Meeting turns sour as PN executive demands Pullicino Orlando witnesses testify viva voce
Internal memo lays down rules of engagement for party showdown where, contrary to expectation, the PN has asked for the witnesses to testify in person before the executive committee.
MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando has insisted his witnesses give their testimony by affidavit.
Tensions flared in a meeting held by the Nationalist Party's executive committee on Tuesday night, as Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando refused to have Labour MPs testify in person before the PN's executive and parliamentary group, on accusations he has levelled against Richard Cachia Caruana.
In an aide memoire drafted by the PN's executive, headed by Marthese Portelli, the party called Pullicino Orlando's bluff by challenging the backbencher to present his witnesses - amongst them Labour MPs - against Richard Cachia Caruana so that they can testify 'viva voce' and not by affidavit, as the MP himself had originally suggested.
This request was the focus of a tense meeting yesterday evening, after the executive informed Pullicino Orlando that Cachia Caruana had asked that the date for the internal hearing be postponed. On the other hand, Pullicino Orlando stood his ground in demanding that his witnesses should not be paraded before the government MPs to testify physically on his accusation of collusion.
In a meeting that PN sources said soon turned into a slanging match, deputy prime minister Tonio Borg was later seen exiting the meeting room in protest.
The PN's request to have Pullicino Orlando's witnesses physically present at the PN headquarters to testify before government MPs on the accusations against Cachia Caruana is understood to present a potential setback for Pullicino Orlando, as the witnesses are believed to include high-ranking Labour officials who may reconsider testifying in person before the rival party's executive council.
Richard Cachia Caruana | Opposition motion that made him resign
Either way it will be a bizarre episode in the history of the PN executive, with senior Labour personalities being asked to give evidence to a PN executive that will be acting as judge and jury over one of its own.
It appears that Pullicino Orlando has now accepted to entrust the fate of his allegations against Cachia Caruana to the hands of the same executive that only two weeks ago condemned him for his actions in the House - namely, voting with the Opposition in the motion that forced the resignation of Cachia Caruana from ambassador to the EU over accusations that he bypassed the House of Representatives in seeking a way to reactivate Malta's participation in Natio's Partnership for Peace.
Pullicino Orlando has asked for Cachia Caruana to be expelled from the PN on the grounds that he had 'colluded' with the Labour party during the Sant administration between 1996 and 1998. He has been reported as having five witnesses willing to substantiate his claims.
Pullicino Orlando has been asked by the PN executive to pass on his list of witnesses by this morning. In an aide memoire agreed to by Tonio Borg, Paul Borg Olivier, Marthese Portelli and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando - and seen by MaltaToday - it was agreed that Pullicino Orlando's list of witnesses will be passed on to Richard Cachia Caruana, who will be given the opportunity to cross-examine them.
On his part the former permanent representative to Brussels will be asked to provide his own list of witnesses, also by tomorrow (Thursday 12 July), and this list would also be communicated to Pullicino Orlando.
The aide memoire goes on to describe how the executive committee will decide on Thursday the procedure that will be used to judge this case. A special extraordinary session of the executive was originally expected to be held on 19 July, commencing at 5pm, and going on until a decision is taken regarding the request by Pullicino Orlando.
But MaltaToday is now informed that the date could be brought forward.
According to the notes seen by MaltaToday, the procedure that is being proposed is that Pullicino Orlando presents his case and produces his witnesses, with the possibility of the witnesses being quizzed by the executive and by Richard Cachia Caruana.
The time allocated for this session is 90 minutes.
This will then be followed by Cachia Caruana explaining his case and presenting his list of witnesses in his defence. Again there is the possibility of these witnesses being questioned by the executive and Pullicino Orlando himself.
Finally the executive will discuss the claims, though it is not clear when the final decision will be taken. It was also decided that the hearing would be chaired by the President of the executive and that the witnesses would testify under oath.
The decision by the executive would be final, according to the aide memoire agreed to by the three members of the executive - although not yet carrying the approval of Pullicino Orlando, this newspaper is informed.
MaltaToday is also informed that Cachia Caruana had requested that Pullicino Orlando specify his accusation more clearly, and that he would be given the opportunity to be assisted by a lawyer.
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Ghallinqas ghandu jkollkom decenza bizzejjed biex tinfurmaw lill-qarrejja li l-kummenti tieghi mhumiex jidhru ghas-semplici raguni li l-fatti konkreti li nsemmi jien ihallu lil-laburisti bla nifs u dan intom, ta' indipendenti li intom, ma tittollerawhx.
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Ex Ministru Socjalista Vella..... ftit gimghat ilu tkellem ma JPO xkien qallu RCC xi hmistax il sena ilu. Illum sirna nafu li il prim ministru ta dak iz zmien Dr A Sant ma kien jaf b'xejn u sema kollox din il gimgha. Allura nistaqsi jiena u nghid stramba naqa li il GUY mar jitkellem ma JPO hmistax il sena wara l-kaz u dan ex ministru socjalista ma kien qal xejn lil prim ministru tieghu Sant. Karmenu Vella ahna nistaw nemnuk u nafdawk? kif ma kontx tkellmit xejn ma AS dak iz zmien? u mort tkellmt issa ma JPO. Nistaw nemmnuk lilek li meta kont ministru bqajt diehel bil yacht ma sihbek fil bajja ta l-ghadira meta suppost bqajt sejjer il port u tiddikjara mad dwana xkont dahalt minn sqallija. Jekk int insejt Perit ahna ma nsejnix.
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Il-kummenti tieghi qed jergghu jehlu! Imma nipprova: Gianni, jiddispjacini li kif jghidu l-Inglizi You're barking up at the wrong tree! Il-PN qatt ma kien inkarigat la biex jidfen u anqas biex jamministra s-sagramenti, u allura l-kumment tieghek ma tantx jaghmel sens. Anzi biex inserrahlek rasek tajjeb tkun taf li G. Borg Olivier KIEN kontra l-interdett.
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sur demartino, allura min kien spalla ma spalla ma min difen in-nies fil-mizbla ma ghandux passat moqziez u jinten habib?
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@ Progress nerga nghidlek jekk int qied tghid il PN kien jew adu faxxist nikkonferma li dawk is sinjuri li semmejt jiena huma faxxist ghax kien jaghmlu partit mill PN. Li nista nghid huwa zgur li dawn is sinjuri mhumiex socjalisti. Il Partit tieghek ghadu socjalist jew le ? JPO irid jixli lil hadd iehor li ghamel hsara lil PN , mela hu stess x'ghamel dawn l-ahhar 5 snin jiccacra ma kull esponent tal lejber fosthom JM u il mara tieghu. Halliena SUR JPO... tnejjeikt bin nazzjoanlisti 4 snin ilu pero din id darba zgur li le
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@ Progress. Kien il-partit laburista ta' MINTOFF li ried jintegra lil Malta ma' l-Italja wara li falliet l-integration ma' l-Ingilterra. Min imerini, bhal dejjem, nikkwotalu d-dokumenti.
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L-iblah anki jekk taqlaghlu ghajnu jifrah ras. Ma nistghagibx li tidhaq int ukoll. Il-qarrejja argumenti jridu jaqraw, imma, biex timpressjonhom. Ma tindunax x'kumment stupidu ghamilt?
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ARA KIF JISTGHU DEPUTATI TA' GONZIPN, LI KIENU B'MOD VILI STQARREW LI JUSTYNE CARUANA VVOTAT MAN-NAHA TAL-GVERN, U BAQGHU QATT MA GHAMLU APOLOGIJA, TISTA TAFDAHOM LI X-XHIEDA TA' UFFICJALI TAL-PL SE JAGHTU KASHA !!!
JPO MISSU JIPPUBLIKA LI STQARRIJIET JEW AFFIDAVITS F'KONFERENZA STAMPA, JEKK L-EZEKUTTIV JIBQA MA JRIDX JACCETTA L-AFFIDAVITS !
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@Giovanni De Martino meta naqra l-kummenti tieghek ma nieqafx nidhaq, emminni ma nistax nieqaf nidhaq, tohrog b'kull wahda li tant taqa fin nixef u hmerijiet li nahseb ahjar tirranga s-sitwazzjoni ta kif tikteb ghax jien ghadni kif smajt nazzjonalist prim din n-naha fejn noqghod li meta jaqra xi tghid int f'kummenti fil gazzetti li ma tistax tlahhaq naghhom ghax ilhom jaqlawlek min kull naha, li dan l-ahhar qata qalbu mil PN. Skuzi ta ahfirli ma nistax nieqaf nidhaq LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL
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Kemm saru jhobbuh lil Jeffrey! Tghid il-PL jaghtihulu l-permess tal-Mistra? Mur ara Alfred Sant kif inhu mahruq. Issa jien fuq x'hemm u x'm'hemmx f'dil-kustjoni ma nafx u allura ma nikkommentax. Imma GUIDO L-VAVU, li veru ma jafx jikteb u veru huwa VAVU ghax kiteb meta ma kienx jaf fuq min qed jikteb u ghadu ma ammettiex li waqa' wahda ghal ghajnu....Int waqajt fil-muta Guido l-vavu. Int u shabek kollha. Dur il-comment boards kollha u tinduna li jien, dejjem jien naghti l-ahhar KO. Ghandkom passat moqziez wisq, intom.
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@rajah Bl-argument tieghek qieghed tinsinwa li dawn is-sinjuri li int semmejt b'isimom huma faxxisti, li jiena qatt ma semmejt xi proxmu b'ismu. Partit li kien alllejat ma Mussolini, dan ma tistax tichdu. Meta tfacca Dr. Edward Fenech Adami kien qal li dan sejjer ikun partit ta xoghol , gustizzja u liberta. Spjegalna xi tfisser gustizzja fil partit tal PN? Jekk il-partit tal PN ma biddielx il maduma qatt, dan ghad ghandu rabta ma l-iswed, li meta tiftakar u taqra l-istorja, PN allura ma jridx jimxi skont kif jghagixxi z-zmien, mentalita antika, li anki hawn turi thassib serju, veru?
Time limit biex tiggustifika kaz fl-esekuttiv. L-anqas biss ma kont inqisa ahseb u ara tiddikjara, mela jew hemm il-faham miblul jew ma jridux jisimaw il-verita kolla. x'tahseb,jew x'tahsbu poplu?
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No Betting Agency is accepting bets on what the outcome will be because of fears that it will be bankrupt .
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Xi hadd jahseb li xi ufficjal tal PL se jmur jixhed quddiem GONZIPN. RCC ghalhekk talab ghax xhieda a voce u mhux affidavit ghax jaf li hadd mhu se jmur. Se nibqu mexxu hekk Sur Kap ta GONZIPN? qed nisthajjilni nara Inkwizitur bil frost jgelek tixhed bil fors. GONZIPN se johrog imcappas bil hama min din l-affari. Immishom l-affarijiet investigawhom bejnithom. Qed jaraw biss sa l-ponta ta l-imnieher.
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@Bonzi...Ezatt l-ahhar bicca ilqatt il-musmar fuq rasu. Joe Saliba stess qal li laghbu karta u irnexxitilhom. PROSIT.
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If PN wants NET television to be the most popular tv station in Malta, with thousands of audiences (more than Xarabank, Bondi+ and Affari Taghna together) for the next survey, just broadcast live this event. Don't forget an attractive name for this Comedy, such as, "Gonzipn in the middle of no where". Another alternative is to use Floriana graneries instead of PN head quarters, and for sure it will attract the biggest crowed ever, more than MTV. The list of famous actors taking part in this comedy is long but we mention the most important.....Richard, Lawrence, Paul, Tonio, Jeffrey and Marthese.
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@rajah...Qeghed niskanta kif ghad fadal xi kavallier nazzjonalista li ghandu il wicc jiddefendi partit li hlief teatrini mhux jaghmel...ghal li jista ikun ma tafx jekk shabek li is soltu jippupaw sidirhom ghal patria fejn telqu hux.Ili hafna ma nisma min ghandhom.Mela immutaw jew. Issa il partit tal P.L. qeghed jimxi skond il progress, ghax forsi ghadek ma tafx li wasalna fit 2012. Ara il P.N. ghadu bl`istess FALDRAPPA SEWDA li tirraprezenta il FAXXIZMU TA BENITO MUSSULINI. Dawk li qeghedin jidhlu mal Lejber ghax il partit sar progressiv u ma ghadux b`ghanqbud tal passat bhal tal P.N.
@ Petruccio...X`tara fuq in NET ..? dan il hmieg kollu...dawk qeghedin izommu in nies taghhom rashom fir ramel.Kull nazzjonalist li qeghed johrog rasu mir ramel qeghed idur mal P.L..
@ xprun..Hemm il possibbilta li ser johrog rumanz, bhal ta dari ,nixtruh faxxiklu kull gimgha..tiftakar jew.
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@'rajah.' Kelma wahda habib, daqqa tghidu li l-Laburisti ma jinbidlu qatt, imbghad tigi int u tghid li tal-Labour bidlu l-arma,u issa anke l-politika minn wahda Socjalista ghal ma nafx xiex.
Ara l-PN qatt ma bidel l-arma u l-innu ghax isibhom komdi stil Faxxista. Dwar l-isem talPN. 1 Partito Nazzionalist 2 Partit Mizzjan, 3 Partit Nazzjonalista 4 Partit Demokristjan 5 Gonzipn u issa xi jmiss?
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@rajah...Min jinbidel ghal ahjar u min jinbidel ghal aghar (bhal PN) siehbi! Let the CHANGE be if its for a Better Malta! ;)
Zack Depasquale •
Din problema malajr tista tisolva min-naha tal-esponenti Laburisti li m'ghandhom l-ebda obbligu li jidhru quddiem l-ezekkutiv ta'GonziPN u m'ghandhomx jidhru ghaliex hawn mhux suppost qieghdin nghixu stat Nazist. Is-soluzzjoni Dikjarazjoni, guramentata u PUBBLIKA umbghad nhallu it-tijatrin li gie GonziPN ikompli, u l-poplu jiggudika.
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Does any one rmember that politition with a round white collar compared malta with montserrat? Well if anyone wants to experiance what it looks like, all he has to do is to go to Tal Pieta!
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Pulcinellata ohra ta GONZIPN.
dik gustizzja, jilliberaw u jghatu sentenza (mhux hati anzi eroj) Illum il qorti titlob affidavit allura ghaliex il PN ma jridtx. Nahseb ahjar affidavit u jzommuh sigriet . Ghandhom wisq x'jitilfu. JPOS issa m'ghandux x'jitlef, ilu aktar min sena jghid li mhux hiereg ghal elezzjoni.Pero se johrog il qrusa kollha ta kemm avvelewh ma Malta kollha qabel l-ahhar elezzjoni. Wara kollox jghidu x'jghidu ir rebha hija dovuta lejn il bikja li beka.
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IL-MOSSA TAL-EZEKUTTIV TA' GONZIPN HIJA MAGHMULA BIL-HSIEB LI L-UFFICJALI TAL- PL JIRRIFJUTAW LI JIDHRU QUDDIEM L-EZEKUTTIV TA' GONZIPN, U B'HEKK JPO MA JKUNX JISTA JIPPROVA L-AKKUZA TIEGHU KONTRA RCC !
KIEKU KONT JIEN FLOK JPO, NGHID LIL-EZEKUTTIV, ILLI JEKK M'HUMIEX LESTI JACCETTAW AFFIDAVITS, ALLURA GONZI JISTA JSEJJAH ELEZZJONI MINN ISSA GHAX MHU SE NAPPOGGJA LIL-GVERN F'EBDA VOT IEHOR INKLUZ IL-BUDGET . ANZI NIVVOTA KONTRA !
U TARA KEMM JACCETTAW L-AFFIDAVITS MALAJR !
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Is there is any chance that Net TV gives an axclusive broadcast of this charade ? I think that Giovanni will have a lot of comments to post afterwards .
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Want the sky rocket the viewership of NET tv, broadcast this comedy live!
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@ progress........ bl-argument tieghek il lejber se jispicca bil faxxisti mela lol ghax zgur nies bhal MAnuel Mallia , Marisa Micallef , Deborah Schembri , CYrus zgur mhumiex socjalisti. Bil haqq il partit taghkom ghadu socjalista? U ta l-ahhar - mela il PN hsibtu MLP biddel l-arma ghal ma nafx il kemm il darba ( 5 darbiet nahseb). Intom anki lisem tal partit biddiltu u ta listazzjonijiet ahseb u ara il principji taghkom fix waslu !!!
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What a hideous farce! "The decision by the executive would be final" WOW! What! No appeal! And then (to gain more time before the elections) up to the constitutional court and further on to the EU?? Iss'hejj, what kind of democracy is this? Let me save the PN's Executive (and Maltese telenovelas' viewers) some time by anticipating and declaring the decision here and now. "RCC is (definitely) not guilty as charged" BUT it goes on "We find instead JPO guilty by association". What a charade. Anyway, it seems the position is crystallised in the Maltese voters' minds after Muscat's "Dissett". RCC definitively got the raw end when he tried what he did unsuccessfully??!!
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A certain Chuck Colson was also forced to resign from politics during Nixon's time. This political operative was in charge of the dirty tricks brigades which the disgraced US President used against his political opponents.
Colson 'planted misleading stories in the newspapers....voting tombstones and spying out the opposition in every possible way by using mercenaries to harass political opponents'.
He spread false rumors and planed to enrich himself at taxpayers expense...he listed Nixon's enemies to trap them later; he used the illegal means and the government's infrastructure to capture private data, which he later used against his party's opponents. This unstoppable political operative eventually was caught with his pants down; he and his 'plumbers'as his centurions, were called, spent a long time in prison chilling out; its what he and his mates deserved because at the end, as the Maltese say' il-garra gejja u sejra fl-ahhar tinfaqa'!
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In-nuqqas ta' kapacita ta tmexxija li ghandu Dr Gonzi qed tidher dejjem aktar cara. Huwa qabbad ix-xema miz-zewg nahhat. Issa kullhadd jaf x'se jigrilu....kull kif se jinharaq.
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PARTIT LI QIAD JADINA BIEX NAFDAWH HALLI IKOMPLI IMMEXI LIL MALTA.PARTIT LI LANQAS JAF XLAQTU. PARTIT LI MIMLI KORRUZJONI U TAHWIED. NAWGURALKOM LI TAL PN BIEX TIPQAW FIL GVERN SA LAGHHAR GURNATA HALLI IZJED JINQALA HAMA U HMIEG. FEJN HUMA IL PAMPALUNI LI JIKTBU IS SOLTU FUQ DAN IL BLOG
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The time allocated for this session is 90 minutes LOL
What a charade by PN Administration. Extremism is on their agenda, time limit. People, can't you see for yourself what is happening. PN was never a democratic party from day one. Still carry the black colour on their flag, a sign of the days of their former Allie Benito Mussolini
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M'hemmx xi cans li din il-kummiedja narawha diretta fuq it-television?
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Soap opera.
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U l-istorja tkompli....kif ser tispicca ghadu hadd ma jaf.Li qeghed jiskantani u jinkwetani huwa il fatt li certi bloggers nazzjonalisti waqaw fil muta. Forsi jien nigi mghajjar li ma nafx nikteb, pero tajjeb jew hazin dejjem ingerfex xi haga. Hadd iehor kif nghejd jien ...meta jaqbillu /hom jitkellmu. Partit tan nej u il misjur sar il P.N. ta qalbhom, partit pur aktar min pur.Qatt fl`istorja politika ma kien hawn partit politiku b`daqstant inkwiet internali.Ghal li jista ikun Sur Editur, ma tafx jekk dawk li issoltu ihamgulek il gazzetta marrux `holidau hux `? Jekk fil kas ghejdli ta, halli nibatilhom Chrismas Card.
Igor P. Shuvalov •
....... and the verdict is NOT GUILTY.
