The Malta Opposition Party (MOP) – just three electoral majorities in 51 years
Jolly good thing this floor-mop looks so much like the Labour torca, because the way the party is heading, with millions in debts, a twerpy Poodle as leader and a collection of freak officials and candidates along the lines of Victorian bearded ladies and elephant men, it’s destined to entrench its position as the Malta Opposition Party.
Let’s face it. Between 1962 and 2013 – a full 51 years – the Labour Party won the majority of votes just three times, in 1971, 1976 and 1996. And in 1996 it couldn’t stay in power longer than 22 months. In 51 years, Labour has governed legitimately for just 12 years and illegitimately (with a minority of votes in the 1981 election) for five years.
The only reason we don’t realise that the Labour Party is really the Malta Opposition Party is because 15 of those 17 years came stuck together like glue, were beyond miserable and endless, and it seemed that Labour would dominate our lives forever. Those 15 years saw the growth of the Allahares-jitla-l-Lejber generation.
The only good thing that came out of them was the reminder that the Labour Party, which makes a hopeless Opposition, invariably makes a hopeless government. They can’t run their own show and yet they expect to run the country. They say they can cut the country’s deficit (it’s being done already) but they’re technically bankrupt.
The mystery to me is why 140,000+ people keep voting for this bunch of losers who can’t do anything right. Is it like supporting some kind of obscure football team just to be different? Is it adherence to principles that the Labour Party itself has long since jettisoned, if it ever had them in the first place after the 1960s?
With that kind of market, it’s no wonder Labour has not felt the impetus for change. With the carrot of government forever dangling before its nose, it failed to smarten up its act and so has been doomed to spend 34 years out of 51 years in Opposition.
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And if they are going to choose JM ( the poodle), they are going to stay for another 50 years…
The only hope they have is George Abela…without him, they are drown down the river…..
they need to pray him down on their knees GA, mela trying to ban him….
Incredibly Labour….they never learn….
but at least we are lucky to have such Labour….heheheh
[Moderator – For the sake of tragicomedy, yes, we are luckly.]
Unless those faces that formed part and parcel of the Labour Scene in the years you cited, Daphne, are phased out completely, the electorate will never consider the MLP as a healthy alternative to the present administration.
The people presented so far are all tainted with the same brush. They are too much of ‘the mixture as before’ to be palatable and let’s face it anyone can promise the moon and the stars to get elected but can he/she deliver, in the long run?
@ Kenneth Spiteri – please point out to me any speeches Gorg Abela has made in the last 10 yrs where he proves that he is worthy of being Malta’s next PM? What are his views, his policies, his politics, his vision?
Or is the fact that he left MLP and has been used as cannon fodder by PN acolytes a sufficient attribute for you?
The last policies I heard him talk about where that he was in favour of the ‘Svizzera fil-mediterran’ mantra and he was in favour of removing VAT.
Oh yes and his last one was that the GWU comes before MLP, in other words ‘Union super privileggjata’. Nationalists like yourself seem to have conveniently forgotten this last comment surprisingly….
@Phaedra giuliani – spare us your nationalist rhetoric. The people on the MLP scene will never be seen as a ‘healthy alternative’ because you’re a nationalist and you will never consider voting labour because anything dished out by the PN media machine and those close to it will convince you that labour are a fate worse than death. Its laughable for you to say that all the people presented so far are ‘taqinted with the same brush’ – of course they are to you…..you’re a nationalist!
@ David Zammit
So who do you think will make a good leader? JM? The one who changes policy at a blink of an eye?
At least GA was honest enough to show what his true love (the union) is. Actually he should be commended for his honesty, and not damned. Better an honest person, than a pinnur, No to EU today, and off to Brussles tomorrow.
But I do accept that the MLP old guard feel threatened if he would make top dog. But unfortunately they have not yet presented an electable alternative.
Oh so Gorg Abela’s not a pinnur aye? So you deny that he spoke in favour of ‘Svizzera fil Mediterran’ and then joined MEUSAC? There goes your No to the Eu today and in favour tomorrow. This was unmistakably after he left the MLP leadership while before the 96 election he was one of those who used to say ‘L-Unjoni Ewropeja mandniex xirriduha’.
If that isnt changing policy at the blink of an eye than what is? Oh no the important thing is that he’s anti-sant isn’t it? Thats the only thing that counts for some people…
The MLP old guard don’t need to be threatened right? won’t he bring a nationwide attitude of tollerance and consultation? Or am I reading Gorg Abela badly and in actual fact he will bring in his own people (whoever these may be)
And why may I ask did you come to the conclusion that I wanted JM as leader? Is this a battle between good and bad, between JM and GA? Oh come now my dear nationalists you don’t think anyone sincerely believe that you want GA for the good of your fellow maltese bretheren now do you….
[Moderator – David Zammit Goes to Hollywood – Two Tribes]
Dear all,
You seem to be promoting George for MLP leader.
If George Abela is chosen as Leader, I imagine you will all be considering voting Labour next time round.
If not, then why are you promoting him?
Thanks and Regards.
@ David Zammit..
Again I don’t care who the next MOP yes MOP leader is…MOP can choose their leader from l-GHALQA TA GANNI TA ZRABEN….
The question is who can bring floaters and a few nationalist voters to vote MOP, in my view only George Abela …that doesn’t mean his the next Einstein on earth….
And to answer your point why George Abela says that GWU come first, it seems to me that you are a DILETTANT in politics and I tell why…
A big amount of the delegates are from GWU…so he was campaigning …sorry I had to say that here…
As usual MOP idiots doesn’t think before they talk …now go and get Anglu for leader or the poodle…. god help us
When exactly did GA run off to Brussels as the poodle did?
And why is it so bad to be anti Sant after all? Is this not the same Sant who kept scrupulously his promises? You know, get rid of VAT, and create and foster on the Maltese something worse, an unnatural bastard called CET for example? Was this not the same Sant who tried to create a Svizzera in the Mediterran? Was this not the same Sant who as President of the MLP, presided over a party that shall forever be condemned as bringing Malta to the dark ages, a time of violence, corruption etc?
If that is what you call being an anti Sant, yes than I guess I am. There were and still are other qualities that I like about Sant, but not as a politician, sorry.
BTW read my previous. Twice. Now show me exactly where I came to any conclusion re “And why may I ask did you come to the conclusion that I wanted JM as leader? ”
I only mentioned JM as he is the one being pimped by the MLP.
Finally, NO, and again NO, I do not want ” GA for the good of your fellow maltese bretheren”
I have a distinct feeling that you are not going to get it, but I’ll try anyway. I want GA so the PN has some competition, and stop acting how it wants, just for the simple reason that the opposition is worse. You see at the moment there is no choice in Maltese politics, you only have the PN. And that is the worst thing that can happen, ie where one has to vote for one party not for its good things, but because the other is not an option.
Walter Gatt: Please make a distinction between wanting to vote George Abela into government, and not being afraid if he is elected PM without your vote. The calls for George Abela to be leader of MLP are not necessarily based on the former. It is far more likely that even people who don’t ever want to see a labour government again would prefer the MLP to have a reliable leader.
Ah he was campaigning was he! So I guess PN is campaigning too when they only mention his GWU comment once in their politically balanced Net news while they re-ran Sant’s ‘Union privilegjata’ comment night after night. there’s your campaigning and I think you’re intelligent enough to notice who is campaigning for who…..
And as if they are obtuse enough to buy his so called ‘propaganda’ if it was indeed so, (If it was a subliminal message one questions his marketing touch after having been party to the Dockers union split from GWU but anyway…) when I’m sure they know that such an approach would be turned in to mince meat by the PN media machine. Do you think the delegates are so shallow to look upon such a controversial comment favourably when this guy hasn’t even become top dog!)
@Vanni By Anti-Sant I mean being used as a political weapon against Sant. that is why to PN GA is the ‘Anti-Sant’.
And yes GA was in favour of your so called ‘unnatural bastard’ CET tax. Yes he was in favour of it! he didnt leave MLP because of that he left because of disagreements regarding the election.
Yes GA was in favour of Svizzera fil mediterran. See some of his pre 96 speeches….you ll soon get the message.
And your telling me that floaters and nationalists would conveniently forget all of this and would turn a blind eye if it looked as if GA would be PM? Don’t make me laugh….
Finally regarding where you said that ‘there is only PN’. So I guess you’re forgetting the 140,000 plus that voted MLP, yes those ‘1,500 less than PN’ voters. You need some lessons in humility don’t you…
@Corinne: What makes GA so reliable in your opinion? What qualities does GA have that are not present in the other leadership contestants?
@ David…
Again man get Anglu get the poodle get the maws…you want to stay another 50 years in opposition…then yes get one of the above ..
You want to give Gonzi a run for his money, then get George Abela …you don’t agree ehh no problem…
God bless u siehbi……..
Dear David
OK, let’s cut to the chase. Who do you see as the best person to become Prime Minister from the current crop within the MLP? Who do you think can be both a lawmaker and a diplomat, and who can can unite and lead the Maltese if elected to Prime Minister?
“By Anti-Sant I mean being used as a political weapon against Sant”
But Sant is history David. Or are you implying he may stage a comeback?
The issue is that George Abela is the only one form the endless list in history of candidates ..that transmit TRUST..
That if once elected you doesn’t hear people around saying madonna telaw il lejber….
Hope the message is clear….
@Walter Gatt
I see that GA has LESS of those ‘qualities’ than his contestants…..which makes him a better choice….much better.
@Vanni At this point I’m still waiting to learn more about their policies, their thoughts, their vision. At this point I wouldn’t like to exclude anybody (with one or two exception the obvious candidate for exclusion being Anglu). Sincerely how can I say that he or she is the man or woman for the job at this point when its so early in the day. True you can form an opinion from their past history in politics. But this brings the question to why GA is so ‘promoted’ as Walter puts it by PN leaning voters…
What has he done in the last 10 years….where has he been….what is his vision….what about his Svizzera fil mediterran speeches prior to his tiff with Sant, what about his anti-vat stance 12 years ago….nobody mentions them…
But we do mention them in varist’s case. Lets face it the only reason why he’s looked upon favourably by PN leaning voters is that they seem to have caught the ‘vibe’ given out by the PN media and its lackeys that Gorg Abela is ‘safe’ while Sant is ‘dangerous’ so GA who is the anti-sant will always be perceived by PN leaning voters as being favourable… even though I would say that less than 10% of them had ever heard him speek prior to his ‘GWU qabel MLP’ debacle. And even that they chose to ignore since they still perceived him as being ‘safe’ – the message given out by the slick PN media machine.
Since I don’t remember George Abela and you seem to know him well, I’m still waiting for a list of traits that he posseses, which the others (il maws, il poodle, coleiro, the lion) don’t.
@Kenneth Spiteri: How does GA transmit trust? I don’t remember him in the public arena, do you? What did he do to gain so much of your respect?
@ walter..
very simple my friend …he walked out form the mess MOP were driving us all….. that deserves trust….
This website is nothing but a bunch of right wing, capitalist, hate filled Nationalist Party voters who always think they’re right. All you do is tear the Labour Party leadership contendors to death and ridicule a party which only lost (the word lost is not really applicable anyway) by 1500 votes.
Since you bunch of hatemongers are so full up with your leader and PM Lawrence Gonzi, why don’t you just leave the Labour Party alone? You have another five years of minority rule with all the political appointments, rampant corruption, nepotism, inefficiency et al ahead of you so why don’t you just go and crow in silence?
I’ve also noticed that the blog has now turned into a self promotion of DCG’s 60’s style food magazine. As usual, commercialism at its pathetic best.
[Moderator – Gerald, if you think that Daphne is ‘right-wing’ then you really have no idea what you’re talking about. As for your disdain for the capitalist system, don’t you get paid for your work at the price set by the very free-market that enabled you to post that comment? What do you propose as an alternative to the current system? If it’s communism, then you’re supporting the wrong party, because the Labour Party is not a communist party. And ‘commercialism’? You really are a piece of work. This blog was set up by Daphne and is owned solely by her. Who are you to deny her the right to advertise her magazine, to recoup a fraction of the huge cost in time and money incurred in the production of this blog? Would you like to fund it yourself?]
I understand that GA posses enough good traits that someone or some group at MLP headquaters are doing their very best to stop him from entering the race. They know that the other contestants are no competion.
As for respect, ask about GA at his home town.
So….by your own argument Kenneth, he would be a prospective PM because he walked out of MLP in 1998? Wow GA’s leadership CV is bulging!
I think here Kenneth is a typical manifestation of a ‘1+1=2’ nationalist…..It follows a simple logic….
He left MLP + He’s anti-sant = He’s trustworthy.
And there falls the ultimate PN propaganda mask. There you have it – this is what I was suspecting all along, they just want GA because of what kenneth said. He’s shown why PN really want him
[Moderator – David, you’re right: we’d much rather have a ‘1500÷2=700’ Labourite, like our friend Anglu Bellu.]
Ok so the MLP should choose George because he walked out from the mess ;) (expected answer btw)
Don’t you have more intelligent reasons why George should be chosen as leader?
Dear Gerard,
I am surely of a centre left ideology and support the PN! Unless you’re still infatuated in the old formulation of political ideologies, you should know that Gonzi is by far more centre left than the MLP.
But maybe you’re still studying the old communist manifesto. Political ideologies has evolved much more than the old communist pattern.
Speaking on modern terms, the PN is more socialist then the MLP!
btw… I thought you were an independent journalist!!! he he he
@me
You’re wrong – he’ll be able to contest, no one was stopping him http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080408/local/mlp-leadership-election-open-to-all-paid-up-members
[Moderator – Except the secretary-general of the Labour Party, maybe?]
I think Gerald can stand up for himself but I must say that the fact that he’s an independent journalist or was one (I believe the other day he wrote that he’s not working as a local journalist anymore) has nothing to do with his observation that – yes, this blog does is sometimes (putting it mildly) used as a backdrop of an anti-mlp binge writing exercise. And thats fine everyone is free to write his own stuff.
But refusing to acknowledge that it is being used for such an exercise is to say the least…amusing…
@moderator The secretary general was not statutorily stopping him from contesting. His stance may have been unethical but at no point did he stop GA from contesting.
[Moderator – It’s the attitude.]
@ David & his Lover Walter…
Again I don’t care about MOP leadership. If u wants to know who I like to be MOP next leader …I give u my list…
• Anglu bellu as mentioned before by moderator
• Poodle who wants to take the pension from EU
• Maws that send all university students on loan to continue their studies…
• And a lot other bunch of characters you find only @ MOP.
Regarding, I do prefer GA because he is anti Sant, I prefer him because in my ignorance he is the only one capable to compete against Gonzi…
A big mistake MOP is presently doing is by not compare their contestant leaders with Gonzi…
I did my homework and really the only one that get near the Gonzi score was GA.
I as a nationalist don’t want GA, we want one of the moira orfei circus characters as I already mentioned above.
And to have a more intelligent reason why GA should be chosen, instead of giving another view, let agree with you, let’s get the poodle…btw thanks for not supporting GA
Because as someone already mentioned before we want to continue for the next 15 years but not 5 …ruling with all the political appointments, rampant corruption, nepotism, inefficiency et al
So we are eager for the next 5th June….that will be the date to confirm our next 15 years in government…
cheers ….
GA would be a prospective leader because he did not wait for another defeat to speak his mind. Not as the other contestants are doing. He pointed out that things were not as they seemed at the appropriate time and not after the defeat. That is enough to mark him out as no man’s man.
@Kenneth Spiteri
There was no need for you to say that you are arrogant….people can smell it a mile away.
And so dear mr Kenneth ‘tal-mop’ spiteri thanks for your illuminating prophecy that on june 5th we will know whether we will have a PN govt for the next 15 yrs….you should have joined the likes of norman lowell on bondiplus where he stated that he was a prophet….impressive stuff!
@me
And the fact that he left mlp because he did not agree with the delegates’ decision makes him an ideal candidate and prospective MP – my my now there’s some deep thought! Pls try to make it less evident next time that you weren’t making that assertion out of dark blue tinted spectacles!
@ David..
you need a slight correction here is not me a prophet, but Jason, Sant and company, if I’m not mistaken before the election they said, they are going to win with more then 15000 votes…
Really!!!!!!!, did this happen all it was a dreammmmmmmmm……
And I can smell form here too that you are one of those INDANNATI …NOW GO AND SFOGGA RABJA MA JASON MR.PEPSODENT…mela coming here
To ridiculous yourself ….
Gerald Fenech – The moderator has told you most of what I would have liked to say miyself.
As for your reference to Lawrence Gonzi being the Nationalists’ prime minister, I really don’t think that you should have gone down that road. Unlike somebody who said that “gvern Laburist ikun gvern ghal-Laburisti” – or something to that effect – I firmly believe that Gonzi has at heart the good of Malta and the Maltese, irrespective of whether they voted for him or not.
As for your suggestion that some of us “just go and crow in silence” – just as all you “independent journalists” lament in non-silence over your supposed loss, you mean? (And please note the use of the word “supposed”, because I firmly believe that with Gonzi at the helm, we all stand to gain – peace of mind, at the very least.)
@ Gerald Fenech
“This website is nothing but a bunch of right wing, capitalist, hate filled Nationalist Party voters who always think they’re right. All you do is tear the Labour Party leadership contendors to death and ridicule a party which only lost (the word lost is not really applicable anyway) by 1500 votes.”
That’s why you love us here and why you always come back for more :D
BTW, are you being paid capitalist wages, and do you drive a capitalist car, and do you live in a capitalist house? Or are you working on minimum wage, drive a bicycle, and live in a chinese slum? Dear Gerald, if you find capitalist Malta offensive, allow me to wish you bon voyage on your emigration to China.
PS, you may have a point with the “tear the Labour Party leadership contendors to death” But you see, some are them are really funny. We got a boot licking poodle, a reborn Inspector Jacque Cluseau… Where does the MLP find them Gerald. Now there is a subject worthy of investigation by an indepenedent journalist.
Lost means lost Gerald. It makes no difference to the greater scheme of things if it is by 1, by 1000, or by 1,000,000. MLP still lost. You may say it was close, and I may (but won’t) agree with you, but please cut the drivel like when you wrote: “minority rule”. That was in another time, dear Gerald, unless you prefer to call that time illegal rule.
Let me summarise these 33 posts: George Abela is the right choice, by elimination, because these rest of them are rubbish. (?)
Way to go, MLP, way to go.
My ideal MLP leader would be someone who was in favour of the EU from day one, and who said so publicly, and voted Yes in the referendum. Which leaves just about nobody in the MLP camp.
@Walter Gatt,
You don’t seem to understand that people who vote Nationalist don’t have the privilege with which people who vote Labour are blessed: not to be afraid that the ‘other’ party might be elected because it is led by a nutcase. Labour voters might be disappointed/let down/angry/bitter that ‘their’ party is not in government, but one thing is for certain: they are not afraid of what Lawrence Gonzi might do and they were not afraid of what Fenech Adami did either (despite the EU protestations). The Labour Party, on the other hand, always puts forward a frightening person who comes across as unstable, erratic and unpredicable, or lacking in depth and untrustworthy. This causes Nationalist supporters to militate in the run-up to an election, to panic and to work like donkeys to bring out every last vote. It’s not because we want ‘our’ party in government. It’s because we don’t want an unreliable, mad or scary prime minister. The celebrations on 10 March were not celebrations of joy at ‘our’ party being in government, but of relief that we hadn’t woken up to find Sant as prime minister. We wouldn’t have that kind of motivation to keep Labour out if Labour didn’t have a hopeless leader. I’ve said it elsewhere on this blog: the factor that we like most about George Abela has nothing to do with his politics, strangely enough, but everything to do with the fact that he is somebody we instantly recognise as entirely normal and stable, and with the sort of intelligence that doesn’t come from book-learning. It’s called experience with people and business.
@those prasing GA for leaving the MLP in 1998…
He left because he didn’t agree that the party should go for an early election. So I find it a bit contradictory to see you supporting the man who was in favour of going on with the ‘ political fiasco’ of 1996-8. Furthermore, he was part of the ‘winning team’ of the allahares-nidhlu-fl-EU in 1996. Is he allowed to change his opinion as opposed to other candidates?
@David Zammit – trust is difficult to quantify. Human beings (at least, women) know instinctively whether they trust somebody or not. They pick up various subliminal and not-so-subliminal signals, and their brain interprets them as this person being trustworthy/untrustworthy. A leader who has ‘woman appeal’ (not in the George Clooney sense, you understand) has it made – hence Gonzi’s phenomenal success. Abela has exactly the same kind of appeal. I should also add that women of all ages, whether married, unmarried or separated are indisputably won over by married men who show so much love and respect for their wives. If you get this, you will also understand why women didn’t like Sant, or Karmenu, or even Mintoff (though he had massive problems of a different nature to contend with).
“I’ve also noticed that the blog has now turned into a self promotion of DCG’s 60’s style food magazine. As usual, commercialism at its pathetic best.”
May I remind you Gerald that a couple of weeks ago you saw no problem that Brian “the Brain” Hansford was openly prostituting his wares here. In fact you defended him to some degree when I told him off. Now when the owner of the blog decides to recuperate some of the time spent here, by advertising something that has no connection whatsoever with the blog, you become all pious.
Dear Daphne – “unstable, erratic and unpredicable, or lacking in depth and untrustworthy” and “unreliable, mad or scary”. Wow – so many negative adjectives! How is it possible that a person writes in such a way about others? And so, according to you GA seems to possess only positive attributes, right?
@Bercsényi – I think you might find that George Abela voted Yes in the referendum, and that he might even have done the logical thing a month later. Lots of sensible Labour supporters did the same.
@M Cutajar – please take it from me that ‘unreliable, mad, scary, erratic, unstable and predictably unpredictable is exactly how Sant came across to the majority of the population, who didn’t vote for him. You don’t even have to take it from me: there were enough surveys about leaders and trust before the election. He was actually frightening, yes.
@DCG
You said:
“Human beings (at least, women) know instinctively whether they trust somebody or not. They pick up various subliminal and not-so-subliminal signals, and their brain interprets them as this person being trustworthy/untrustworthy”
Yep you’re right there….they are picking up subliminal signals as I wrote earlier in my contribution, but they’re not picking them up from mr Vanish-for-ten-years-then-come-back-as-leader….
They pick them up from the slick mastery of the PN media machine and its accolytes.
And lets be frank you’re part of the establishment that gives out such subliminal messages in your weekly write-ups and in blogs such as these.
Your reader base may not be the pale blue or floating voters – but you’re there to prop up, the core, to instill and keep up the fear of labour, to remind the faithful nationalist voters that ‘allahares jitla l labour’.
You see must of these subliminal vibes people pick up are an illusion – spin. They are carefully concoted by this media establishment which has the PN’s interest at heart and then masterly transmitted in the media, nespapers, the internet.
Its all a crafty marketing exercise – that of keeping the voters at heal throughout the 5 years and most of all in the last few weeks, continuosly giving out subliminal message of who the people should like (abela) and who they should abhor and ridicule(we all know who).
Thats why Kenneth Spiteri couldn’t answer when I asked him once and again what traits he saw in GA that would make him a good PM. He said trust – but in what instance did GA show this trait? He couldn’t answer. Of course he’s been out of the scene for yonks! It isn’t GA himself that makes Kenneth see him as trustworthy.
Its the PN media machine – and its accolytes that made him seem what he isn’t – through years of harping, of continuosly being presented as the ‘anti-sant’ and ultimately the ‘anti-labour’.
And what subliminal message would sink in better than the ‘anti-labour’ at the head of MLP.
No Daphne it isnt just women of all ages who are taking in (or being taken in) by such marketing machinations – its anyone who wants to listen to that subliminal message.
Yep, Daphne you’re right, word has it that GA did vote PN in 2003 – obviously i would like this to be asked to him personally. Another subliminal message to be sent out – who would nationalists feel more comfortable with than a labour leader who voted PN five yrs ago…
@David Zammit
Excuse my being late but…..
Sorry I do not have your deep (like the only way is up) thoughts or your clear and transparent (like in the last MLP leader election) glasses.
Dear David
Let me get this right. You (and quite a few other MLP sympathisers it seems) believe that the PN want GA as leader as thus they will controll the MLP?
If the PN would be able to influence the delegates, they would move heaven and earth to see Angelo make top dog. Just immagine what a field day the PN media would have with him.
@David,
I’ve been an addict of this blog since Day 3 or 4 of its inception, and to date, I have never seen entries and comments characterised only by Nationalist spin… hey, for a few euphoric days we had the pleasure of having Victor Laiviera with us!
It is wholly true that the majority of bloggers here seem to have Nationalist leanings, but if you want a blog with MLP supporters’ majority, you may always go to Maltafly!
And after all, after the thousands upon thousands of words typed in this and other blogs, it will then be up to the MLP tesserati to chose their leader.
I think that I may speak on behalf of the majority of bloggers here that we speak our mind – I never got Gonzi on the phone telling me what to write!
@David Zammit – I am not an employee of the Nationalist Party, nor am I really a ‘Nazzjonalista’. I am anti-Labour, for very good reasons. I am looking for a reason to be indifferent to the Labour Party, in government or out, except as something to write about, but so far I am unable to be indifferent. George Abela will make me indifferent. Joe Muscat will leave me aghast. From a professional point of view, it will be fun to have him to write against. From a personal point of view, I would much rather have somebody more sensible, respectable and mature.
@ Daphne
Then why didn’t he speak out in 1996? This is a bit like Lino Spiteri’s story, isn’t it? A Finance Minister who was in favour of VAT all along and yet was part of the government which removed it. Don’t get me wrong, Abela’s a decent chap and all, but is he PM material? And why did he quit in 1998? Was it because of the EU of was it just the early elections? I think he should come clean, even at the risk of being mauled by the Labour wolfpack.
@ David Zammit
I am a Labourite more than you can ever be but even I voted PN in 2003 as the EU decision was supreme to all other issues. If it is true that George Abela did vote PN in 2003 that he has better credntials to become the new Leader of the MLP who can truly win the next elections.
All other Johnny come lately who are now suddenly Euro-philes and yesterday were Allahares qatt do not have the credibility it takes to be political leader who can win an election.
Or may be labourites have become too comfortable in opposition!!
@ David Zammit
There you go…pointing an accusing finger at me because I subscribe to the my-party-right-or- wrong mentality (your inference). Man, you were never so wrong. I am not a gullible nincompoop, my friend. I cannot stomach the people in question not because I am Nationalist (your words) but because they are what they are – unsuitable to lead.
@ David
You come here and lecture us of how taken we are by the PN media and yet you are missing the obvious. The PN media is targeting GA for the only reason that he is the best contender, so he is the last one they want to fight against come next election. The PN marketing is even wiser than you thought, they know that whoever they will put in the spot-light will never be chosen from the delegates, since they are the most hardcore and thus believe whatever comes from the other side is bad for their party, like you do after all!
I have my own reservations of why I prefer GA over the rest, or may I say JM, since he is the other plausible alternative. People who have to trust a politician to lead their future for a given period are lately trusting people who are humble and down-to-earth with translating their agenda. And I believe that is the best trait of Lawrence Gonzi, and that is what made him win the election. Now we have all seen how JM has been addressing people, with intricate words and fancy sayings. That was the old way of doing politics, when very few were educated and one could impress by this behaviour and showing of his certificates. Comparing the two, GA is more down-to-earth with delivering his message and that is what people want, we just saw this 5 weeks ago. Now I believe that most of those delegates still think the old way and thus will be impressed by the certificates and fancy words, besides the other obvious factors that will lead to a JM victory…
One should also analyse international politics and realise, how humility beats arrogance, see Tony Blair, Angela Merkel vs Gerhard Schroder, Prodi vs Berlusconi, Clinton vs Bush…
@David..
Please get back to earth ta’…what I saw in GA?, I didn’t answer you I thought you are intelligent enough to get it as I got it…
George Abela was born a leader if you go back within few years ta’ not that much, you can see what he had achieve alone and I underline it ALONE…
You can hear people talking about him as a lawyer and well said about him from Daphne above here. (Not to repeat the same)and many others.
Again if you go back here in archive you will found out one of mine replies here that I said that if GA will be the next MLP leader I will become floater. And I get a lot of criticism here about it too…
I am Nationalist @ the moment but I’m not stupid to remain till death do us part, if they don’t stick with my values that I always voted for then I will easily switch my vote…
So my opinion is that GA is the best option for MLP to get them out of the mess they are in…Sorry, and yes to say so, but most of the contenders are crap…
Doesn’t mean that you can agree with me ….but get the example from PN most PN hardcore wanted Dalli but moderates wanted Gonzi they were right….
Hi All
Why all this pomp about Abela? I mean the guy came out of obscurity a few days ago and all ready we have a mass conversion from the PN supporters…
All i ve heared is that he s trust worthy, honest…. but can you prove to me tangibly all of this?
Apart from the fact that he left MLP which isnt exactly a matter on which you can trust the guy with the country, I havent read anything about abela that really convinces me. I mean you can say he’s more of a johnny come lately than anyone else…
Pls i would like to know how does the fact that he was anti europe in 96 then after the fight with sant he became pro europe make him trustworthy.
Daphne, you’re right about female intuition – but really I can’t see anything in the man that particularly makes me trust him or anything like that….maybe i’m missing something or maybe I dont know enough about him…
I am glad to note that my post has warranted such reactions from those who are so hurt by what I said.
i’d also like to make this clear: I’m not a journalist anymore as I have left the local news media so I can say what I like without having to be reminded by some conservative idiot that I’m supposed to be neutral.
The hell I’m as neutral as all of the opinionated columnists who write in the so-called English language independent press.
And I stand by what I said about Lawrence Gonzi, etc etc
Waiting for your attacks. :)
[Moderator – Gerald, you didn’t answer a single question put to you. Who is the ‘conservative idiot’?]
As for my jibe at the owner of this blog’s advertising spree, I’m sure the person in question can very well look after herself without having the faithful acolytes sticking up for same.
@Vanni:
I drive a ‘normal’ car, have a ‘normal’ job, live in a ‘normal’ flat and every month I have trouble making ends meet.
As for the China pun, I’m sure you will find yourself very comfortable in such a capitalist driven regime posing as a Communistic one.
As for your snide comments about the Labour leadership contendors, this only confirms your hypocrisy in preaching tolerance whilst expressing intolerance.
[Moderator – In that case, you’ll find most of the ‘capitalists’ on this blog are just like you. They just haven’t got chips on their shoulders, that’s all.]
Alexander is not so great if he ‘supports’ the PN (note the football analogy here) and is centre left.
Did everyone just hear Joseph Muscat compare fiscal policy to ‘cikkulajjet’ on TVM? I can’t remember the last time I cringed so hard.
Matthew – I suppose he’s got to use language that’s understood by the MLP delegates he wants to vote for him …
@Gerald, please explain to me how you have trouble making ends meet with only yourself to support.
@Gerald – Labour are in opposition. Again. Deal with it. People are anti-Labour. Consistently. Deal with it.
@Margaret Tanti
You seem too young to remember that before George Abela became Deputy leader he was for 10 years Prsident of the MFA (Malta Football Association) and changed the organsiation from totally ameteurish to something resembling a professional outfit.
As Deputy leader who did not contest elections personally in 1996 he gave Labour the oncly real victory at the polls since 1976. Compare that to Micahel Falzon who contested on two districts and took care of his personal campaign rather then execute his duties towards the party.
When ABela left from Alfred San’st side early in 1998 ( he resigned from the Prime Minister personal consultant) Sant went haywire till he stumbled in parliament and was kicked out of government. George Abela was the only one who warned Labour not to go to early elections and stood by his word by quitting rather than particpiate in a kamikaze exercise.
In 1996 the EU was a distant issue. The EU had not yet decided to make another enlargement after the 1995 one. This came in 1997/1998 when the EU decided to expand eastward and include Malta & Cyprus.
Abela had the courage to go against the trend by joining MEUSAC so that he can judge from within and then express favour when the details of the package were known.
If Alfred Sant did the same Labour would have gained government in 2003. Few in fact realise that the terms negotiated by EFA with the EU were favourable to Malta also thanks to Alfred Sant as government could use his resistance as a leverage to negotiate better terms. However Alfred Sant could see no further than his nose. He could not even claim credit where it was due.
George Abela has proved himself more rationale and reliable. Certainly he is the best that Labour can offer.
Dear Gerald
You seem to have lost not only the election, but the Fenech part of your nick :)
First of all I am nobody’s acoloyte. Certain things do however grate on my kindly nature. I am talking about double standards (hint hint) and advertising without the owner’s consent (Brain where art thou)? If you call agreeing with certain opinions as being an acolyte, what does that make a blind follower of a party, a lap dog?
Now you wrote:
“As for the China pun, I’m sure you will find yourself very comfortable in such a capitalist driven regime posing as a Communistic one.”
1. It was NOT a pun. It was a suggestion.
2. I find myself very comfortable where I am thank you very much. Very kind of you to worry about my well being :)
I am sorry that you are having problems making ends meet. May I suggest that you apply with Super 1, as they seem to pay good rates of overtime. However it is always a good idea to check out a companies financial position before joining it. A visit to check out the accounts at ROC (Imriehel by Pass) would be a good idea.
“As for your snide comments about the Labour leadership contendors, this only confirms your hypocrisy in preaching tolerance whilst expressing intolerance.”
I was not being snide. I mentioned two people, JM and Anglu and pointed out their failings. Just because you don’t like my doing so, does not make it snide. It is called fair comment on prospective Maltese Prime Ministers, or rather Prime Ministers the MLP would like to foist on Malta. Therefore, I, and everybody here, have a right to discuss the people the MLP are proposing. If you, and the MLP, don’t like it, well what can I say? Tough.
@ Gerald
I wonder why you become so verbal and aggressive. Something must be bothering you. Who is running Smash news now? The son of the boss? (no pun intended for the son of Daphne)
Gerald you need to release your tension. You can defend the Labour Party, the poodle, et all in another way. Take a hint from this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWSjUe0FyxQ
@ P Portelli
I remember the 96 election….EU was on the immediate agenda – GA was in favour of Svizzera fil mediterran. Up until 98 he was, until he left the Labour party. The he suddenly became in favour of the EU. He voted for PN in 2003 (heared in on the grapevine) so no wonder he is a favourite with the PNers. He was also in favour of removing VAT and bringing in CET – he was Sant’s advisor at castille. Don’t you think that being in favour of CET is big black mark on Abela? and he was in favour of increasing the electricity tarriffs indiscriminately and removing stipends….he was sant’s advisor in Castille so he has a huge responsibility on his shoulders…
He left only because he wanted MLP not to call the election not because he disagreed with these policies. So why is MLP continuosly hounded with these bad decisions while GA is scott free? Why are people who were in favour of Svizzera fil Mediterran making a U turn when they aim to work in the EU while GA is elevated to hero status.
Face it GA is only liked by Nats because he was used as a propogandistic weapon against MLP and because his whole issue creates embarrasment to the MLP.
@ P Portelli..
Thanks for the brief explanation about George Abela, but I wanted David and all others to come to those conclusions alone…
It is easy like that, they had to search about it…for that I was vague…..
But thanks anyway…..
@ Gerald
Since I studied in a government school under your ideological beliefs (ie Labour government), I couldn’t understand your comment/s about me. Maybe you can be so kind and socialist to explain a common mortal worker like me and teach me!
Heqq I don’t want to remain a conservative idiot… he he he
Thanks in advance.
@Daphne, it is becoming quite expensive for anyone to have a decent standard of living these days. And I do not have only myself to support – however I don’t think I should start listing my dependents on this blog as you may well appreciate.
@Bocca. Yes Labour lost the elction and people are anti Labour, consistently. So what? Does that make me want to switch back to the PN? Never!
@Simon. I reiterate I have no longer anything to do with 7 News and Smash TV. I have no problem with the ‘son of the boss’ running the news. Do you find a problem with that? I thought nobody watched Smash TV’s news as it has been derided as mediocre and Labour leaning. As for the suggestion that someone is bothering me, of course, its the PN crowing over a Phyrric victory of 1500 votes!
@Vanni. Thanks for all your suggestions. But what are you trying to prove? That the company I work for is broke?
And now I will attempt to calm down!
[Moderator – Labour supporters really need to look up the meaning of a Pyrrhic victory (that is the correct spelling).]
@ Gerald
“@Vanni. Thanks for all your suggestions. But what are you trying to prove? That the company I work for is broke?”
I couldn’t care less about the company, if truth be told, although I do care a lot about the workers and their dependents. So you do have my sympathy.
BTW, and just so you don’t think I am going all soft :), I see you have found your surname again :)
thanks for pointing out the typo Moderator. That’s coz I didn’t go to a Church/private/independent school perhaps. Come to think of it, my primary years were actually spent at a Church school. Yippee!!
Vanni, are you implying I work for Super 1 or Smash TV? Coz you’re wrong on both counts.
Has somebody discovered a bunch of offspring? Hehehe
Mod – Maybe he was using the term “pyrrhic victory” to quote somebody whom he once thought “had an aura about him that is disarming” (or something to that effect)
who needs MLP? let’s do away with MLP and turn Malta in a one state-party! jolly-daphne
[Moderator – rene, we wouldn’t like the wholesale departure of the MLP. Far from it, all we want is a decent opposition and a party that, if elected, wouldn’t encourage half the population to emigrate.]