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I bear no grudges, says Vincent Moran

HE WAS FORCED TO RESIGN AS LABOUR PARTY MINISTER OVER A CONTROVERSIAL STORY WHICH APPEARED IN THE ‘IL-GENS’ NEWSPAPER. TODAY, VINCENT MORAN LOOKS BACK ON HIS POLITICAL CAREER AND TELLS RAY ABDILLA THAT HIS REGRETS ARE FEW, IF NOT NONE

There might have been people who tried to throw dirt at former health minister Vincent Moran, but he certainly holds no resentment today.

Dr Moran, who I met at his house in Paola, bears no grudges and talks openly about the controversies that dogged his time as a parliamentarian.

He describes the ‘Gens’ story in which he was accused of being involved in an abortion gang as hyped up, saying that at the time he only gave some advice to someone who had to deal with a crisis.

And he also quashes rumours that he was at war with former Labour Minister Lorry Sant.
"The only pique between the two of us was during the election, but that is to be expected, knowing how fierce elections are in Malta," he says.

Politics might have been Dr Moran’s love, but the number of photos and portraits of his wife, Maggie, who died six years ago, are a token of what was really important to him.

He admits to still missing her very much, pointing out that she was also very active in Maltese politics as the president of the women’s section of the Malta Labour Party and adding that she helped him greatly in his career.

"It was mainly thanks to her that I used to notch up some 5,000 first preference votes," he says.

Dr Moran still loves politics although he enjoys it from a distance today, with evenings in Parliament now replaced by a quiet night at home or seeing patients at his clinic.

Yes he is still a doctor, although he now regards himself as a part-time one. "How can I say no to many patients that have grown up with me?" he asks. "I will be 70 next January and many people have been coming to my clinic since I was young, and they also voted for me. How can I not continue not helping them?"

But he also makes time to relax and is trying to slow down a little, finding time to follow football, especially watching sides such as Juventus and Liverpool play. Recently he also went abroad to watch the UEFA Cup game between Liverpool and Roma.

"I went with the Labour MP, Karl Chircop, whom I confess to thinking of as a son," he says. "The bond between us is strong, since I assisted at his birth, was present during his first Holy Communion and also was a witness to his marriage."

I ask him how he regards today’s political scene with the scenario back in the seventies and eighties when he was a minister.

"Technology wise, politics have moved forward very well, but polarisation is still a big problem in Malta and could be viewed as having increased," he answers. "People’s attitudes have also changed and consumerism have become the order of the day now. Today people don’t vote for the ideal or for the good of the country but more often, for the good of their pockets. Unfortunately patriotism and thinking foremost about what one can do for one’s country is a thing of the past."

On the issue of polarisation, Dr Moran points out that when politicians are gentlemen, there can be respect across party lines.

"For example, I always respected former Prime Minister Gorg Borg Olivier," he says. "When my father died he sent his condolences and asked me if he could do anything to help. In fact, I helped preserve the Prime Minister’s body for his state funeral."

I wonder how he feels about the change in ideology of the Labour party. But he is not critical of this in the way some MLP stalwarts are.

"Most parties change some of their policies, it is something natural that it is not only done in Malta but in many democracies," he says. "I remember that the Nationalist party was against old age pensions during the 1950’s and now they are in favour of them."

Turning to the subject of the European Union, Dr Moran compares today’s situation with the crossroads that Malt arrived at in 1964.

"The Nationalist party wanted independence and the Labour party did not agree because it didn’t perceive what was being granted as full independence," he says. "But both parties believed that a starting point was needed. Then came Republic Day in 1974 and Freedom Day in 1979. Although the Labour Party did not agree with Independence Day at that moment in time no one could deny the fact that it was the point of departure."

Drawing a parallel with today’s situation, with the Nationalist party striving for full EU membership and the Labour party continuing with its Switzerland in the Mediterranean concept, the former health minister admits he is unsure which is the best option at present.

"I can only decide after knowing all the ifs and buts, the pains and gains," he says. "Who can be sure that a Switzerland in the Mediterranean will be met by the EU as the Malta Labour Party wants it, and on the other hand who is certain that there won’t be any sectors which will suffer a serious blow with immediate accession to the EU?"

Turning to the rift between Dom Mintoff and MLP leader and former prime minister Alfred Sant, which brought about the downfall of the former Labour government, Dr Moran says it is impossible for him to comment on where blame lies.

"I can’t say who was right or who was wrong," he comments. "I was not involved in the party during the time and there could be many factors involved that I didn’t know about."
But Dr Moran, who worked with Mintoff for many years, stresses that no one can question the good that the giant former premier did.

"Although his character was a very difficult one, no one could ever say that he did not work for the country’s interests," he says. "No one could say that he didn’t tackle the problem of poverty and that the standard of living didn’t shoot up in a very short time.

"I remember once that Mintoff was unhappy because I was canvassing for number ones in the First District. But that is politics. I always wanted to get as many votes as I could."

And what about Dr Sant?

"Alfred Sant is a very intelligent person and has an important contribution to make to the country," is his answer. "Unfortunately, many people do not understand his way of thinking and some of his arguments and that is a problem for him."

So what does he think of the MLP’s performance at the polls, I wonder.

"The pattern of defeat is a curve that happens everywhere in the world," he answers. "In Europe, where democracy is the name of the game there are countries where parties hit a bad point.

"The British Labour party suffered one defeat after another during the eighties and early nineties because they had not found a suitable leader but now with Tony Blair, things have changed."

As I turn back to the subject of Lorry Sant, Dr Moran describes how he was at his house the day he died.

"He was lying there in front of his veranda when he drew his last breath," the former health minister says. "I remember that when he died, Lorry’s wife Carmen phoned me and told me that he had looked awful during the day. That was the kind of close relationship we had. That’s why I get annoyed when people try to paint our relationship as having any problems greater than district rivalry."

Regarding the ‘Gens’ story, he minister admits he could have libelled the paper and if he had done so, things would have been different.

He recalls the events that led to the story’s publication.

"I remember that a woman came to speak to me, together with a man, at my clinic," he says. "She told me that the man was her brother and that he wanted help because he had just made a girl pregnant. She said that her brother was in a terrible state and wanted help soon. I told her that I could do nothing, all I could was to refer her to another doctor.

"The next day I saw the story printed in the newspaper."

He admits that he had taken any action, certain people, including members of the clergy would have got into trouble.

"I remember that once a priest who was sitting on the same sofa you are sitting on, had asked me to do the same thing for a member of his family," he points out. "I did nothing because I believe that medical advice is confidential, even though it cost me the Labour Party post.

"I immediately resigned as an MLP member because I did not want to do any damage to the party. An election was in the offing and I did not want to harm the party in any way."

He adds that Dr Sant never told him to reconsider his decision, because he also had the party’s best interests at heart.

"And I respect that," he admits.