We did not cry like Edward Zammit Lewis did when Joseph Muscat quit in shame from being the Labour Party’s leader and the country’s Prime Minister.

Muscat’s belated resignation freed us of a politician who tarnished Malta’s reputation big time and allowed a culture of immunity and impunity to permeate from the top levels to the lowest sectors of society.

He failed to complete either of his two terms as the country’s head of government in spite of winning two general elections with a handsome margin. Under his leadership, a journalist was killed as the country’s institutions crumbled and were unable to provide her with the necessary protection.

One would have thought that, having earned the title of the most corrupt politician of the year by a consortium of international journalists in the same month that he resigned, Joseph Muscat would have tried to at least appear to have changed.

But, there he was, in an interview granted to an independent media last week, squirming in his seat and shifting his gaze away as he tried to pin the blame on others for his faults.

His conceit, sense of superiority and smooth talking are still there.

He tried to appear confident and assertive, but his body language gave the game away. It was clear that he was feeling uncomfortable and, if he has seen the footage of the interview he gave, it will take him many years before he sits down again in front of a camera – unless, of course, the journalist is someone from a media house that supports him.

He should admit, at least to himself, that he flunked the interview from start to finish, and in moments when he realised that it was not going his way, he tried to give some good sound bites in an attempt to deviate attention away from his inability to give a straight answer. 

Such as when he said that if “they” continue to annoy him, he will consider making a return. He was evasive as to who he meant by “they” and what position he would like to occupy, although he did rule out Castille, considering it a “closed chapter”.

“I’m giving you something for people to think about,” he mused in his arrogant way.

Well, he did give us something to think about when he said he will not ditch Keith Schembri, his former chief of staff and right hand man. What he said confirmed what we have known all the way – that the two are joined at the hip, and it’s not something that gives us peace of mind.

Muscat certainly believes that he can still be of contribution. At a time when the Labour Party is trying to distance itself from him as it attempts to lift Malta out of the predicament he put the country in, he is threatening to come back if he is “annoyed”.

But, other than those Labour diehards who believe that he did nothing wrong, nobody else wants to have Joseph Muscat back, in whatever capacity.

The harm he caused outdoes the good, by far.

No, we did not cry when he left.

We will cry if he comes back.