Malta news: Fenech Adami

Fenech Adami throws ball into Opposition’s court
Matters to come to a head once Opposition tables motion of no confidence, former PN leader. Former Nationalist prime minister and President of the Republic Eddie Fenech Adami has come out in agreement with the Prime Minister's decision not to call for a vote of confidence, even though the scene may be set for an Opposition motion that will have the support of rebel backbencher Franco Debon. Fenech Adami told the Labour party's One News yesterday he agreed with Lawrence Gnozi's decision not to call for a vote of confidence. "Who wants to bring this matter to a head knows what they must do. But not government. Government must continue its work," Fenech Adami said. The former PN leader, 77, was Opposition leader in 1998 when Dom Mintoff voted against Alfred Sant's confidence motion - then tied to a motion for the go-ahead on the Cottonera waterfront project - sending the country into early elections 22 months into Labour's legislature.(maltatoday.com.mt)

Former Man Utd striker hopes to be president of France
Former Manchester United Striker wants to be next president of France and is trying to gather 500 signatures needed to run in the presidential election this year. In the hopes of becoming the next president of France, former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona is currently trying to gather the 500 signatures needed to run for elections. Cantona, 45, has until the end of February to collect the signatures but has already sent a letter to French mayors requesting for their support. The letter was printed in the newspaper Liberation and Cantona expressed his hopes to increase the number of opportunities available to young people in France. Cantona also described how French youths face too many social injustices which are numerous, violent as well as systematic.(maltatoday.com.mt)

Sant backs call for confidence vote
Former Labour Prime Minister Alfred Sant, this morning, agreed with the Opposition leader’s call for government to resolve the current political crisis by taking the matter up in Parliament. Dr Sant, who faced a similar crisis in 1998 when then Labour MP and former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff fell out with the government of the day, said he was not in a position to give Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi any advice. “I agree with the Opposition leader’s call to have this crisis resolved in a democratic way in Parliament,” he said. Asked whether an election was imminent, Dr Sant said he could not know the future but if a confidence vote was lost in Parliament an election would beckon. Government has effectively lost its one-seat majority in Parliament after backbencher Franco Debono withdrew his support. Parliament is currently not in session and will reconvene after the Christmas holidays on January 18. The Speaker yesterday turned down the Opposition leader’s request to urgently recall Parliament.(timeofmalta.com)