards one’s wife is clearly seen here when one compares the gestures in the video above with those of Laurence Gonzi.
That brown envelope.
… and not a single woman in the photos contained in it.
I think that you may also be overlooking the 30-39th second of the clip when Joseph grabs Michelle and seconds later, she actually pushes his hand away. She was not having a good day.
In spite of Daphne’s fervent exhortation I could only stomach up to 0’10”.
And what a supreme effort that was.
The Fascist salutes are so appropriate too.
Did you hear the way he said it?
Malta Taghna lkoll, my sweet fanny. He is nothing but manipulative, devious, and a liar to boot.
Tista ma taqbilx maghna izda tista tahdem maghna. The lies are blatantly outrageous and so many idiots believed him.
You just have to look at a couple gazing into each other’s eyes to notice love, respect and complicity. When this is entirely missing or clearly cold, you know something is completely wrong.