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| NEWS | Sunday, 1 June 2008 Revealed: Mintoff’s new speaking companion Charlot Zahra After Alpha Party leader Emmy Bezzina and Liberal-Democratic Party leader John Zammit, it looks like the Old Lion of politics, former Labour Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, has got another speaking companion for his lengthy tirades.
MaltaToday can reveal that the 92-year-old former Prime Minister, who last year lost for good his claim at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg for compensation in connection with the construction of the power station five metres away from his residence in Delimara, has been seen in the presence of incumbent Labour international secretary Joe Mifsud, one of the candidates for the Labour Party deputy leadership post on June 12. It was the hapless Mifsud who during an interview with Brian Hansford on Smash Television, confirmed that the 40-year-old Mosta journalist-turned-lawyer, who is still establishing his legal practice, had given “professional advice” to Mintoff. However, asked by MaltaToday whether he had become Mintoff’s lawyer for good, Mifsud said: “Absolutely not. I only gave professional advice about a particular matter.” Mifsud insisted that he had not taken any of Mintoff’s legal proceedings into his hands. He also rebutted any notion that by giving professional advice to the man who brought down the Labour Party government in 1998, he might also undermine his own position within the party. “The Chamber of Advocates has made it clear that politicians who practice as lawyers should not be hounded for doing so, as they have the right for their private practice as everybody else.” At the same time, Mifsud said: “We should listen to what these elderly politicians have to say, too, as they have interesting things to tell us.” It is not the first time that the impetuous Mintoff has changed his lawyers during the years. His current lawyer, Professor Ian Refalo, was abroad recently, therefore fuelling claims that Mintoff might change his legal counsel yet again. Any comments? |
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Managing editor Saviour Balzan | Tel. ++356 21382741 | Fax: ++356 21385075 | Email