Anglu Farrugia’s mum posts Facebook rant against Labour leader

Is everyone and his mother on Facebook? Apparently, yes.

Labour's former deputy leader Anglu Farrugia's mother has taken to the world's number one social network to publicly complain about Joseph Muscat's 'hypocrisy' after the Labour leader demanded Farrugia's resignation.

Farrugia's resignation just weeks before the start of the election campaign came just days after a disastrous performance on Xarabank against his PN counterpart Simon Busuttil, and a speech the day after in Rabat in which he alleged political bias against a magistrate.

One of the vocal critics of the forced resignation happened to be Anglu Farrugia's mother Catherine, who in a 300-word Facebook post punctuated by just one single comma, delivers a typical rant against the Labour leadership for having asked her son to step down.

"I hope this letter is broadcast," Farrugia - who is 92 years old according to her Facebook profile - said in her salvo which she addressed to the Labour media but which was picked up by the Nationalist party organs.

"You should be ashamed of having asked him for his resignation instead of toasting the fact that he does not stand for any injustice towards Labour workers," Farrugia said referring to her son's comments on the magistrate's decision to acquit a man accused of corrupt practices during the 2008 election, which was later reversed on appeal.

"You used the excuse that you were forced to do it when Anglu did not even mention the magistrate's name," Farrugia said, referring to Magistrate Audrey Demicoli whom the former deputy leader hinted that her acquittal of Pierre Bartolo could be related to the fact that her father Saviour was a sometime Nationalist Party activist.

"You wanted to be liked, but you threw him under... and you will suffer the consequences because instead of winning over a man like Anglu who is honest and experienced, you ended up doing what others wanted. I wish your actions be visited upon your children - Happy Christmas."

It is not yet clear whether Farrugia will be contesting the 11th electoral district - yesterday his vacant position was filled by Labour MEP Louis Grech, with 96% of the Labour general conference vote.

Farrugia's resignation to Joseph Muscat clearly shows that he was unhappy with Muscat's decision to ask him to resign, over the comments he made referring to Magistrate Audrey Demicoli.

Farrugia himself had kick-started the case when he reported Pierre Bartolo to the police, alleging that he had threatened to sack those of his employees who voted Labour in the 2008 elections; Bartolo was acquitted by Demicoli but then convicted on appeal by Judge Michael Mallia.

The same case featured in the debate against Simon Busuttil on Xarabank, two weeks ago, but Farrugia appeared unable to drive his point through. The day after at a political rally Rabat, Farrugia mentioned the case again.