Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has taken onboard a suggestion made by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil of holding regular talks in a bid to defuse political tension. As a matter of fact it was decided that the respective political leaders will be meeting at least once every two months.
The announcement was made at the end of a meeting held this afternoon at the PN headquarters in Pieta between Dr Busuttil and Dr Muscat. The meeting was set to reciprocate a similar one held last week at the Labour headquarters which marked the election of Dr Busuttil as Lawrence Gonzi's successor at the helm of the PN.
Both sides also agreed to hold regular meetings on a political level, in which party officials will make an effort to tone down the political bias of the respective media.
The prime minister was accompanied by the deputy leader for party affairs Toni Abela, newly-elected PL president Daniel Micallef and Lydia Abela, secretary of the party’s national executive. On the other side of the political fence Dr Busuttil was flanked by outgoing secretary general Paul Borg Olivier, and the rest of the party administration.
In the opening exchanges of the meeting which the media was only allowed to report for the first few minutes, the prime minister welcomed Dr Busuttil's remarks saying the both parties have already agreed to work in areas of convergence while stressing on the need to have clear rules in those aspects where they have diverging views.
Dr Muscat added that the President can serve as a reference point for both sides, whilst welcoming initiatives aimed to defuse political tension. He said that people are fed up with politics and after the lengthy election campaign want to get on with their lives peacefully.
Addressing journalists in a joint news conference at the end of the meeting in the foyer of the headquarters, both leaders looked uncharacteristically relaxed and pledged to work closely together. At one point the PN leader remarked that early exchanges bode well as they seem “to have a good chemistry, at least at this early stage” with Dr Muscat jokingly replying that “this is part of the plan to persuade Dr Busuttil to vote for him”.
On a more serious note the prime minister said that meetings on party level will start once the new PN administration is installed pointing out that the close ties forged at the height of the election campaign bode well for this effort to succeed.
Asked whether government will revive the Opposition Nominees Act, the prime minister said that he is open to discussion. Regarding the controversy surrounding the ministerial code of ethics, the PN leader welcomed government’s commitment to review it even though each party has its respective red lines. He added that the PN will make its position clear once government puts forward a concrete proposal, even though it will not budge from its stance against cabinet members practising their profession.