Here is the complete and faithful transcript of Barroso’s testimony in court yesterday
Published:
July 8, 2014 at 10:08am
You can get a much clearer picture of the matter from reading this than from the disjointed comments that have been reported in the newspapers.
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http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-220_en.htm
Indeed, why did Dalli change his mind and state he didn’t, in fact, resign?
Perhaps Dalli changed his mind the moment he realised his phone call was to no avail.
“I told Mr Dalli it would be better for him to resign on his own initiative, to clear his name. If he did not follow that path, I told him that as President of the Commission, I would have to ask him to resign in keeping with Article 17 (6) of the Treaty. We had a long discussion on the pros and cons and I gave him a very clear choice between two alternatives. I asked him what he intended to do and he decided that it was better for him to resign on his own initiative.”
Hmm, why is it that I think Dalli discussed the protection of his allowances and pension rights among those pros and cons?
And why do I think that this was the reason why Dalli wanted to make his resignation in writing, in order to further protect those rights in writing?
Thank you Daphne for this piece.
I am sure people will start to see things differently now.
“”After my meeting with Mr Dalli I spoke by phone to the Maltese Prime Minister Mr Gonzi. This was the first time I had ever spoken to Mr Gonzi about the case – or indeed to anyone outside of my immediate collaborators. He understood the situation and we agreed to launch the process for replacing Mr Dalli as Commissioner. The same evening as our phone call Mr Gonzi informed the Maltese Parliament, and I now read from the public record of the Maltese Parliament, that Mr Dalli told him by phone that, I quote:
“….he had decided to resign from the post of Commissioner in order to better defend himself and the institution of which he had formed part until then”.
Here we have Mr Dalli confirming to the Prime Minister of Malta that he resigned voluntarily. This is on the record.
There should be no room for doubt about any of this. The truth is that he resigned voluntarily – as he confirmed to the Prime Minister of Malta, the person who had nominated him.”
Now the Maltese media should ask current prime minister Joseph Muscat whether John Dalli told him that he had resigned or whether President Barroso had dismissed him, when Dalli called Muscat at 5.00pm, soon after Dalli’s meeting with President Barroso.
Muscat was one of the first persons informed about what had happened in the meeting.
Watching the video here, the questions were about resignation, and Muscat did not contradict the reporters or their reports.
http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2014/07/found-the-video-where-muscat-says-dalli-called-him-and-what-do-you-know-its-furrow-time-again/
“It happens in national governments too that Ministers resign when they are accused, rightly or wrongly. They do so to clear their names, to underline their innocence and to avoid damaging the bodies that they serve. ”
With this in mind, the nine seat majority that the labour party have should be turned into a 10 seat minority and this should include the resignation of the Prime MInister himself.
Impeccable reasoning. No wonder John Dalli had to resort to conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, you will always find those who will give credence to conspiracy theories, especially where the tobacco industry is involved.
Im his speech Barroso gave a lecture on political ethics and what is the difference between a political post and an employment. He also explained the difference between political responsibility and being found guilty of an offence. From this speech our politicians should learn how to behave and the public should learn what to expect from those who are elected.
If we followed this kind of political ethics, half of Muscat’s Cabinet of Ministers would have already resigned. Mallia would be covering himself in ashcloths instead of buying new shiny suits.
Sackcloth and ashes.
Thank you for reproducing Barroso’s statement. It is in plain English, but perhaps too difficult for some journalists to understand.
Which part of the summary of the conclusions of the OLAF report didn’t Mr Dalli understand?
The opening statement says it all:
Commissioner Dalli interacted on several occasions with representatives of the tobacco industry in unofficial and confidential meetings, which were conducted without the knowledge and involvement of the competent services.
These meetings were all organised by Mr Silvio Zammit, who is a Maltese entrepreneur from outside the Institutions, and a close friend of Commissioner Dalli.
Mr Dalli had acknowledged the fact that it was imprudent for a European Commissioner to have such contacts.
I guess the most prudent thing he did after the meeting was to call the then Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Muscat.
Ghidli ma’ min taghmilha u nghidlek x’int.
There’s national security, national interest, commercially sensitive and as of today ‘not prudent’ why we can’t be told.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140708/local/ministry-refuses-to-reveal-bus-service-losses.526821
One prays Mizzi strikes oil, fast. Or bus drivers could be instructed to welcome immigrants on board to break even.
And how’s this for Times of Malta sticking to its anti-Arriva agenda?
‘..The company was formed after transport operator Arriva quit its 10-year contract prematurely last December after accumulating debts in the region of €70 million since it started operations in July 2011…’
No it didn’t quit prematurely. Or is that what’s been approved for issue by the OPM?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140708/local/no-new-black-dust.526870
‘…Mepa has no information of new deposits of black dust in the southern areas of Malta, Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon said.
Replying to a parliamentary question by Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi, Dr Falzon said that this matter was not related to other dust in the air since black ‘dust’ particles are larger. Consequently, there was no need for further analysis…’
Call it taghnalkollism. If it’s not black it’s not dust.
More discrimination on the basis of colour, I would say.
Barroso’s testimony is crystal clear.
The procedures which he adopted and the action he took as President of the Commission cannot be faulted in any way.
John Dalli made a terrible mistake in suing the European Commission; clearly, he has been given wrongful advice.
He failed to understand that a European Commissioner is not an employee of the European Commission but a political appointee whose ethical behaviour should be beyond reproach.
By contesting the fact that he had resigned voluntarily (the other option would have been for Barroso to unceremoniously sack him), he has exposed himself to ridicule and accusations that he was an incompetent Commissioner.
It is terribly shameful that Prime Minister Muscat appointed him his consultant on health matters despite all this. He should now be forced to resign for the third time in his political life.
Well done for keeping up the pressure.
All of this material only helps to confirm that Malta in the last 18 months is the last place to attract FDI!
From today’s transcript of the proceedings:
“15:42: Dalli’s lawyer replies: “In our view, termination does not necessarily mean a recourse to Article 17(6)… Dalli felt forced with no option for various reasons that I will not repeat here; there was no choice… Dalli felt forced, entrapped in the meeting with no possibility to stay on as a member of the College of Commissioners.””
So it this the entire basis for Dalli’s case? Oh my goodness. Of course Dalli felt trapped; he realised he had been caught out. If he were the clever cock he thinks he is, then he’d be hiding in some hole right now, not prancing about in front of the ECJ. He is making an utter fool of himself.
On another subject. Not only is the PL replete with positive energy but it can also perform magic tricks.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140708/local/no-new-black-dust.526870
Before March 2013, the south of Malta was plagued with bucketfuls of black dust.
After March 2013, the black dust vanished; it was no more.
After March 2013, there was the same power stations, the same traffic and the same neighbourhood bakeries and yet the black dust is gone. It’s magic.
Similarly PL’s magical powers banished the many shortcomings of our public transport. It was not the departure of Arriva that solved all transport problems; it was PL’s magic. Incredible.
“Under the Treaty, no written form is required for a declaration of resignation, and it is irrevocable. As a consequence, no further question arises about the effectiveness of your resignation”.
Check mate, Ġann.
Dalli thinks that because Muscat has let him off then everyone else should follow suit.
You sad man.
The Malta Independent is complaining because it has not been included with other independent media houses in a delegation of the selected few which will be travelling to China with the prime minister.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-07-08/news/pm-on-his-way-to-china-with-selected-media-malta-independent-left-out-5763563520/
To some extent they are right to complain, but I will try to console them.
The Malta Independent must go down to this level of “gurnalismu laghqi” in order to be included with “the small press delegation accompanying the prime minister” – see here:
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/40968/muscat_heads_to_bejing_to_sign_maltachina_agreement
1. “Muscat heads to Beijing to sign Malta-China agreement.” Just look at that headline. Why, haven’t read about it in the Chinese media. They only reported that Muscat is invited to an Eco Forum in one of China’s slowest developing provinces – Guizhou. Was the headline provided from the Auberge de Castille, with the travel tickets?
2. “Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is leading a high-powered delegation to Beijing,..”
“The Maltese delegation includes deputy prime minister Louis Grech and the PM’s chief of staff Keith Schembri. ”
Is that BS’s (Saviour Balzan’s) understanding of a high-powered Maltese delegation? I thought there would be the best minds in the private sector, some bankers, financial services experts – “il-mutur tal-ekonomija.” Where are our entrepreneurs?
3. “The purpose of the visit is to sign a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Chinese government. It will be the longest ever agreement signed with a European Union member state, according to government sources.”
Did BS think why other countries do not sign such long-term agreements? Maybe because they are not banana republics which allow other countries to plan, control and interfere with their economies for 5 years?
Let’s wait and see if there are any loans in the MOU. No country in the democratic west would accept a bailout loan from China, be it for 1 year or 5 years.
4. “The small press delegation accompanying the Prime Minister was not yet given an insight into the finer details of the memorandum of understanding.”
Ah, so much for the independent media travelling with the prime minister to see him sign an MOU, then.
So The Malta Independent has not missed anything, then. It knows about the MOU as much as the media delegation travelling with the prime minister. And it is more likely to know more from Chinese media, than from the prime minister and his delegation.
The signing event in China is looking like a rehash of the “big news” press conference of 30 April, except that this time it will take place in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, in what, according to BS, will be “a highly formal event, with little or no improvisation from either the Maltese delegation and the Chinese representatives.” Which I take it to mean that the media will not be allowed to ask questions but only to look on, take pictures to send back to Malta, and to appreciate the beauty of the Great Hall.
Oh, the Great Hall of the People. It sounds so impressive and powersful. But what BS did not tell us is that the Great Hall of the People is located at one end of Tienanmen Square. Pity the signing was not scheduled for 4 June, because BS and the other media would have been invited to the commemorative events of the 1989 revolution which ended in blood.
Maybe the media can ask for a 1 minute silence after the signing. That’s the power of the media.
5. After the signing, the delegation heads to the Eco Forum at Guiyang. “Muscat is one of the few head of state at this ‘international’ forum.” This is made to sound like something big and exclusive, rather than an indication that no other head of state accepted the invitation. There is of course no mention of who the other “few” heads of state are, to put things into context: the President of Ethiopia and the Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu – both friends of China. And they will be in the company of Putin’s chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, who has been included in the list of Russian officials subject to US sanctions following the recent aggression and interference by Russia in the Ukraine/Crimea.
6. Oh, and the delegation includes also “head of government communications Kurt Farrugia.” Now that surely makes it high-powered, then.
“He also came back to say how difficult all of this was. And precisely because of this, because of these circular arguments, I found it necessary to clarify more than once with him that he had resigned voluntarily. He confirmed that he had. There was absolutely no ambiguity about that.”
Mr. Barroso thought he was dealing with a gentleman. Given the circumstances, he tried to give Dalli John the best way out. Barroso even added ‘by his own writing’ the sentence which stated that Dalli denied the conclusions of the report.
With hindsight we can safely say that Barroso should have called Dalli to his office and fired him. Explanations and deliberations would have followed afterwards.
You are right. Some people simply have no idea how to act like gentlemen. They first get themselves and others into embarrassing situations due to their insensitive and imprudent behaviour, and then when they are offered a decent way out, they come back with a retaliation.
Having read this statement, I couldn’t understand what John Dalli’s case is all about then. However if what Dalli says is true, then no wonder Barroso is protecting the very roots of the commission.
X’misthija.
Brava Daphne! Tghidha kif inhi minghajr xinxilli. Dak gurnalizmu serju. Thanks for the information.