Sant 'too busy' to take on Mintoff

Opposition leader Alfred Sant yesterday casually dismissed former prime minister Dom Mintoff's challenge to a debate on Super One television, saying he was "too busy" at present to take it up.

Dr Sant was contacted for his reaction to Mr Mintoff's challenge to debate the topic of "who has the workers' interests at heart and who doesn't".

Mr Mintoff made the challenge when speaking on Smash Television on Monday. Mr Mintoff launched a new front to fight the way in which negotiations were being conducted with the European Union. He said the front was not outrightly against the EU.

Dr Sant's reaction was brief: "The more people who come out against the idea of Malta's full membership of the EU, the merrier".

Dr Sant chose not to answer several other questions put to him:

Mr Mintoff has set up a new front to fight for a different approach to negotiations. How does this differ from the Labour Party's position?

Mr Mintoff seemed to indicate at one point that the reason he had set up this front was because the Labour Party was not offering a concrete alternative - do you disagree and, if not, why not?

Certain comments would indicate that he has launched the front to undermine your position as leader of the Labour Party just a few months before the election. Do you feel he will succeed?

He denies that the front is politically motivated. Do you agree given that he has again referred to your calling him a "traitor"?