I’m no opportunist – Vince Farrugia

Vince Farrugia has defended his controversial decision to contest the upcoming European Parliament elections on behalf of the Nationalist Party.

Courtesy of his staunch opposition to VAT, the GRTU’s director general is widely criticised for having contributed to Eddie Fenech Adami’s electoral defeat in 1996, temporarily halting Malta’s EU membership bid.

But in an interview with Herman Grech, Mr Farrugia says he was merely abiding by the requests of the vast majority of retailers, who were dead set against the introduction of VAT. He lists a number of reasons as to why he now feels at home in the Nationalist Party, despite his Labour background.

Mr Farrugia also maintains that Joseph Muscat had approached him to contest the elections on behalf of his party, a claim disputed by the Labour leader.

“I don’t lie and people know I don’t lie... Joseph Muscat is not saying the truth – and he knows it,” he says.

Watch excerpts of the interview above. Read the entire interview in today’s edition of The Sunday Times.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090322/interview/the-past-is-tense