Simon Busuttil

The Honourable
Simon Busuttil
MP MOM
Busuttil at a March 2017 EPP Malta Congress
Leader of the Opposition
In office
13 May 2013 – 4 October 2017
President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat
Succeeded by Adrian Delia
Leader of the Nationalist Party
In office
8 May 2013 – 15 September 2017
Preceded by Lawrence Gonzi
Succeeded by Adrian Delia
Member of the European Parliament
In office
23 March 2004 – 10 March 2013
Succeeded by Roberta Metsola
Personal details
Born (1969-03-20) 20 March 1969
Attard, State of Malta
Political party Nationalist Party
Children 3[1]
Alma mater University of Malta
University of Sussex

Simon Busuttil MP MOM (born 20 March 1969) is a Maltese politician who was Leader of the Opposition within the Maltese Parliament.[2] He also served as a Leader of the Leader of the Nationalist Party and a Member of the European Parliament for the Malta consitituency.

Education

Busuttil, who is from Lija, graduated as Doctor of Laws (University of Malta, 1993), MA in European Studies (University of Sussex, 1994) and Magister Juris in International Law (University of Malta, 1995).[3][4][5] As a student he was President of the Maltese Christian Democrat Students, SDM (1989–91), Student Representative on the Senate of the University of Malta (1991–92) and International Secretary of the Maltese National Youth Council (1992).[6][7]

Career

Busuttil served as an adviser on EU affairs to a number

government Ministries and as a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta before being appointed Head of the Malta-EU Information Centre (MIC) and member of the Core Negotiating Group (negotiating Malta's membership in the EU) and the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) in 1999.[8][9]

Member of the European Parliament

In 2004 Busuttil was elected as an MEP with the Nationalist Party in the election for the European Parliament.[10] He was the first Maltese MEP to address the European Parliament, delivering a speech on July 21, 2004.[11] He was again successful in the 2009 election.[12]

As an MEP he was a member of the bureau of the European People's Party (EPP) and sat on various committees including the European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control and its Committee on Budgets.[13] Within the EPP he led the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee and covered issues that include the common European immigration and asylum policy.[14]

He was also a substitute for the Committee on Regional Development, a substitute for the temporary committee on policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007–2013, vice-chair of the delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union (including Libya), and a member of the delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly.[15]

Deputy Leader of the Nationalist Party and MP

In 2012 he was elected Deputy Leader of the Nationalist Party following the resignation of Tonio Borg. He was elected an MP in the 2013 general election.[16]

Leader of the Nationalist Party

Busuttil at a December 2013 EPP Summit

Immediately after the elections, incumbent Leader Lawrence Gonzi announced that he would not be seeking re-election for the role of leader of the Nationalist Party.[17] Four candidates presented themselves for leadership these being Mario De Marco, Raymond Bugeja, Francis Zammit Dimech and Simon Busuttil.[18] On 4 May 2013, Busuttil obtained 50.3% of the votes while Mario De Marco obtained 38.5% and conceded the race, leaving Busuttil de facto leader elect.[19] A further vote was taken on 8 May in order for him to officially receive 2/3 of the votes, the threshold required by the election rules.[20] Simon Busuttil was confirmed Leader having attained the two thirds threshold.[21][22]

Busuttil lashed out at the postponement of the Maltese Local Council Elections to the year 2019.[23][24]

During August 2015, some PN officials, namely Ivan Bartolo,[25] Noel Grima,[26] and Ray Bugeja [27] heading certain party fora, expressed disappointment at the party leader, in light of affairs highlighted by Politico in relation to the Government's Citizenship Investment Programme.

Busuttil during EPP Summit, 2015

On November 25, 2016, the Nationalist Party won a constitutional appeal in court to grant two extra seats in the Parliament of Malta.[28]

Busuttil kicked off the campaign on May 1, 2017, posing a choice between Joseph Muscat and Malta.[29] He claimed that the elections were a matter of trust, not just proposals, and that the opposing proposals were unrealistic.[30] He opined that Muscat called the snap election to evade justice.[31]

Busuttil led the General Election campaign based on the battle on corruption and the importance of Rule of Law.[32] On May 19, 2017, Busuttil presented evidence against Adrian Hillman and Keith Schembri with regards to illegal transactions worth €650,000.[33]

Busuttil contested the 11th and 12th Electoral Districts in the Maltese general election, 2017.[34] On June 4, 2017, after polls on the previous day, it was clear that the Malta Labour Party had increased its majority by 55%, heavily defeating the Nationalist Party.[35] As leader, Busuttil conceded defeat.[36]

On 5 June 2017, a day after the results of the general election were announced, Busuttil announced his resignation as leader of the Nationalist Party alongside the entire party administration following a second consecutive loss of a general election. At a press conference he stated that the Nationalist Party needs new leadership and that he would stay on until a new leader is elected and sworn in as Opposition leader.[37] He met party activists on June 6, 2017, and explained that there will be a more open procedure for electing the new leadership.[38]

Backbencher

On September 17, 2017, he was succeed by Dr. Adrian Delia as leader of the Nationalist Party whilst being succeeded by him on 4 October 2017 as Leader of the Opposition.

On February 3, 2018, Delia appointed Busuttil as Shadow Minister for Good Governance.[39][40]

Allegations regarding the ownership of the Egrant account made by Busuttil had risked the economic, political, and social stability of Malta and had nearly caused a revolt by his supporters. The Busuttil allegations were propagated in the Council of Europe and thus forced The Prime Minister to instigate a magisterial investigation to clear his wife`s good name. In the meantime, these serious allegations precipitated an early election which was won in an historic landslide victory by Joseph Muscat and the Labour Party. Further to the conclusions of the magisterial inquiry, Joseph Muscat demanded that the Busuttil resigns from all his political responsibilities both in Malta and abroad. [41] Adrian Delia removed Busuttil from Shadow Minister for Good Governance and asked him to resign.[42][43] The Good Governance portfolio was assumed by Delia himself.[44] Busuttil warned Delia that he should not side with Muscat and refused to suspend himself.[45] The Administrative Council of the Nationalist Party met later during the day of June 22, 2018, in order to discuss the events, and backed Delia's request to Busuttil, asking the latter to make way so that the party can move on in an effective matter, as no one can be considered bigger than the party. [46] Busuttil's former deputies, however, Mario de Marco and Beppe Fenech Adami, supported him saying that the party should unite for greater strength. [47] Other MPs that lent their name to this cause included Claudette Buttigieg, Therese Comodini Cachia, Marthese Portelli, Claudio Grech, Karol Aquilina, Karl Gouder and Jason Azzopardi, as well as MEP David Casa.[48] MEP Roberta Metsola requested that the matter was discussed within party organs.[49] MP Chris Said offered to mediate the situation.[50]

Decorations

National

  • 2003: Malta Member of the National Order of Merit of Malta[51]

Others

  • 2004: Winner of The Outstanding Young Person Award of the Junior Chamber (Malta)[52]

References

  1. ↑ "About - Kristina Chetcuti". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  2. ↑ "Hon. Simon Busuttil MP - Opposition Leader". parlament.mt. August 2015.
  3. ↑ https://www.um.edu.mt/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/289172/MagisterJurisinInternationalLaw1995.pdf
  4. ↑ https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/820914-mt-8-may-2017/8
  5. ↑ https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/election-2017/76939/strengths_and_weaknesses_joseph_muscat_vs_simon_busuttil#.W1SHkdIzZPY
  6. ↑ KNZ turns 20, Malta Independent, 7 October 2012
  7. ↑ http://www.businesstoday.com.mt/2001/0411/interview.html
  8. ↑ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "MIC head to return to legal practice". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "Department of Information". www.doi-archived.gov.mt. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  10. ↑ "Malta Elects all five MEPs - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  11. ↑ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Simon Busuttil is first Maltese MEP to address Euro Parliament". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  12. ↑ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Simon Busuttil re-elected with record 68,782 votes". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  13. ↑ http://www.eu40.eu/simon-busuttil/
  14. ↑ "Simon Busuttil Elected EPP coordinator in Civil Liberties Committee - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  15. ↑ http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/28120/Simon_BUSUTTIL_home.html
  16. ↑ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Busuttil resigns from the European Parliament". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "Mhux Se Nerġa Nikkontesta Għal Kap Tal-pn Lawrence Gonzi". World News. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  18. ↑ "PN leadership - The four candidates". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  19. ↑ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Simon Busuttil wins first round of PN leadership election with 50%". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  20. ↑ Jurgen Balzan (4 May 2013). "Simon Busuttil wins PN leadership contest". Malta Today. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  21. ↑ "[WATCH] 93% confirm Simon Busuttil as new PN leader". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  22. ↑ https://www.mccv.org.au/simon-busuttil-is-the-new-pn-leader/
  23. ↑ "Busuttil: Labour's antics 'like African dictatorship', council elections postponed till 2019". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  24. ↑ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "PN may support joint elections, but not in 2019". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  25. ↑ Montebello, Edward. "Diżappuntat b'Simon Busuttil". One News. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  26. ↑ Grima, Noel. "There is still time to change, but very little time left". The Malta Independent. The Malta Independent. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  27. ↑ ONE, News. "Tiżdied il-pressjoni fuq Busuttil". One News. One News. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  28. ↑ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "PN gets additional two seats in Parliament". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  29. ↑ https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/election-2017/76764/crowds_flock_to_spinola_for_pn_mass_meeting#.W1Up2tIzZPY
  30. ↑ https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/election-2017/76856/busuttil_election_about_more_than_proposals_its_a_matter_of_trust#.W1UrO9IzZPY
  31. ↑ https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170507/local/this-election-is-not-a-competition-of-proposals-busuttil.647345
  32. ↑ https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170521/local/watch-live-simon-busuttil-addresses-mass-meeting-at-zabbar.648645
  33. ↑ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Watch: Busuttil presents eight files of 'irrefutable evidence' against Schembri". Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  34. ↑ "Simon Busuttil announces that he will contest 11th and 12th Districts - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  35. ↑ https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170604/local/labour-expected-to-win-the-general-election-indications.649961
  36. ↑ https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/pn-leader-simon-busuttil-concedes-defeat/
  37. ↑ Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Simon Busuttil steps down as PN leader after crushing defeat". Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  38. ↑ https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/election-2017/77925/busuttil_tells_pn_supports_to_be_proud_new_leader_by_september#.W1UslNIzZPY
  39. ↑ https://lovinmalta.com/news/adrian-delia-gives-former-pn-leader-simon-busuttil-official-good-governance-role
  40. ↑ http://netnews.com.mt/2018/02/03/il-kap-tal-oppozizzjoni-adrian-delia-jahtar-il-kelliema-tal-oppozizzjoni/
  41. ↑ https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180722/local/prime-minister-to-hold-press-conference-at-1030am.685038
  42. ↑ https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180722/local/simon-busuttil-rejects-pms-calls-for-his-resignation-calling-them.685076?utm_source=tom&utm_campaign=top5&utm_medium=widget
  43. ↑ http://www.inewsmalta.com/article.php?ID1=68826
  44. ↑ http://netnews.com.mt/2018/07/22/filmat-naccettaw-ir-rizultat-tal-inkjesta-filwaqt-li-nitolbu-li-tigi-ppubblikata-kollha/
  45. ↑ https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/88366/adrian_delia_has_asked_simon_busuttil_to_resign_from_pn_parliamentary_group#.W1SfWtIzZPY
  46. ↑ https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180722/local/watch-pn-piles-pressure-on-simon-busuttil-to-suspend-himself-from.685103
  47. ↑ https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180723/local/pn-mps-lend-their-support-for-simon-busuttil.685122?utm_source=tom&utm_campaign=top5&utm_medium=widget
  48. ↑ https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/88395/five_pn_mps_defy_adrian_delia_and_align_themselves_with_simon_busuttil#.W1ZG5dIzZPY
  49. ↑ https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/88409/adrian_delia_in_waitandsee_game_over_simon_busuttils_pn_future#.W1e-d9IzZPY
  50. ↑ https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180724/local/chris-said-offers-to-mediate-between-busuttil-and-delia.685219?utm_source=tom&utm_campaign=top5&utm_medium=widget
  51. ↑ https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20031214/local/president-confers-republic-day-honours.134342
  52. ↑ http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2007-10-12/news/jci-malta-toyp-award-for-inspirational-and-outstanding-people-198117/
Party political offices
Preceded by
Tonio Borg		 Deputy Leader of the Nationalist Party
2012–2013		 Succeeded by
Beppe Fenech Adami
Preceded by
Lawrence Gonzi		 Leader of the Nationalist Party
2013–2017		 Succeeded by
Adrian Delia
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