Abela plays down suggestion of parliamentary co-option

The former Labour Party deputy leader for party affairs Toni Abela has refused to confirm whether he intends running for the position he stood down from to pursue a nomination for the European Court of Auditors.

Abela also refused to react on reports in MaltaToday in which Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was said to be considering Abela for co-option in the parliament once Leo Brincat vacates his seat to take up his place in the Court of Auditors.

Abela had withdrawn his nomination to the ECA when the European Parliament’s budgetary control committee turned down his candidature.

“The newspapers report many things. One might well consider that a bye election when Leo Brincat is appointed to European Court of Auditors [could lead to a co-option]... I have discussed various possibilities with the Prime Minister… I cannot confirm this. I cannot answer on speculation like this.”

Abela has formerly acted as a legal advisor for MaltaToday.

He claimed that he had been encouraged to run for deputy party leader again now that former energy minister Konrad Mizzi had resigned the post following the Panama Papers revelations. “Various people, delegates and committees have approached me to throw in my hat for deputy leader for party affairs,” Abela said.

Economy minister Chris Cardona and former PL president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, are expected to run for the post of deputy leader.

Abela also confirmed that he is still attending Cabinet meetings as an advisor to the prime minister, but turned down suggestions from Dissett presenter and PBS head of news Reno Bugeja that this role was superfluous given that he is no longer PL deputy leader.

“I was nominated an advisor independently of my role as deputy leader for party affairs. My role as advisor was not down to the fact that I was party deputy leader. Indeed I insisted on a clear distinction [between both roles],” Abela claimed, also making reference to Richard Cachia Caruana, the permanent representative to the EU whose job description also entailed that he participate regularly in Cabinet meetings in order to update Cabinet on all EU-related developments on a weekly basis.

He refused to go into the question of how he would have voted in a confidence motion against Konrad Mizzi filed by independent MP Marlene Farrugia. “In the general conference I was clear. I said that tough decisions had to be taken even for close friends… I made reference to radical decisions I took even with regards to close friends of mine,” Abela said, suggesting that Muscat had to take a decision that would ultimately cost Mizzi, now ‘demoted’ to a minister without portfolio.

“Labour is passing through a difficult period, but fortunately for this country the economy is performing well… I am convinced the PL will overcome this moment, and that it has endured worse times.”