“All for one and one for all” is the famous motto of The Three Musketeers, a historical novel by Alexandre Dumas. The theme of friendship is a vital ingredient throughout the whole book, with friends doing everything for each other in bad times and pulling each other up when one of them is down.
And this maxim fits well with our own Three Muscat-eers, as they defend and vouch for each other in spite of the increasing pressure they have had to face since the eruption of the Panama Papers scandal.
The Three Muscat-eers, of course, are none other than Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his left and right hand men, Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri. Both were given an office at Castille as soon as Muscat came to power in March 2013, and both remain there notwithstanding the political trouble they have caused to their leader and government.
The Panama Papers is arguably the most comprehensive revelation of basic corporate information about companies, trusts and foundations set up in 21 jurisdictions. Mizzi and Schembri were named, Muscat was not, but the way he has stood by his closest allies and kept them right at his side exposes a three-way connection. If one comes down, the Three Muscat-eers will fall together.
Joseph Muscat has treated Konrad Mizzi unlike any other Cabinet members who messed up. Godfrey Farrugia, Manwel Mallia and Michael Falzon were all ousted unceremoniously for less outrageous misdemeanours, but Mizzi still holds on to his seat, as Schembri holds on to his. The PM says that he took a “tough decision”; but it is certainly not so.
Mizzi has been relieved of the energy and health portfolio, or so we were told. The PN statement saying that Mizzi introduced himself as the Energy Minister to the Montenegro Prime Minister a few days ago has not been denied. Given the way the government is always ready to answer anything the PN says but remained silent on this one, makes it amply clear that what the PN said was correct.
His being given the title of No-Portfolio Minister has been interpreted in many quarters as being effectively a promotion, since Mizzi can now be used by the PM on any project, under any ministry, that the PM seems fit.
Likewise, Keith Schembri retains the title of OPM chief of staff. Nothing has changed for him, not even the title. Schembri continues to enjoy the full trust of the Prime Minister, who has defended him and Mizzi publicly each and every time the Panama Papers come up in questions by journalists.
It is now very clear that Muscat avoids the subject. He only speaks about it – and is constrained to do so – when faced by journalists. He avoids tackling it in his Sunday sermons and in his public addresses, except for his intervention in London when – in front of a foreign audience – he admitted he “had” a minister who had been named in the Panama Papers. And he let them believe that he had taken a “tough decision” on the matter.
Of course, we know otherwise, because Konrad Mizzi is still there and Keith Schembri is still there too.
It’s all for one and one for all for our Three Muscat-eers too.