Muscat says Joe Grima is ‘not the face of the Labour Party’

Labour leader Joseph Muscat has disassociated himself from comments posted by One TV presenter and former Labour minister Joe Grima on his Facebook profile, referring to a Dom Mintoff obituary published in The Catholic Herald and penned by Fr Lucie Smith.

During a press conference held this morning at the Labour Party Headquarters in Hamrun announcing the theme of the party's Congress, 'A future that unites us', Muscat described Grima's offensive comments as "totally unacceptable" when questioned by journalists present.

Grima - a former Labour minister and Mintoff acolyte - wrote on Facebook: "I read your article Fr Lucie-Smith and your comments about Dom Mintoff. Do you want to have mine? Certainly. Fuck you Father. If you're not already used to it there are enough paedophiles (sic) in your clan to show you the ropes."

Muscat did not say whether any action would be taken by him or the party in the light of such comments.

"I can never accept such language. Grima is absolutely not a face of the Labour Party nor a strategist. If it had been said on One TV, action could be taken by the Labour Party," Muscat said referring to the comments which were made on the internet.

Joe Grima, who presents political chat-show Inkontri on Labour television station One, made headlines last week when his expletive-laden tirade against the author of an obituary on former Prime Minister raised a few eyebrows. Since then, the Nationalist party media has sought to exploit Grima's comments, asking Labour to explain its position over Grima's comments.

But in a Facebook post, Grima has shrugged off the Labour party's and Joseph Muscat's spokesperson's comments to the PN media that the party did not approve of his commentary. "Kurt Farrugia told [Net TV] that the party does not approve this type of language. He has every right. What he forget to tell them was that I am only answerable to Joseph Muscat and certainly to no employee of the Labour Party."

Deflecting from the topic, Muscat asked journalists present why they hadn't asked him about the recently published cohabitation bill.

"It's an unacceptable declaration by Justice Minister Chris Said to say that gay couples are not families. It is a blatant case of institutional homophobia. A family should never be based on sexual orientation," the PL leader said.

Turning to Labour's upcoming national congress, the first to be organised, PL president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said the congress would give its members the opportunity to provide their input on policies and guidelines currently being compiled and to be included in the party's electoral manifesto.

"We are already receiving the suggestions and proposals from our members. A number of topics will be discussed to provide concrete guidelines of the manifesto," Zrinzo Azzopardi said.

Muscat said the theme of the Congress could not have come at a better time, particularly during the last couple of weeks. "The past could have separated the people but now they have become one nation. The PL is simply disinterested in the past, limitations or political orientation."

He added that despite the numerous challenges to be faced, these would need to be tackled as "one nation".

"We have to keep continuous sense of a unified state so as to become one of the best countries in the EU and no longer be just an average member," Muscat said.

The Opposition leader explained that this congress will be part of a new exercise for the party.

“Members will be able to discuss the measures and policies already created to help us prioritise. They will help us determine what needs to be done first. This will not affect our pledges made. Pledges are pledges but the party needs a direction which has been discussed,” Muscat said.

The PL congress will begin on 14 September and conclude on 23 September. A mass meeting to conclude the party’s congress will be addressed by the leader of the opposition the day after Independence Day on 22 September in Ta’ Qali.

Topics to be discussed throughout the congress will include business, Gozo’s central role and its future, an open government, the elderly’s quality of life, health, family, equality and civil liberties to fight social exclusion, economy, education, a just society and youths.