DEPUTY PM VACANCY
Zammit Lewis second candidate to lay eyes on number 2 post
Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis is the second Labour Party candidate to express his interest in occupying the post of deputy prime minister – a seat set to be vacated by Louis Grech, who will not be seeking re-election.
Replying to questions by The Malta Independent during a Broadcasting Authority press conference, the minister said that the most urgent priority at the moment is for the Labour Party to win the general election. He said, however, that he would be interested in serving side by side with Joseph Muscat as deputy prime minister. “First he has to express his faith in me and take me back on as a minister. If he does, I would be interested in occupying the post.”
Joseph Muscat announced, earlier in the campaign, that Louis Grech will not be running for re-election. He is, however, making himself available to the prime minister as counsel during cabinet meetings.
The minister had to face five journalists from various news agencies on issues which were hardly related to the tourism sector. Indeed, the questions were dominated by matters of scandal, including the Panama Papers and Egrant.
The first questions were related to Air Malta and corruption allegations which are tarnishing Malta’s reputation. The minister pledged that Air Malta will always be under Maltese control. He said the media has constantly criticised any attempt by the government to find an adequate private international partner. He said that he is today shouldering the responsibility for “the PN restructuring disaster.”
When asked about corruption and transparency and how these affect the local financial services sector, Minister Zammit Lewis said that the PN had worked to build a reputable sector, but it was “also thanks to the Labour Opposition, which provided the necessary support.” He said the PL had presented a number of laws which are meant to keep corruption out of politics, such as the party financing law.
The Malta Independent news editor Rachel Attard asked about the responsibility politicians have to shoulder when their persons of trust act irresponsibly. She quoted the magisterial inquiry in the Manual Mallia and Paul Sheehan case, where it was stated that “the minister is responsible for the actions of the people chosen by him, from the driver to his chief of staff, and the minister has to resign if they fail to act correctly.”
The minister replied that she should have mentioned the inquiry on Beppe Fenech Adami, among others. He said that Konrad Mizzi had had to step down as deputy leader of the Labour Party and “had paid the price.” Zammit Lewis said that he does not expect everyone to agree with the decision.