Look at this: he waits 22 hours to gauge the public reaction, then speaks
The prime minister has sat about all day with his Public Perception Calculator, running a cost-benefit analysis on various reaction options, and at 7pm this evening decided to release a statement through the Department of Information – that hallowed chronicler of Konrad Mizzi’s marriage and Keith Schembri’s business interests – to tell us that he is angry and disgusted.
You know, JUST like he’s spent the whole day noticing we are so he had better mirror our feelings so as not to upset us further.
And Mallia is angry and disgusted too, he added. He told him so.
Really? Mallia gave a press conference earlier today and was filmed giving it. He didn’t come across as angry and disgusted at all, but as somebody who was keen to defend his man.
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http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-11-20/local-news/Prime-Minister-Muscat-stands-by-Minister-Mallia-expresses-anger-and-disgust-6736126072
Muscat should put his mouth where his anger and disgust lie and ask Mallia to resign. Otherwise it’s crocodile tears.
Welcome to the Mexico of the Mediterranean.
So now Jo and Mr Toad are going to barbecue Paul Sheehan to save Mr Toad’s arse.
22 is Labour’s unlucky number.
I am not demented yet and clearly remember reading that Mallia said his driver is a good man.
So what is disgusting, Mr. Prime Minister is that you and your Minister are contradicting each other.
Now what you should tell us is why it is so important for Mallia to protect this man. Need we refer you to a twitter slip to help you come up with an explanation perhaps?
Then he must have forgotten which party he represents and its history.
The two men are in cahoots in the corrupt IIP scheme and therefore Muscat cannot boot out Mallia. This indefensible defence of Mallia by Muscat proves my point.
Ms Caruana Galizia, I beg to differ. The Prime Minister wishes he was Jed Bartlet but not having a CJ Craig means that this was definitely a job for his marketing gurus (read spin doctors).
There is no hint of good governance here, just laboured damage control, the signature of spin doctors.
This man is impossible. He stands by Emanuel Malia, Helena Dalli, Owen Bonnici, Konrad Mizzi, Joe Mizzi, Chris Cardona, Anton Refalo, Edward Scicluna, Zammit Lewis amongst others. There is one thing common to these cabinet ministers and it includes the prime minister. There is good reason for them to resign.
As King Joseph said, We are not amused, but something has to give, so away goes the expendable driver.
Well, this proves that the PM is a really pussy. He is actually afraid of Mallia.
The PM is only soft when it comes to gay men.
I’m not sure if someone already gave credit, but once again this blog was first to give a correct rendition of what happened yesterday.
Other than that, to me there are other three people who should resign their post, Kurt Farrugia, Reno Bugeja and Times of Malta online editor.
[Daphne – It was actually Malta Right Now and mine went up a few minutes later with some added details.]
Prosit, Malta Right Now.
It actually is more telling that one person’s effort and a skeleton-staffed newsroom gave the proper story. If there ever was need for confirmation that Times of Malta is held firmly by the balls, this story seals it.
Suspension from police force is the obvious and inevitable thing to do.
It’s not a ‘strong’ action as described by government propaganda.
Nothing special or extraordinary here.
A strong action is having the PM remove Manuel Mallia and his rubbish private secretariat.
Here we are witnessing another u-turn from Minister Manwel Mallia. Earlier during the press conference he described his driver as a quiet man who was recommended to him by other police members for his loyalty. He also praised the police officer for actions he took weeks ago and for which he was also served with a certificate of merit.
Now this evening Manwel Mallia changed completely his views about his, now ex-driver, and is saying that like the Prime Minister he’s angry and disgusted.
Thinking again. Is it another u-turn or giving another twist to another lie?
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-11-20/local-news/Malta-registers-increase-in-severe-material-deprivation-rate-Schulz-says-EU-must-address-poverty-6736126064
Is Yana Mintoff Bland still consultant about poverty for Joe Muscat?
Governing by vox pop (at PL clubs and on Maltastar I would add).
Since the contradicting statements, which clearly contained lies did not come from Mr. Smith, and must therefore have come from the ministry, is the Prime Minister standing by the liar/s?
He can always shoot himself in the head, if he feels as ‘angry and disgusted’ as the DOI statement states.
We will feel neither ‘angry’ nor ‘disgusted’ when he does.
That’s only if he scratches his own Alfa. Oh there’s a thought!
An opportunist and a liar.
Come on, Baxx, shoot from the hip.
Never. Nice and controlled, from the shoulder. I think this Smith might be a mutual acquaintance of ours.
The ultimate proof and evidence that Joseph has undergone political orchiectomy.
So what’s keeping you from sacking Mallia? PM, please don’t treat us like idiots.
The prime minister is angry and disgusted at how the press, despite the biscuits and coffee he had offered them, turned on his government rogue ministers and is exposing their dirty underwear.
Seems that the Labour Party miscalculated the amount of heat in the kitchen because from the Opposition benches governing seemed like a breeze.
Will Sheehan be prosecuted or left to roam the streets?
The star candidate has become a four-star liability.
A bunch of incompetent dangerous lot are governing this country, God help us all.
Did you tell us one thing and the Prime Minister the complete opposite thing, minister Mallia, or is the Prime Minister cracking under the strain of it all?
Typical opportunistic statement from the Prime Minister.
Believe me it’s totally what I expected….timing and all.
My God what a truly deceitful government #gverntalmisthija
Some questions that need an answer:
Why was the driver visiting his mother using the Minister’s car?
If he was just visiting his mother, what was he doing carrying a firearm and using official GM plates?
Why hasn’t the Minister’s driver been arrested yet?
Have Chris Cardona and Mr. Han sneaked out of the dog house while we were looking the other way?
Twice now, in one week, the Government has used your words Daphne in a context where they are not applicable:
Joseph Muscat is “standing by” Helena Dalli and Manwel Mallia when what what is required is that both be dismissed.
It is not because a situation escalates that this needs to happen, but because the situation happened in the first place.
They are using YOUR words to confuse the flow of sentiment.
How low. How sly.
Before the election criticising a judge was a matter of resignation. After the election having the driver’s minister shoot at a civilian over a small incident is not. Go figure! What a clown
All the Prime Minister cares about is PR but the press need to push him further. Why doesn’t he express anger and disgust at the cover-up? Who orchestrated it? Was it his own communications coordinator?
And Mallia lied again during the press conference. PN ministers’ drivers never carried arms
http://maltarightnow.com/news/2014/11/20/filmat-gidba-ohra-ta-manwel-mallia-mhix-prassi-li-x-xufiera-tal-ministri-tal-intern-ikunu-armati/
It was just a matter of time, just over 2 years and back to the old ways.
Malta Taghna Lkoll seems more like a scene from the Wild West.
We must defend our liberty and democracy that was so painfully won after the miserable years of violence under the Labour regime of 70s and early 80s.
Do I sense cracks in this Taghna Lkoll government ?
Joey is being troubled by internal fire-fighting
He was busy.
Joseph Muscat stands by these people.
Cyrus Engerer and his conviction, Joe Mizzi and his vanishing bus contract, Konrad Mizzi and his vanishing world class power station, Helena Dalli and her vanishing credibility, Chris Cardona and his ‘gran casino’, John Dalli and his dubious connections, Franco Debono and his tantrums, Luciano Busuttil and the investigation he is facing and now Manuel Mallia fires up as well.
At this rate the world price of steel is going to shoot up.
On another issue – tests start on the substation which will power the new 80-bed oncology hospital due to open March 2015.
When will tests start on the new power station due to open same month?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/mobile/view/20141120/local/tests-start-on-substation-for-oncology-centre.544951
What a wimp. What a fake. Maybe while doing any firing he should also be looking at a mirror.
35 posts in one day and still coming. Labour are definitely keeping us occupied.
In cases like these, nothing beats the vernacular, so here goes.
B’min minghalik qed t*b*lghu f’s*rm*k, sur Prim Ministru ta’ z*b*i?
There. Now I feel a lot better.
So it’s no longer a “hit and run” as reported by Times of Malta and MaltaToday. Gutter journalism.
But the Times of Malta still persists in a ‘hit and run’. See the photo accompanying the coverage of the prime minister’s reaction.
Press statement by Simon Busuttil
http://maltarightnow.com/news/2014/11/20/joseph-muscat-dghajjef-quddiem-l-abbuz-tal-poter/
All the facts as they happened
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP5q61j27VA
If he is really angry and disgusted then how come he persists on standing by Manuel Mallia after he lied about the incident and defended/praised the driver ?
Mallia should do the right thing and resign with immediate effect and if he does not then Muscat should demand it.
Then again best he remains were he is. These people are only helping the PN’s future prospects of winning the elections in 2018.
Winning in 2018? Are you serious? This is the ideal government for Malta. It mirrors the Maltese archetype to a tee.
The same happens in almost every democracy.
Think Berlusconi in Italy of the early 2000s. He was what at least 50% of Italians aspire to be – a playboy who dodges the law.
Please leave out the mirrors. They are a really hot topic right now.
Perfect timing for TVM and Super One news.
He has to defend Mallia. He cannot do otherwise. They’re selling passports together.
Not one day of residence.
Who said that?
Min joghla hafna jiehu tisbita kbira. Jekk mhux illum, ghada.
Muscat should understand that we are angry and disgusted not because of the erratic and criminal behavior of a police constable.
We are angry and disgusted because it is unacceptable to have a home affairs minister who consorts with criminals and whose ministry excels in spewing lies and more lies and cover-ups.
At this rate the next thing will be frame-ups.
This didn’t start yesterday because there were too many eye witnesses.
At the first opportunity we will be back to frame-ups.
Then it will really be the beginning of the Golden Years MKII.
The frame-ups by Labour have/ had already started.
From before the elections.
Nothing to do with this incident but still to do with the Police and the Prime Minister.
Last Saturday around 11a.m., as I was driving along the Strand in Sliema, police outriders with sirens blaring escorted Mrs Muscat in her husband’s official car, followed by her ‘bodyguards’ in another car, drove past me at speed.
A rags to riches nobody who wants to attract attention all the time. Terrible. If Muscat is “angry and disgusted” because his minister’s driver shot at somebody, then he should be angry and disgusted about these crass scenes too.
Arti ta’ manipulazzjoni u qerq:
Mela Manwel Mallia l-ewwel jghid li-Paul Sheehan ‘is a quiet man’ u ftit wara jaqbel ma’ Joe Muscat li dan ghandu jerfa il-piz ta’ l-oxxenita’ kolla inkluz il-gidba fahxija li zgur ma harigix P Sheehan, izda hadd hlief Manwel Mallia u il-gvern kollettivament.
Good governance, accountability, meritocracy, bla bla bla my square foot.
Manwel Mallia jaghmel li jrid u miskien Dr Godfrey Farrugia lis-scapegoat. Kulhadd xortih fid-dinja jew hemm xi envelop kannella fin-nofs?
The only anger and disgust that the public feels after 22 hours from this ghastly incident is towards the prime minister for not having sacked the Police Minister from his cabinet.
And just in case Joseph Muscat thinks we’ve suddenly forgotten about his own promise to resign by March 2015, we haven’t, either.
Jista’ l-Prim Ministru jghidilna kemm se jdum jitnejjek bil-poplu? Irrid nghid, kemm se jdum jitnejjek bih innifsu?
Where was the ‘fearless leader’ hiding for 22 hours?
Wait a mo’. The announcement of a small decrease in petrol prices is trailed for days before being announced at a big press jamboree, and all this incident gets is a press release?
Was the PM too busy putting the kids to bed to spend time fielding questions from journalists about how he chooses ministers and how they choose their ‘persons of trust’?
If I threaten anyone in a fit of road rage, never mind point a gun and fire it with intent, I would be arrested and, perhaps, eventually convicted and, perhaps, imprisoned.
Alas, I am not a policeman. Or Manuel’s driver.
We saw it coming straight away. The minute Muscat started meddling with the police force and armed forces like they were his personal fiefdom.
Most of us are no luminaries, just regular guys. Others, switchers included, preferred to turn a blind eye and encouraged Muscat to do his worst by giving him an added vote of confidence at the European parliament elections.
Can anyone imagine Dr Gonzi acting like Muscat or Tonio Borg and Karm Mifsud Bonnici, Mallia’s immediate predecessors, emulating him.
Muscat and Mallia would have had smoother transitions had John Dalli and Franco Debono got their way.
Joseph Muscat is disgusted by many things: Anglu Farrugia’s comments, the Delimara cancer factory, the European Union…
Dr Mallia has several bodyguards from his previous life as a criminal defence lawyer. A very dangerous person indeed.
After only a short time the Labour government are showing that the PN in government with all their mistakes, had always the country and its people’s interest in mind all the time.
Those people who gave this lot their vote thinking that the country will be better run should do their homework right come next election because with all that is happening nobody in the PL is interested in the well-being of this country but only in the well-being of their pockets and showing off how powerful they are with the 36000 votes over the PN.
I could sleep in peace because I did not give them this power but I love my country and all these happenings in the end will give us a bad name.
….and we are angry and disgusted with you Mr Prime Minister.
Vote Labour, Get Labour
This government is a farce. It has Dragonara Gaming suing over the casino licence, Island Buses suing over the public transport tender, Konrad Mizzi admitting that the new power station just isn’t happening, Minister Mallia’s driver shooting at members of the public on public roads because they broke his wing mirror, people with criminal records being introduced to Prince William and sent off to Brussels with fat pay cheques for them and their boyfriends, Konrad Mizzi’s estranged wife being paid over EUR13,000 a month to leave her husband and take the children with her while we have no explanation of what her ‘job’ in China entails…and the list goes on…and we aren’t even half way through the new government’s term in office.
The truth is that if Manwel Mallia and his driver weren’t Manwel Mallia and his driver they would both be arrested right now.
In this country though it seems that the gravity of a particular crime is inversely proportional to rank rather than directly.
very weak goverment