Simon Busuttil

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 Nationalist Party[3] and a Member of the European Parliament for the Malta constituency.[4] In April 2020, he was appointed as Secretary-General of the European People's Party.[5]

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
PresidentMarie Louise Coleiro Preca
Prime MinisterJoseph Muscat
Preceded byLawrence Gonzi (Acting); Joseph Muscat
Succeeded byAdrian Delia
Leader of the Nationalist Party
In office
8 May 2013 – 15 September 2017
Preceded byLawrence Gonzi
Succeeded byAdrian Delia
Member of the European Parliament
In office
12 June 2004 – 10 March 2013
Personal details
Born (1969-03-20) 20 March 1969
Attard, State of Malta
Political partyNationalist Party
Children3[1]
Alma materUniversity of Malta
University of Sussex

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).[6][7][8] 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).[9][10]

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.[11][12]

Member of the European Parliament

In 2004 Busuttil was elected as an MEP with the Nationalist Party in the election for the European Parliament.[13] He was the first Maltese MEP to address the European Parliament, delivering a speech on 21 July 2004.[14] He was again successful in the 2009 election.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18]

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.[19]

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. Four candidates presented themselves for leadership these being Mario De Marco, Raymond Bugeja, Francis Zammit Dimech and Simon Busuttil.[20] 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.[21] 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.[22] Simon Busuttil was confirmed Leader having attained the two thirds threshold.[23][24]

Busuttil lashed out at the postponement of the Maltese Local Council Elections to the year 2019.[25][26]

During August 2015, some PN officials, namely Ivan Bartolo,[27] Noel Grima,[28] 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 25 November 2016 the Nationalist Party won a constitutional appeal in court to grant two extra seats in the Parliament of Malta.[29]

Busuttil began the campaign on 1 May 2017, posing a choice between Joseph Muscat and Malta.[30] He claimed that the elections were a matter of trust, not just proposals, and that the opposing proposals were unrealistic.[31] He opined that Muscat called the snap election to evade justice.[32]

Busuttil led the General Election campaign based on the battle on corruption and the importance of Rule of Law.[33] On 19 May 2017 Busuttil presented evidence against Adrian Hillman and Keith Schembri with regards to illegal transactions worth €650,000.[34]

Busuttil contested the 11th and 12th Electoral Districts in the 2017 Maltese general election.[35] On 4 June 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.[36] As leader, Busuttil conceded defeat.[37]

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.[38] He met party activists on 6 June 2017 and explained that there will be a more open procedure for electing the new leadership.[39]

Backbencher

On 17 September 2017 he was succeeded 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 3 February 2018 Delia appointed Busuttil as Shadow Minister for Good Governance.[40][41]

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.[42] Adrian Delia removed Busuttil from Shadow Minister for Good Governance and asked him to resign.[43][44] The Good Governance portfolio was assumed by Delia himself.[45] Busuttil warned Delia that he should not side with Muscat and refused to suspend himself.[46] The Administrative Council of the Nationalist Party met later during 22 June 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.[47] Busuttil's former deputies, however, Mario de Marco and Beppe Fenech Adami, supported him saying that the party should unite for greater strength.[48] 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.[49] MEP Roberta Metsola requested that the matter was discussed within party organs.[50] MP Chris Said offered to mediate the situation.[51] In January 2020, Busuttil was appointed Secretary General of the EPP Group in the European Parliament and will thus resign his parliamentary seat in the Parliament of Malta. [52]

Decorations

National

  • 2003: Member of the National Order of Merit of Malta[53]

Others

  • 2004: Winner of The Outstanding Young Person Award of the Junior Chamber (Malta)[54]

References
  1. Fiona Galea Debono (18 February 2017). "Our seconce chance at love". Times of Malta. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  2. "Hon. Simon Busuttil MP - Opposition Leader". Parliament of Malta. August 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  3. "Riċeviment f'għeluq snin il-Kap tal-Partit Nazzjonalista Simon Busuttil". NET News (in Maltese). 20 March 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  4. "7th parliamentary term | Simon Busuttil | MEPs | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  5. "Simon Busuttil appointed new Secretary-General of the EPP Group". European People's Party. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  6. "Magister Juris 1995" (PDF).
  7. "Malta Today". Malta Today. 8 May 2017. pp. 2–9.
  8. Jurgen Balzan (8 May 2017). "Strengths and weaknesses: Joseph Muscat vs Simon Busuttil". Malta Today. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  9. "KNZ turns 20". Malta Independent. 7 October 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  10. "Informing the people". 11 April 2001. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  11. Herman Grech (29 April 2003). "MIC head to return to legal practice". Times of Malta. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  12. "Department of Information". www.doi-archived.gov.mt. 6 May 1999. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  13. "Malta Elects all five MEPs". The Malta Independent. 16 April 2004. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  14. Herman Grech (22 July 2004). "Simon Busuttil is first Maltese MEP to address Euro Parliament". Times of Malta. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  15. "Simon Busuttil re-elected with record 68,782 votes". Times of Malta. 7 June 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  16. Simon Busuttil Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  17. "Simon Busuttil Elected EPP coordinator in Civil Liberties Committee". The Malta Independent. 21 July 2009. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  18. "Simon Busuttil". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  19. "Busuttil resigns from the European Parliament". Times of Malta. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  20. Jurgen Balzan (9 April 2013). "PN leadership - The four candidates". Malta Today. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  21. "Simon Busuttil wins first round of PN leadership election with 50%". Times of Malta. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  22. Jurgen Balzan (4 May 2013). "Simon Busuttil wins PN leadership contest". Malta Today. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  23. "[WATCH] 93% confirm Simon Busuttil as new PN leader". Malta Today. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  24. "Simon Busuttil is the new PN Leader". 4 May 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  25. Matthew Vella (17 July 2014). "Busuttil: Labour's antics 'like African dictatorship', council elections postponed till 2019". Malta Today. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  26. "PN may support joint elections, but not in 2019". Times of Malta. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  27. Montebello, Edward. "Diżappuntat b'Simon Busuttil" (in Maltese). One News. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  28. Grima, Noel (7 August 2016). "There is still time to change, but very little time left". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  29. "PN gets additional two seats in Parliament". Times of Malta. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  30. Tim Diacono (1 May 2017). "[WATCH] Busuttil kicks off election campaign: 'Choice is between Muscat and Malta'". Malta Today. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  31. Yannick Pace (4 May 2017). "Busuttil: Election about more than proposals, it's a matter of trust". Malta Today. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  32. Sarah Carabott (7 May 2017). "Watch: 'This election is not a competition of proposals': Busuttil". Times of Malta. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  33. Sarah Carabott (21 May 2017). "Simon Busuttil: If you voted Labour because you were hurt last election, vote Forza Nazzjonali now". Times of Malta. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  34. "Watch: Busuttil presents eight files of 'irrefutable evidence' against Schembri". Times of Malta. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  35. Julian Bonnici (3 May 2017). "Simon Busuttil announces that he will contest 11th and 12th Districts". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  36. "Labour cruises to 55% majority; Muscat says people have chosen to stay the course". Times of Malta. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  37. Rachel Baldacchino (4 June 2017). "PN Leader Simon Busuttil concedes defeat". TVM. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  38. "Simon Busuttil steps down as PN leader after crushing defeat". Times of Malta. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  39. Jurgen Balzan (6 June 2017). "Busuttil tells PN supports to be proud, new leader by September". Malta Today. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  40. Tim Diacono (3 February 2018). "Adrian Delia Gives Former PN Leader Simon Busuttil Official Good Governance Role". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  41. Simon Vella Gregory (3 February 2018). "Il-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni Adrian Delia jaħtar il-Kelliema tal-Oppożizzjoni" (in Maltese). Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  42. Denise Grech; Herman Grech (22 July 2018). "Watch: Emotional Prime Minister relieved Egrant "nightmare" is over". Times of Malta. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  43. Claire Caruana; Bertrand Borg (22 July 2018). "Watch: PN calls emergency meeting, hours after Busuttil refuses to suspend himself". Times of Malta. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  44. "Delia jitlob lil Busuttil biex iġorr ir-responsabbiltà politika u jirriżenja" (in Maltese). 22 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  45. "FILMAT: "Naċċettaw ir-riżultat tal-inkjesta, filwaqt li nitolbu li tiġi ppubblikata kollha"" (in Maltese). 22 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  46. Massimo Costa (22 July 2018). "[WATCH] Updated - Adrian Delia has asked Simon Busuttil to resign from PN parliamentary group". Malta Today. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  47. Claire Caruana; Bertrand Borg (22 July 2018). "Watch: PN piles pressure on Simon Busuttil to suspend himself from party". Times of Malta. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  48. "PN MPs in show of support for Simon Busuttil". Times of Malta. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  49. Kurt Sansone (23 July 2018). "Updated - Adrian Delia faces growing rebellion over Simon Busuttil resignation call". Malta Today. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  50. Yannick Pace (23 July 2018). "Adrian Delia in wait-and-see game over Simon Busuttil's PN future". Malta Today. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  51. "Chris Said offers to mediate between Busuttil and Delia". Times of Malta. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  52. "Simon Busuttil takes top EPP job, will resign from Maltese parliament". Malta Today. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  53. George Cini (13 December 2003). "President confers Republic Day honours". Times of Malta. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  54. "JCI Malta TOYP Award for inspirational and outstanding people". The Malta Independent. 12 October 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
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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