Party leaders promise not to concede each other any ‘political discounts’

Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil today met Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at the Labour Party headquarters, in a courtesy visit he paid just days since his election.

The two leaders were formerly MEPs elected in the 2004 elections, before giving up their careers to pursue leadership positions in their parties.

Busuttil will be sworn in as Opposition leader on Monday. "We will be a strong and constructive Opposition, loyal to our citizens, and working in the spirit of the Constitution to scrutinise the work of the government," Busuttil said.

Busuttil joked that lasting friendship also came with clear terms of engagement between the two sides, as Muscat replied that he was sure not to expect any "political discount" from his new adversary.

While Busuttil congratulated Muscat on having become Prime Minister, Muscat welcomed the fact that the courtesy visit had taken place quickly since Busuttil's election. "I know there will be issues upon which we don't agree, but we will work together, much as we did within the European Parliament."

Busuttil told MaltaToday that his decision to have a new deputy leader for party affairs was inspired by the need to have an MP who can liaise with the party, and to share the burden of the party's operations with the secretary-general. "In Opposition we have a lot of work to rebuild the party, so we are widening the leadership. The post will be open to both MPs and non-MPs," Busuttil said.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat would not disclose anything from discussions he held with Busuttil on any executive government appointments for Opposition MPs, which Muscat had initally floated upon his election.

Muscat made sure to deliver home the message that he believed in a government and opposition that worked together despite conflicting views that may arise.

He also refrained from expressing his views on previous comments made by Busuttil that many of the Labour government appointments had been given to persons who had publicly endorsed the PL during the general election campaign.

Just a few minutes after Busuttil was confirmed leader of the Nationalist Party, the PL issued a statement expressing its wish to see the PN doing away with the politics of "them and us".

Asked to comment, Busuttil had accused the Labour government of being the one who had embarked on such a road with the appointments given to the PL affiliates.

Refusing to comment when asked by MaltaToday, the Prime Minister said journalists should give Busuttil and himself their "honeymoon period" - given that this had been their first formal meeting.

"I am sure that we can work together and I look forward to see both sides working in the national interest," Muscat said.