Updated | Ian Castaldi Paris at PL conference: ‘Labour lucky to have leader with vision’

The Labour Party’s annual general conference held a surprise, more for the PN than for its own delegates, when the former president of the PN’s college of councillors stepped in and addressed the meeting.

Ian Castaldi Paris, Lija’s former PN mayor, declared his new alliance with the Labour Party’s leader, Joseph Muscat.

“I was always convinced of taking this step but I was afraid of doing it. I wanted to be on the side of those who believed in what is good, on the side of the truth and of those who truly believed that Malta was for all.

“You are so lucky to form part of a movement with its doors really wide open to the public, led by an honest and determined leader with a vision.”

Given a standing ovation twice, Castaldi Paris turned to Muscat and lauded him for being a man “who was ready to take off his prime ministerial jacket and act like a father, a brother…a friend who really listens to you”.

“[Muscat] believes in who you are. I had become used to forming part of a party who took you for granted and became arrogant and deaf when it enjoyed a majority. It uses you and throws you away. But this movement strengthens itself and becomes more close to the people as it gains more votes.”

Castaldi Paris turned on to disgruntled Nationalists who were still unsure of whether to join the PL or not.

“It is not about being an opportunist or a mercenary – like I was called – but it’s because you truly subscribe to the values of this movement. And I am here to give my contribution.”

Castaldi Paris declared his support to the Prime Minister and the Labour Party: “I will be here to truly give the support”.

Castaldi Paris submitted his resignation from the PN on July 2014, when he declared that his position within the party was “no longer tenable”.

“Political honesty and responsibility mean that you have to resign when the political party you form part of no longer respects you. Enjoying the party’s trust means that you can carry out your work with the support of the party you are representing,” the former PN mayor had said. 

Speaking to MaltaToday, Castaldi Paris said that his work will now involve convincing Nationalists to join the Labour Party.

“I spoke in front of the delegates today because I wanted to serve as an example about how the Labour Party truly believes in the individual,” he said. “I asked the Prime Minister for forgiveness because I was the first to have disagreed with his views. Now, two years later, I truly believe in the Prime Minister’s work.”

“What I did today isn’t surprising because I’ve long showed my support for this movement. It will be business as usual from here on out, except that I’ll be open [about my support for Labour] and participate in anything the movement entrusts me with.”

When asked whether he will consider contesting the next general elections, Castaldi Paris said that “he will leave that decision in the Prime Minister’s hands”. 

Marlene Farrugia urges delegates ‘to understand her ideology’

Backbencher Marlene Farrugia called on Labour activists to understand that her ideology was not bound to leftist or rightist beliefs but that she believed  “in the good that we can do”.

“I ask you to understand that my ideology is not about left or right ideologies but of doing what is correct. I apologise and ask you to understand this because I believe in this and I will continue preaching the politics of good,” she said.

A vociferous MP who never held back from speaking out her mind and telling her government where she disagreed with it, Farrugia is so far the only MP from both sides who has declared a ‘No’ vote in the spring hunting referendum.

Addressing the Labour Party’s annual general conference, Farrugia urged the delegates to always voice their opinion, even if such opinion may not subscribe to popular positions. “It is only if you keep speaking out and sharing your ideas that we can keep this movement alive,” she said.

‘No alarm over Libya situation’

There was no need to be alarmed over the situation in Libya, Defence Minister Carmelo Abela reiterated this morning.

During his intervention, the minister said he was not “an alarmist but a realist”.

“We obviously have to pay attention to the situation in Libya due to our proximity to the country. But it is not about causing undue alarm but about taking all the necessary measures that any other EU member state would take.

“But I call on everyone not to cause alarm, especially in such a delicate sector.”