One TV will be commemorating 100 days of Joseph Muscat’s leadership in a television special today where the Labour leader takes questions from journalists and audience members in an informal, American-style encounter.
In the programme, recorded yesterday, Muscat revealed that former Labour leader Alfred Sant had asked for a political sabbatical from his duties in the parliamentary group.
Sant was diagnosed with cancer late last year in December, and went on to face a tiresome electoral campaign in March 2008. He is now expected to take a considerable period of rest.
Muscat yesterday said his predecessor had asked to be relieved from his political duties, although there was no talk of Sant’s definite retirement from the political scene.
Muscat said he would be taking up his seat in the House of Representatives on the 25 September when he is co-opted as the Leader of the Opposition, after a Labour MP – so far unnamed – cedes his seat.
Muscat also confirmed speculation on the appointment of the relatively unknown James Piscopo to head his party’s day-to-day affairs as chief executive.
The Labour leader was adamant that the name had not been leaked to the Nationalist press by Labour insiders, but instead said the leak took place only after the party “sent a letter of procedure to an entity outside the party” – reportedly Piscopo’s place of employment from where he has been seconded to the MLP.
Muscat also came in for some criticism by a former dockyard worker, who expressed puzzlement at the stand by Labour on the privatisation of the shipyards, which was bereft of the militancy of the past.
Muscat answered saying that the party’s stand was based on finding a solution that was in the best interest of the dockyard workers. “It would have been easy for us to be populists and score political points,” Muscat said, reminding that the party did not shy away from standing side by side by the dockyard workers.
But he also emphasised his disassociation from statements made during the General Workers Union rally, who warned government it would find the union and all the workers behind the doors of Castille.
“Certain words might have done more harm to the dockyard workers,” Muscat said.
Muscat was also asked about the clear message sent to politicians by Archbishop Cremona in his Victory Day homily, earlier last week, in which both him and the Bishop of Gozo Mario Grech warned of the dangers of “secularism”.
Muscat, who has promised to put divorce on the agenda and even push for a private member’s Bill, said the values of both secularists and Catholics could live side by side.
Muscat also spoke about young Labour MP Karl Chircop, currently in England for advanced medical care after suffering a stroke.
Dubbing it his saddest day since taking up the leadership of the party, Muscat said Chircop was no longer bedridden but is now able to be seated, although his condition remains critical.
The programme is broadcast today at 8:30pm on One TV.