MEP’s candidature exposes rift between Cuschieri brothers

Incumbent Labour MEP Joseph Cuschieri has refused to divulge as to how Joseph Muscat managed to convince him to contest the forthcoming MEP elections, but Cuschieri’s initial decision not to submit his candidature and subsequent u-turn has exposed a break in friendly relations with his brother, Sunday newspaper Illum reveals.

On Thursday, Cuschieri, Labour’s current head of delegation at the European parliament, dramatically reversed his decision and decided to contest the MEP elections, just 72 hours after he had announced that he would not be submitting his candidature because the Labour Party “wanted him on the loser’s side” and the party had favoured certain candidates in the run-up to the elections.

The Sunday newspaper reveals that Joseph Cuschieri’s u-turn was endorsed by the prime minister to secure the votes of the  Labour faithful as a quarter of Labourites – a MaltaToday survey had revealed - are not expected to vote in the forthcoming elections.

However, judging by his Facebook post, Joseph Cuschieri’s brother, Manuel, would not be among the Labour MEP’s voters.

Instead, Illum reveals, Joseph Cuschieri’s brother would be endorsing the candidature of Alfred Sant.

Read more in today’s edition of Illum.