PL supports Borg's nomination but it will not be a walkover - Muscat

Labour’s MEPS will be working in Brussels to support Malta’s nomination of Tonio Borg for EU Commissioner, PL leader Joseph Muscat said this morning. Speaking on Ghandi X’Nghid, Dr Muscat insisted he supported the Prime Minister’s decision. However, he again warned that Dr Borg’s appointment would not be a plain sailing walkover. This was because of certain declarations Dr Borg made in the past, Dr Muscat said. He clarified that abortion was not the issue as all Maltese political parties were against abortion - the problem was more his declarations on gay rights and other positions he had taken. Dr Borg, Dr Muscat said, was to have a tough time convincing. For even though one had a right to his own opinions, when one was European Commissioner one was bound to a charter and if consumers were to be treated in the same way, one could not distinguish on the basis of sexual orientation. As the head of the socialist group had said, Dr Borg should expect a tough but fair grilling. Asked about the John Dalli case, Dr Muscat said that the issue had done a lot of damage to Malta, irrespective of who was right or wrong. A Maltese man, he said, was being faced with an accusation and it was...