Karmenu Vella bids farewell to Parliament after 38 years

Updated 9.18 pm - Labour MP Karmenu Vella brought the curtain down on a long parliamentary career tonight when he resigned in order to take up his new post as European Commissioner. Mr Vella was first elected in 1976 and continued to be elected in every general election since. He served under four Labour prime minister - Dom Mintoff, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, Alfred Sant and Joseph Muscat, his ministerial responsibilities covering public works, industry and tourism. Mr Vella delivered his last speech in Parliament during the adjournment of the House, saying he was sad to leave but looking ahead with enthusiasm for his new post. He recalled that when he was elected, he was the youngest MP on the government benches, and he was leaving as one of the oldest. He said he had always sought to do his best for the country and the Labour Party.   He had learnt a lot in 38 years, of which the biggest lesson was to be humble, he said. Also important was tolerance, and he had always worked well with friends and foes. In politics, he said, it was extremely rare for anybody to be completely right or completely wrong and to understand the other was therefore a sign of wisdom. The people, he said,...