Adrian Vassallo changes tack, pledges ‘party loyalty’

In an 11-minute interview aired on One TV, Labour MP Adrian Vassallo denied rumours that he will be voting with government in the motion tabled by the Opposition calling for the resignation of minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici.

The rumours were sparked by comments Vassallo made while being interviewed on Bondi after publishing his letter of resignation from the Labour Party.

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.

But today, Vassallo is insisting that there exists no "animosity" between the two.

"There exists no animosity between us. Muscat always respected my opinion and always gave me the opportunity to voice my opinion," Vassallo said, pointing out that he considered himself as a "conservative".

"Muscat always respected my opinion, but my opinion is what it is," he reiterated. Vassallo also confirmed that he had met Muscat at his [Vassallo's] house upon the leader's request.

Interviewed by head of One News Mark Farrugia, Vassallo also pledged complete loyalty to the Labour Party, and insisted that if it were not so, he would have "already resigned".

 "I have said this a million times: I will always remain loyal to the electoral manifesto I was elected with and will always remain loyal to the party ... after all I took an oath," he insisted.

Asked why he chose not to contest the coming general elections, Vassallo said it depended on a number of personal reasons.

"I am not ending my political career because of any internal disputes. Everything has a beginning and an end and I believe my time has come to make way for others," Vassallo said, adding that he would still work in support of the PL, even after his retirement.

Vassallo remained speechless - "aħjar inrodd is-salib milli nikkumenta" - when asked to comment on rumours that he would be siding with the government in the justice and home affairs motion.

"I have already stated I will remain loyal to the Opposition. I don't know from where certain comments are invented," he said.

Vassallo added that if any media would report that he will be voting against the PL he would "seek legal advice" to see whether such reports would be libellous.

"This Wednesday everyone will see that I will be voting with the Opposition," Vassallo said.

On Bondi Vassallo had said he no longer attended meetings of the parliamentary group because the group is simply a "rubberstamp" of what Muscat wanted.

But this evening, he clarified that his words might have been "misinterpreted" or that he might have "used the wrong words".

"Unfortunately, at times misinterpretations are used to gain political mileage. It could have been my fault as well for using the wrong words. I can assure everyone that our parliamentary group is in no way a rubberstamp," he said.

The MP has also been absent from Labour parliamentary group meetings since before the election of Joseph Muscat in 2008, and has since been absent from most parliamentary sittings.

During the interview, Vassallo goes on to explain that due to his work, he is rarely in a position to attend the parliamentary group meetings, held on Monday afternoons.

He however insisted PL whip Joe Mizzi always kept him informed on the party's agenda, at times even requesting his opinion which would be relayed back to the PL parliamentary group.

"I can assure everyone that our group is not a rubberstamp, and if this is the message which I sent out during Bondi , I am sorry and it wasn't what I meant," he said.