Adrian Vassallo: ‘I am more of an embarrassment than asset to PL’

In a terse letter addressed to the media, the family doctor from Ta' Xbiex explained that he felt out of place in Joseph Muscat's 'progressive movement', and added that his earlier communications to the Labour leader were left unanswered.

The full text of Vassallo's resignation letter reads: "Dear Sir: Just a short note to inform you that I will not be contesting the coming elections. Being rather conservative I no longer feel I have a place in the PL. I have expressed my opinion/intention to my party leader over two weeks ago and as yet have received no direct reply. I have therefore arrived at the conclusion that I am more of an embarrassment to the party than an asset. Having been elected in four consecutive elections quite comfortably, the party does not consider me to be as moderate and as progressive as the leadership wishes. I have therefore decided to retire from politics and dedicate more time to my family, hobbies and pastimes."

Also a hunting and trapping enthusiast, Vassallo's hobbies include maintaining an aviary of some 400 birds.   

Vassallo had been contemplating resignation form Labour ever since last July, when, in an interview with MaltaToday, he said there was a "99.9% chance" he would not seek re-election. "Once you start in politics, you have to know both when to enter and when to leave," he said on that occasion. "From the second election I contested onwards, I was elected every time. I don't want to contest and not get elected... like what happened to Louis Galea, Helen D'Amato and others. I will only contest if I am confident of being elected."

Announcing his retirement in the House yesterday, Vassallo received warm praise from parliamentary colleagues - including some who represented very different and at times contrasting platforms.

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who piloted last year's divorce bill (which Vassallo opposed) gave his former antagonist a resounding send-off: "Dr Vassallo has been in Parliament for as long as I have, we were both first elected in 1996," Pullicino Orlando said. "Though we have diametrically opposed views on a number of issues I respect him for his sincerity."

And in a throwaway barb that is likely to have been directed at persons other than Vassallo, Pullicino Orlando significantly added: "It is always wise to exit gracefully at the appropriate moment with your head held high rather than to cling on to power, come what may."