Nationalist heavyweight Austin Gatt tells The Sunday Times in an interview today he will not be standing for the next general election.

“Absolutely not,” the Transport Minister tells Herman Grech when asked if he intended to run for his fourth election in 2013.

“It’s time to move on. I’ve done a good 35 years in this line. I think it’s time to pave the way for other people. If the Prime Minister keeps me till the end of this legislature I would have spent 15 years as minister. It’s a long time,” he says.

The former PN general secretary says he had made his decision to quit politics when his party won a third term in office in 2003.

The surprise revelation comes days after Dr Gatt unveiled the most ambitious public transport reform plan to date.

The minister also makes it clear he has no intention of revising the contested higher bus fares for tourists and says he would not be tackling private car use before the revamped bus system is fully operational.

Dr Gatt also explains why he is reluctant to accept the Labour Party’s request to interview witnesses involved in the power station extension contract at the Public Accounts Committee.

“The power station issue has been turned into a political melodrama by the Labour Party,” he says.

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

See also:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101114/local/pm-tells-gatt-one-should-remain-open-to-opportunities