Parliament remembers former PM Dom Mintoff

As Parliament reconvened after a 3 month recess, the House paiud tribute to the former Prime Minister and Labour leader Dom Mintoff, who passed away in August, aged 96.

Speaker Michael Frendo led the tributes, saying that the history of the Maltese Parliament and the "complex" Mintoff are inseparable. The former Prime Minister was the longest serving Parliamentarian, having served for over 50 years.

Frendo recalled a conversation about Mintoff which he once had with former British Foreign Secretary Lord Carrigton who faced Mintoff in strenuous and protracted negotiations in the early seventies which led to Malta being declared a Republic and ending the military presence of the British Empire.

Carrington had told Frendo that "in politics, one thing is unpardonable, to be boring," and the Speaker said there is no doubt that Mintoff was anything but boring.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this remembrance by the House was "an act of dignity and respect."

Noting that despite not agreeing with Mintoff's politics or style, Gonzi said his legacy had an inedible impact on Maltese society.

Although saying that it was not a time to pass a political judgement, Mintoff, "the Nationalist Party's greatest adversary," Gonzi said "there were also moments of convergence and even agreement."

Gonzi described such moments as "spectacular as the moments of divergence."The Prime Minister expressed hope that more research is carried out on such historical moments of convergence.

On his part, Labour leader Joseph Muscat  thanked the government for the dignity shown in the state funeral organised in summer.

"A lot has been said and written and more to is to be written on Mintoff," Muscat said.

He focused on Mintoff's role as a member of parliament. The PL leader said his predecessor, the longest serving parliamentarian, introduced up to 500 laws during his terms as Prime Minister.

Muscat hailed these as "progressive and liberal laws that changed the political and social landscape of the country." Mintoff served in the House between 1945 to 1998 and passed away on 20 August.

The Labour leader cited a number of controversial but courageous laws such as the decriminalisation of homosexuality and civil marriages, the right to vote to all 18 year olds, com pulsar education, maternity ;leave and children allowances, all introduced by Mintoff.

Echoing Mintoff's greatest foe, former PN leader and Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, Muscat said: "on balance, history will judge Mintoff positively."

All MPs expressed their condolences to the Mintoff family, present in the Strangers'' Gallery and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Labour Leader Joseph Muscat walked up to Mintoff's daughters Yana and Anne to pass their personal condolences. 

Parliament was adjourned to tomorrow when it is expected to discuss a number of laws including the European treaties.