Marlene Farrugia admits mistake in serving as personal aide to Health Minister

Her first instinct was to refuse the offer but wanted to help her partner in his early days as Minister.

28 July 2013, 12:00am
by James J. Piscopo

1 min read

Speaking in an interview with newspaper 'Illum', Labour MP Marlene Farrugia admitted it was a mistake to accept the role of personal aide to her partner Godfrey Farrugia, soon after he was appointed Health Minister.

"Both Godfrey and the Prime Minister expressed their wish to accept such appointment, but there was nothing on paper. Since there was no formal job description and what were exactly my duties, the media had every right to ask and criticise," she says.

She also said her first instinct was to refuse the offer, but she felt this would be a betrayal to her partner's needs in his early days at the post.

The interview also includes her opinion on how the Government tackled the issue of ex-PBS presenter Norman Vella; which deputies she preferred to see as Ministers and why she was not interested in contesting the EP elections next May.

Read more in today's issue of 'Illum'.

Joseph MELI •

So would it be correct to state that the country was betrayed when she knowingly and willingly accepted an apparently undefined role and function as a" personal aide((as who could possible know what this job involved?) which also betrayed her "original instincts ?What did her husband and the PM call her job and was she paid for her services-subsequently determined and established by her as a "mistake" and when did she finally acknowledge her "mistake" -when found out perhaps?

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Marlene,it was never a mistake to help,it was your instinct to help your country.Remember that weak people revenge.Strong people forgive.Intelligent people like you IGNORE.

Lino Camilleri •

Marlene mhux ahjar tirtira mill politika u tintefa ghal professjoni tieghek biss li tant taghmel gid biha iktar mill politika. Maghrufa bizzejjed int.

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It is quite obvious that, among those contesting the MEP elections in May, the front runners will be the ones who defend and promote the national interest. The present situation in Malta leads the voter that way - even if a thousand journalists living in the clouds disagree. The vast majority of the Maltese population is earnest to vote in favour of a solution for national problems. No doubt Malta Today will soon be carrying out serious surveys - as it did prior to the last election - indicating how the Maltese voters will vote in May 2014 as per national desires and anxieties.

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Admittedly I do not have any sympathy for the party she is a member of, but I have to admit that this woman has what all of the other PL Ministers do not have..B...S!!! She knows when to call a spade a spade and does not find it an issue to admit she made a mistake. Very unlike her colleague who is running the Home Affairs Ministry!!! I also admire her for her call for all Ministers to truthfully declare their Assets. I felt sorry for Chris Cardona, Ian Borg, Dr Mercieca and the Hon Dr Mallia himself. No wonder there is poverty in Malta with such poor income!