Karmenu Vella ‘happy’ to become European Commissioner

Dismissing reports of discontent in the fifth electoral district, which has elected former tourism minister Karmenu Vella, known as ‘il-Guy,’ to Parliament for almost four decades, the former minister thanked Prime Minister Joseph Muscat for his trust.

Addressing Labour supporters on his home turf in Zurrieq, Vella thanked Muscat, who last week surprisingly nominated him as Malta’s next European Commissioner.

Sunday newspaper Illum, today reported that Labour voters in the fifth electoral district had voiced their anger and dissapointment with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat over his decision to remove Vella as tourism minister. The loss of the party stalwart from the Cabinet and in the next few months from parliament, could lead to a large number of abstentions in the European elections which will take place in May.

“People are asking me whether I’m happy with the decision. Of course I am happy, we are in government, we have the biggest majority, we have Joseph Muscat as prime minister, I am happy to become commissioner and I am sure that this district will show that it is behind the party in the forthcoming European elections,” he emphatically said.

In an animated address, Vella attacked the opposition for failing to gain credibility following last year’s electoral debacle and for attempting to give an impression that it cared for the people of the southern part of the island.

Warning the PN not to treat the people of the south “as though they are imbeciles” Vella dismissed claims that his costituents were disappointed at Muscat’s decision to nominate him as Malta’s next European Commissioner.

“The fifth district did not lose a minister but it gained a commissioner,” he said to great applause.

Thanking Muscat for the trust shown in him, Vella promised that he would remain loyal to the prime minister and “work even harder.”

He also said that fifth district constituents should put their minds at rest and promised to remain close to the people, adding “you will not get rid of me.”

The four-time minister reminded the Labour faithful that he had never distanced himself from the people throughout the 38 years he has served as an MP, insisting that he would only abandon the fifth electoral district “when the people decide so.”

“I will remain the Karmenu Vella you have always known. Whether I am in Zurrieq, in Valletta or in Brussels, I remain the same Karmenu Vella, your Guy.”

Later, Joseph Muscat confirmed his trust in Vella and told the Labour supporters that following the decision to nominate Vella as European Commissioner, he faced the same reaction following Marie Louis Coleiro Preca’s nomination to become President.

Muscat said that Vella was picked because he was capable of dealing with ordinary people, politicians and multinational corporations and was well placed to do a good job in Brussels.