Live on Super One with muzika tal-mewt
Published:
June 6, 2008 at 12:20am
And the suspense goes on. George Abela, Michael Falzon, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Evarist Bartolo together got more than 50% of the vote, which means that tomorrow the delegates will have to vote again and it will be a straight fight between George Abela and Joseph Muscat.
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ga 200 22.9%
eb 32 3.7%
mlcp 26 3.0%
mf 181 20.7%
jm 435 49.8%
Together they got 50.23% of the votes but the very efficient mlp people will probably announce this after another boring hour. No wonder they didn’t want to open up this election to the tesserati; it would have taken them longer than Zimbabwe to come up with an official result!
The scrutineering is now on…….
err Daphne… ur post is too negative. I mean this is actually a good thing for us. Not good for The Democratic Republic of Malta, but good for us.
As it goes, we will chose the best out of two evils, not because PN is evil of course, but because as it goes the next election will be an easy one. There is not enough to stimulate the present government.
At least not to my eyes.
may i ask a question which has been lingering on my mind throughout this shambles of maltese politics…
why DO the nationalists want George Abela to be leader of the MLP so much? is it coz they think he is the weakest candidate and hasn’t a hope in hell of beating Gonzi in 5 yrs? is it coz they love him loads more than gonzi n all the people who voted for PN last election will vote for MLP if George is at the helm? …very confused.
and please, spare me the “ax, you know, i mean, we need a strong opposition hux, i mean, for the good of Malta ay, you know, i mean!” …bleah…
eh and people ask me why i didn’t vote in the last election. just tune in to NET TV or Super One…wish they’d replace a thousand words with a picture n save me a few headaches.
It seems that JM missed the quota by merely 3 votes. There also were 5 invalid votes from the 879 eligible ballots. Question: do the EB, MLCP, and MF votes all represent votes against JM? If so, then in the extreme case, those votes would go to GA, and presuming no defections from the GA or JM camps, or invalid votes to be cast later from those groups. Although on round two, face to face, it would seem improbable that JM would not pick up the few needed votes, overall, as things stand, it could be an even fight between two candidates: the outsider vs. the insider. The issue to be decided by the delegates.
@Jimmy
Well easy. Because the Maltese enjoy a well-fought election where any outcome will be beneficial to the country.
George Abela sounded like the candidate most likely to create a beneficial opposition.
In all probability, as from tomorrow, the glasshouse will be referred to officially as the Kennel.
‘Arf ‘Arf
@Edward Clemmer
I disagree that those who did not vote for JM were expressing vote against him. The MaltaToday survey had shown that for many of them JM was their second choice. I was surprised JM didn’t make it yesterday but I expect that he will win handsomely tonight by around 65% of the vote.
@ Jimmy
If GA made it as MLP leader, non die-hard Nationalists will not say “oh cr*p” or “God help us, tela’ l-Lejber!” after the next election. Not saying they would vote for him, though some might, or make cartwheels for joy but at least, the man strikes most people as a competent and decent sort of chap.
That simple.
But, as so aptly described by Daphne, we’ll be having Alfred Sant MkII leading the MLP.
@ Jimmy
I want George Abela to be elected so that in the next General Elections I won’t be dreading a Labour victory, with the “Allahares jitla’ l-Labour” chilling thought constantly preying on my peace of mind.
I agree that they played lousy music and why did the whole affair take so long? From what i saw, most of the officals had nothing to do all evening, even though they tried their hardest to look useful and busy – including their chief electoral commissioner. What a weird lot. how disheartening to see the delegates and officials going about their business, some in their Sunday best, others in their worst, but still they managed to hang on to their power by excluding 17,000 voters. I can’t recall what JM had said about the current(Peacock’s)administration’ resignation? I bet there will be no change there.
@ Jimmy
I am a Nationalist and I am praying in vain that MLP elect George Abela and the reason is very simple,
If MLP has to be in Government I want a mature, experienced and a person who showed us values in his entire political career, not an opportunist that goes as the wind blows…
@Jimmy
….it coz they think he is the weakest candidate and hasn’t a hope in hell of beating Gonzi in 5 yrs? Are you suggesting he is weaker because he doesn’t SHOUT when he talks or argues?
You show that you either don’t know Dr Abela personally (I suggest you log on http://www.georgeabela.info/v3/ (especially watch Dr Abela on bil-fatti),
or else you want to smear him so that delegates won’t vote for him tonight.
I don’t always see eye to eye with Daphne, but you have to admit that she speaks her mind. If something is wrong she just says so no matter who did it. At least you have to give her credit for that.
@Jimmy
Some people are so naive…the Nationalists are clamouring for George Abela because they want Labour to go the other way and chose Joseph Muscat! That simple!!
History repeats itself, the delegates have chosen Joseph against the will of all other citizens. I have my doubts whether JM can actually change anything in the MLP administration. After all they fought so well for him.
Dear Jimmy
Many Nationalist voters want GA cos they are dying to vote Labour as long as there is GA as leader
Last night we all have witnessed the most transparent and most democratic way in electing a Leader of a Political Party. It should be the perfect example for all political parties.
I may add that the PN media and its clones played a very important part on yesterday’s ballot. It worked in Joseph’s favour and to the detriment of the others. I said in this forum, some time ago, that a village idiot is more intelligent then most posters here. I was more then right.
Only an earthquake would change the inevitable this evening. The following is a personal message to all 5 contestants with moderator’s and Daphne’s permission
First, I pay tribute to one of my best friends George and the rest of the formidable team, Varist, Michael and Marie-Louise. Here is the renewal of my love and respect for you all. I wished that you all could win as you deserve it but we can only have one leader.
Moreover, to Joseph, my new Leader, I wish all the good luck in the world. May God stay with you always. Well done friend and I promise that we always be there with you.
This shall be the beginning of a new era. I am so happy to belong to the most democratic political party Malta has ever seen. Well done friends/mates.
Let us celebrate tonight.
Cannot some bloggers understand that there are those who can rise above party politics and point out the other side that they and the country would fare better with another choice, and this for non selfish reasons.
Would they be amazed to find out that as is the rule in some of the American states that delegates from both sides of the political spectrum vote for both political party candidates in the primaries ?
As I have written before, ALL of us have a stake in this election. The elected could be OUR next prime minister.
@Jimmy
It is very clear, we all know that labour will eventually win an election. So given that, we just want continuity.
You know for the majority of us who are not directly advantaged by who wins the elections, stability is all that counts. We don’t want to gamble to try and be the best in Europe, because that is IMPOSSIBLE, we just want to grow and continue developing at a relative rate, whether there is pn, mlp, ad or whoever in govt.
i am an ardent nationalist and would like GA to win only because he is the best out of the lot. knows how and when to argue things out! needless to say though, he won’t get elected – just like with LS!
@Jimmy: Many people don’t fear an MLP government. They fear an incompetent one. The two have become synonymous in many people’s minds. George Abela is seen as a person who could change that.
LOL..The P.N do not want G.Abela leading the Morti Opposition Party…so they made it look as if they want him….and lo and behold.as usual the intelligenti at the glass house fell for it again……….
I’m a Labourite. So there I set my bias.
Even I wanted Dr.Abela as Leader, and I will explain why.
The Law of Elections Probability … the more elections a party win, the lesser the chance they get win the FOLLOWING election.
PN won the last 3 elections. The chance of MLP winning the next one will, according to this Law, be more than it was in this one. More and more with a “new” leader steering the MLP.
Now, if you ask me, I would tell you that Dr. Abela would not only win the next election, but even the one after that.
Dr. Muscat, if he wins the next one … will stumble here, there and everywhere, and leave the electorate with no option but to re-elect the PN government for another 10 years.
Steve, you’re wrong when stating that the delegates chose Dr. Muscat AGAINST the will of everyone else. The latest polls showed a swing in FAVOUR of Muscat from all sides of society, apart from the fact that all polls showed Dr. Abela and Dr. Muscat, often head-to-head in all poll questions.
I agree with Steve.
This will be the real test of JM’s intentions. If he has the power and ability to do a clean sweep of people like Jason and Manwel Cuschieri, and change the agressive negative tone of their media, then there might be hope that the MLP will reform itself. Honestly though I cannot see it happening considering what a “palata” these kind of people gave him. We’ll see!
Let’s look on the bright side….Had the tesserati been allowed to vote we would still be glued to the telly, biting our nails, awaiting the great news. Hekk ghallinqas we had a good night’s sleep (part of, insomma)!
A big round of applause to all the MLP delegates for their constant support to the PN for electing the right person AGAIN.
The PN has won again !!!
@Francis
For whatever reasons, yesterday’s votes for EB, MLCP, and MF do not represent a first choice for JM–which may or may not be a choice against JM. It is not yet evident if their votes include pro-GA sentiment. It is evident, that for JM’s having failed to muster 50% (barely), that this is a significant split of eveningly-divided opinion between the forces for the status-quo candidate versus the candidate for rehabilitative change for the MLP.
If the EB, MLCP, and MF support is conditioned by reservations about JM, then GA has the potential formula for a leadership victory–and the spin from JM on the results so far, including the idea floated by others that, perhaps, GA would want to concede to JM, is aimed at preventing disintegration of his campaign. A narrow loss, if there should be one, is still a loss, as 1500 votes in the general election has already demonstrated: and JM does not want to repeat an AS (regarding election defeats and falsely projecting overconfidence).
The fact there even is a run off election is troublesome for JM. But, if the delegates want reform, there is only one choice, and they are still free to make it. My view is nearly the same as Alfred Mifsud’s on this issue. The empirical answer to our questions is in the hands of this evening’s voting delegates. I have only indicated that a GA win is not impossible: there is nearly a 50/50 probability on my view, depending upon the motivation of the EB, MLCP, and MF delegates; barring no defections from the GA or JM camps. My personal opinion is that the results will be much closer than your 65/35 guestimate, that seems more likely to me to be extreme.
The bottom line of tonights vote will be an answer to the question: Do the delegates want the status quo, or do they want change? I will be obseving to see what they have chosen. The national sentiment is looking for an alternative to the status quo, and if the MLP dish that one up for the voting public, there will be an entirely new politic in Malta. That is why there is so much cross-party support for GA. The issue to be decided tonight is whether or not there is sufficient internal MLP support to execute that change.
Sybil said “as from tomorrow, the glasshouse will be referred to officially as the Kennel”.
Using the same logic, the “Stamperija” should have been renamed “The Pigsty” years ago.
oink, oink.
I really don’t agree with you. It sounds so artificial that all Nationalists seek to achieve the good of the country whereas Labourites don’t! I really dislike this attitude. Many people seek the best for their country except those who have high connections and can get certain benefits and so decide according to their own advantages. This applies to both parties.
George Abela is a valid candidate and I wouldn’t mind if he was elected head of the party but let’s be realistic as well. In the eyes of the MLP followers, he betrayed the party in the 96-98 issue and many of them are still hurt about it. So it is not so incredible that many of the delegates and general public don’t trust him.
Of course PN supporters think otherwise. For them ,he was an aid to help them get elected in 1998 apart other factors as well.
Now what i really wanted to say and I know that most of you won’t agree with me here, Joseph Muscat is also a valid candidate. He is young and dynamic and has proved himself very resourceful in EU parliament. Just take a look at the mobile phones issue and car taxes. This stupid propaganda about poodles really belittles who induces it as it shows that poor arguments are at hand. Let us just give time and judge peopel by their actions as Dr Gonzi said after all!
My feeling is that Il-Qassis will declare for Jowey. I suspect that he was fielded to split the anti-poodle vote. So now we have someone’s pet doggie for a leader of the oppo….much like Tinkerelle is Paris Hilton’s doggie.
@ Francis Zammit. You hit the proverbial nail on the head! Polling done by Malta Today shows that Joseph Muscat and George Abela both appeal to floating voters – the only voting group that really counts in terms of winning an election. George Abela also appeals to PN voters who would probably never vote for Labour anyway. So Labour is choosing between two candidates who have what it takes to lead them to victory.
Now let’s wait for the Nationalist spin machine to engage in a concerted character assassination of Joseph Muscat when he is elected (with some apparently unintentional help from people like Daphne). Remember how that same machine went on the attack after AS was elected leader in 1992? I’m wondering how long of a honeymoon period the Nationalist spin machine will give Joseph before gearing into attack mode. My guess is not long.
Just wait and see the outcome of this evening election before speeking. there is already change without dahne’s s…. column
Becky d’Ugo – That thought will ALWAYS be there, no matter WHO the Labour leader is.
I am sure JM would bring a breath of fresh air to the way things are done around here.
With twins named Soleil Sophie and Etoile Ella (literally Sophie the Sun and Ella the Star), we are sure to be shortly reaching high towards the galaxies.
What bliss!!
On Thursday I urged the delegates not to repeat the same mistake again and this time vote Dr Abela as leader of the MLP.
When I speak to some ppl/delegates who support Joseph, they always blame the media, the PN and others, but not the MLP itself for the defeat of the election of the MLP; as if they want ‘the others’ to change.
Now I understand. Yesterday’s vote confirmed that the delegates do not want change, they want the same ppl to remain at the helm, maybe yes one day the others will change!!!!!!!!!!
@ D Fenech
no no u misunderstood me. by ‘the weakest’ i meant that the PN are pushing (for a Labour ?!) candidate because they think he’s weak and would stand no chance against Gonzi, fhimt? i mean is that a posivle reason….reverse pyschology ? lol
i don’t agree with many of you. As in saying that George Abela is head and shoulders above the J.Muscat. First i think too many ppl are susceptible to the PN media machine and Daphne (same difference?!). An independent (if there really is such a thing on this island) journo recently wrote in a newspaper, he asked a group of 30-somethin aged friends, educated and PN-leaning, tangible reasons why the PN appear 2 be so enamoured with GA. They stared at him with blank faces. because NET TV and Daphne said so???
i’d bet my last Euro (hehe) that if no one on the island had heard a single news report or read an opinion piece about any candidate but simply based their conclusions on hearing the candidates speak they would not be so biased, one way or another.
Joseph is highly capable, young true. perhaps the ideal choice would have been GA as leader for 5 yrs n Joseph as deputy, ready to take over in 5 yrs. He is not A.Sant’s poodle as the ‘enlightened’ one likes to frequently imply. He is his own man. and if u take into account recent polls, he did much much better with ppl aged 18-35 than GA. and those are the people who are gonna vote for the next few decades.
If i were a labourite, i would be concerned about electing a candidate that has his (and only his) press conf screened on NET TV. spking of dogs, maybe GA is Gonzi’s little pug? hmm just a thought..
and please, let’s rise above the crap BOTH parties did in the past. they both have blood on their hands. let’s consign it to history and move on.
Does anyone else think that Daphne is letting down her readers by not posting entries at such a crucial times in Maltese politics?
Come on Daphne, tell us how you wish Joseph the poodle turns out to be Malta’s Zapatero!
Or else the Nationalists are clamouring for George Abela to make the delegates think they’re using reverse psychology so they won’t choose Joseph Muscat!
The point is, Labour delegates chose Joseph Muscat. And… as much as the PN may not think this was a great strategic move, only time will tell whether he has what it takes to emerge from this “opportunist” “poodle” image and transform into the leader Labour never had, and the prime minister that will end the status quo and actually bring some real change to this country.
Fingers crossed.
Whatever the case, it serves none of us to belittle Joseph at such an early stage of his career. Let’s give him a bit of a chance and see what he’s really made of. I think he might surprise us all.
He’s grown taller. All he needs to become monumental is a manuscript in his right hand – http://www.josephmuscat.com/userfiles/image/WklyMtgs/WklyMtgs1Pic7.jpg
[Moderator – The first four letters to his right read ‘pozi’.]
Just two points to
Francis – i don t think Jimmy is naive actually – Labour goes the other way coz dat is the only way
Steve – actually they didn’t go against the will of all citizens – they might have gone against the will of the nationalists – oh yes “not a good opposition bla bla bla” but they certainly haven’t gone against the will of all citizens you can rest assured :)
Well, Joseph Muscat said, vote joseph, get Joseph…………………..Vote Joseph and you will get another KMB…..remember the Zero man??? It seems that Jospeh Muscat is gonna rule the MLP. Bye, bye, alternattiva serja, hello Gonzi PN for another 5 years in Castille next elections.
This is irrelevant but hilarious nonetheless. Apparently “the final round to elect a new Labour leader has just kicked.”
http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msrv/msfullart.asp?an=21706
Oh God! This superiority complex of yours makes me sick! I have voted both parties throughout various elections and it repulses me to read such statements full of venom especially the nonsense comments about his young kids. What do innocent children have to do with all this?
@Mary Borg
What do you expect? The good in this blog is that we can actually take a peep into what Nats really think, behind the lovely backdrops of the Kunsill Generali. This is the type of talk which goes on in the corridors of Pieta. So be it. Thanks to this site we can see for ourselves what venom these people are capable of.
One thing is sure, tonight their plan has failed. All the efforts of the “independent” press, of Xarabank, Bondiplus and all the other members of the choir have failed to put a PN-favoured candidate at the head of the MLP. And, believe me, they wanted George Abela. This is a guy they knew well. They knew his vulnerabilities from day one. Joseph is really an unknown quantity. That is always dangerous when he is your opponent.
The “young” Gonzi is now 20 years older than the Leader of the party in opposition. The Pieta group has now to discover the elisir of youth as it were, and begin to administer it to Gonzi little by little. We live in interesting times.
…. the piles of votes clearly show about 60% to the poodle…..Let the fun begin and let the Nats grin cheekily themselves.
Who’s betting Jason will stay on too?
MLP – you have no friggin idea!!
@Edward Clemmer
Pardon me, but I have to say it “I told you so” 66% JM and 33% GA, quite close to my prediction wasn’t it.
I am interested to hear you psycholgical profiling of the new leader. I thought you had nailed Sant’s very well.
Goooooood lord……..what a smile the pepsodent man had on his face……salary reassured!!??
@ D.Fenech
The rules of democracy dictate the game. You can go on till kingdom come complaining that the MLP delegates do not want change. There is another angle to this my friend. The votes taken yesterday and to-day clearly show that the Labour delegates DID NOT want George Abela to lead them pure and simple.
What is it with MLP leaders anyway?
Mintoff once hailed as a saviour with candles lit in front of his picture, now disgraced and called a traitor by one of his successors. Karmenu depicted as angelic in his days, now sidelined in another movement. Sant from Harvard, we were promised that he’ll be Malta’s no-nonsense manager, now considered as the blame for three consecutive losses … and here we go again… The best thing since sliced bread, ladies and gentlemen…
Herr Schulz und Little Joseph at a talent show for fuhrers:
http://www.maltafly.com/images/doktorzz.jpg
Well Muscat won with 66.6% apparently according to the official Super one… the mark of the beast lol
RTK said that Muscat told Gonzi ‘the honeymoon is over’.
Well I just don’t think so. I think MLP is going to lose the next elections with their newly elected sant clone.
Well its the way the PN machine works. When discussing things or in their news items you will always hear them say ‘as everyone is saying’ or ‘as has been said by some’. The ‘everyone’ and ‘some’ they refer to are most of the time themselves, since they would have started the rumor. Case in point: J. Muscat being Sant’s poodle. It was a PN supporter who started this catch phrase but in the run up to the elections the PN media repeatedly said that J. Muscat is OFTEN referred to as Sant’s poodle. People then start believing this as common knowledge or fact. The PN don’t sling mud, they send it by post.
@D.Fenech: Time would prove you wrong.I do not know how you jump to such conclusions, that delegates do not want change.
Change already started this very morning. Apart from new Deputy Leaders , a new adminstration would be approved by the Delegates themselves.
The New Leader together with the other 4 contestants for Leadership would be meeting as from today to impliment new strategies for the near and distant future.There would be space for all and that includes you and I.
So please refrain from uttering such silly conclusions.No offence is meant, I assure you that the change would become an earthquake on the local political scene.
@Caphenni
Just wait to read Sunday’s column by DCG. I am sure you will not feel let down any longer.
@DCG
If you use Maltese, use correct spelling, mużika not muzika.
@avaloner
Whether you call him Sant’s poodle or not, the point is not so much the choice of nickname but the fact that for many years he was a supporter/disciple/alcolyte of Sant and a great admirer. Will he behave like one? Who knows? Lets wait and see? And why should that be a problem?
I find it interesting that you think that calling him a disciple of Sant is mud slinging. Is being a disciple of Sant something negative? Where have you been in the last sixteen years? How does one go from being a hero to mud? Let me see, losing two elections and a referendum is OK, but the third is a no-no? :)
@Albert Farrugia
One can turn your point on its head and say that the PN supported George Abela to feed the MLP paranoia and get an MLP leader they believe they can beat (JM) But thats the operative word; PARANOIA.
Whoever was going to get elected, the difficult job was going to be after the election, not before, and I don’t envy Joe Muscat at all. Rebuilding the MLP is not going to be an easy task, especially when many within it think all it needs is a little polish, but the job is a hell of a lot bigger and one of the first things to deal with is your paranoia. Paranoia doesn’t allow you to think clearly and feeds upon itself. Stop looking over your shoulder and start concentrating on the job at hand…..
@Albert Farrugia
You REALLY need to get a clue -URGENTLY!!! Labourites tend to measure everybody by their own yardstick. The reason so many favoured G Abela is that we all wish to have a valid alternative government. The only time we had one in the last 20 years was 1996 – 1998. That is why Sant kept losing. The chances are G Abela would have been an valid alternative. JOSEPH MUSCAT IS NOT! Labour have shot themselves in the foot yet again! They have also done the country a great disservice yet again! This is fast becoming a one party democracy thanks to labour and it’s not good for the country.
Not a bad start, let’s see if he keeps his word:
“Dr Muscat told a press conference this morning that the Labour Party was prepared to cooperate with the government on national issues, such as the situation at ST Microelectronics and Malta Shipyards, as long as it was seen as an equal partner.
The new party leader said his election marked a new chapter for the MLP. People his age were fed up of a situation where politicians said one thing and did another, or nothing at all, he said. The status quo had to end.
Dr Muscat paid tribute to George Abela, his main rival in the leadership election, and said he wished to entrust him with a major project for the MLP, but did not wish to say more until he had discussed it with him. He also thanked the other leadership contenders with whom, he said, he also looked forward to working.”
@ sybil and Ganni Borg : How funny!!! Please stop insulting the animals. We all know dogs are intelligent and what their capabilities are, since many of us have them at home. With regards to the pigs, although these are not domesticated and to many may be ” tasty” these are highly intelligent creatures as well.
It would be good for the country if JM really keeps his word. In my opinion, his opening speeches and comments have been very encouraging. But so were Gonzi’s when he was elected four years back and there definitely wasn’t any ‘stil gdid ta’ politika’. Let’s hope for the best.
@ MikeC
As you aptly said its a question of nicknames in fact but there is where I stop agreeing with you.
If you feel the word ‘disciple’ and the word ‘poodle’ are interchangeable and have the same meaning I cannot share your sentiment. Jesus had disciples. He certainly did not have poodles (at least not that we know of). I would not see it as mud slinging calling him a disciple (in a broader sense of the word nonetheless) but I do think its insulting and mud slinging to call someone a poodle, a toy pet.
I would also find your use of the word hero objectionable. Its very hard for me to associate that word with any local politician but then again I can see how some Maltese tend to put politicians on pedestals so I might understand where you are coming from.
On another note: do you think there is any chance of Muscat putting Sant in the presidential role should he be elected as prime minister further down the line?
Europarl – Still too big for his boots; still too short – for his shirt sleeves this time. (Plus no amount of chin hair will make a little boy look mature enough for “the job”.)
Will someone please enlighten me. What percentage vote did Gonzi get when he was first elected leader of PN, and what role did he offer John Dalli?
@Francis
Yes, your numbers were on for the second round: 33.6 (GA) vs. 66.4 (JM). This compares to the first round: 22.9 (GA) vs. 49.8 (JM). This is a shift of 11.3 for GA, and of 16.6 for JM. At least, we have an estimate where 231 og the 239 votes for EB, MLCP, and MF went: 39.4% to GA and 60.6% to JM. In principle, the MLP delegates voted with the party machine and untested leadership(JM), and not for radical and experienced objective leadership(GA).
The success of this strategy requires substantial performance from JM, that would be recognized as credible (valid and rational) across party lines. And the weight of addressing the internal politics of the MLP and his performance in parliament, so as to gain generally high performance marks, will be very difficult. Can he be a reformer and innovator, who shows trustworthy judgment and leadership skills?
To be convincing, and be more than a PR glamorous showcasing of self-proclaimed wit, sarcasm, and virtue, JM has a huge task, as well as a learning curve, to master. He should be thankful for almost five years to achieve his role in opposition. Of course, the government, on the other hand, will have five years of governance and much to accomplish, or fail to accomplish. So, the jury is out for a long while–but the jury will be closely watching everyone over the period.
I am not prepared now for time and energy to provide a psychological profile of JM, although my assessment of AS was of greater urgency eight years ago. Since then, we have safely progressed within the EU, and we have avoided the likely catastrophe of another AS government.
@David Buttigieg
Keep the PN spin to yourself. Just admit that your party failed in its efforts to influence the choice of leader. The honeymoon is over. Fullstop.
@Peter Muscat
I hope you are right. Yesterday on Xarabank when Peppi asked Micheal Falzon (PN) to tell him the truth (the voting had ceased, so he was not trying to influence anyone) he told him that the PN feared George Abela most! He also said that Dr Muscat was now ‘in debt’ with those who helped him to become leader, and who are these, may I ask?
And when I changed to ONE TV, and saw Dr Muscat arriving at the CLN, he was surrounded by Jason Azzopardi, Joe Cuschieri, Zrinzo Azzopardi, Ray Azzopardi (all beaming) that he became leader.
Funnily enough, Gonzi was a great admirer of Dr. Fenech Adami and no clamour was made because of such a thing when Gonzi became the leader of the party without having any political credentials of his to pave the way. No-one said anything despite the fact that the current self-proclaimed president was involved in various cases where criminal names appeared very often. Funnily enough Alfred Sant’s name can only be attributed to non-charisma, bad management and unadequate political tactics but not to outlaw prospects.
I am no admirer of neither Sant nor Fenech Adami but please let’s call a spade a spade.
So, what is the fault with this boy? Just because he admired his leader as most of the party’s supporters usually do with his leader? Oh come on, grow up! Give him a chance! Let him act first and then judge. If he proves you right, then your comments would be justified but anything of the sort before due time is certainly uncalled for.
So the ‘Made in Brussels’ boy made it to the helm. He is as strong as the present government because with Labour’s thinking, he did not get the 50% +1 of all the delegates. Or perhaps for Labour, this is a different case, right?
With Jason’s wide grin (reminiscent of the one before the general election), while being ‘spalla ma spalla’ with the new man, it augurs well for PN.
The new boy has made the largest U-Turn – from presenting ‘Made in Brussels’ to expecting us to believe that he is now the strongest of EU supporters. The new boy has also made a tactical mistake of getting Shultz to support him before realising he misunderstood his opposition within the party. Trying his hand at ‘damage control’ he said he had no other EU socialists lined up to parade with him, until the public got to know that he had others in waiting. But why does he remind me of his predecessor? It seems he’s learnt Sant’s recipies very well and is hell-bent on copying them.
@Avaloner
As far as I’m concerned poodle is just a deprecatory term for alcolyte, which is probably the best term. Whether one uses the technical word or the deprecatory one is not the main issue. I’m just surprised how suddenly being called Sant’s alcolyte is termed as mud slinging. I mean, if the term was applied to me it would certainly be mudslinging, (a) because it would be untrue (b) because I have no respect for the man at all, only contempt. But since when is it mud-slinging for a prominent labourite to be referred to as Sant’s alcolyte?
With regard to your comment about heroes, I’m not sure what you mean when you say you know where I’m coming from. I’m not one of ‘some people’ you refer to, but I’d say the majority of MLP supporters ARE, and until three months ago he WAS their hero. Ever since Mintoff, just like its sister parties behind both the iron and bamboo curtains, labour has subscribed to the leader cult mentality, and it would appear the new cult is starting.
You wonder if Muscat will consider Sant as presidential material? I have no idea. I certainly wouldn’t!
And to be honest I doubt if it is something he is thinking of right now. Before becoming prime minister he needs to do a number of things, foremost among them rescuing the MLP from bankruptcy and building an administration that can put together an electoral program & campaign which needs to be a sight better than the last one. And the two problems are related. I get the impression that labour is run by a mixture of paid amateurs and unpaid volunteers, and it clearly needs paid professionals.
Even then, I’m not sure he can pull a victory off, because he brings anti-EU baggage with him that can be easily targeted, as well as his youth and general lack of experience. I suppose if he DOES turn the MLP round he will be able to cite that as an example of his skill, but we’ll just have to wait and see. I’d love to hear what his former employer Alfred Mifsud thinks about that!
And although quite a bit older than Muscat, Gonzi won’t be a doddering old man at the next election. So I wouldn’t imagine for one minute that the biggest hurdle on the way to his becoming PM is the one he has just got past, its the smallest by far.
If he DOES eventually make it as prime minister, I think making Sant president will be an example of why he SHOULDN’T be prime minister. Remember, Sant is the man for whom the result of the referendum (a majority of the population) meant nothing, and a man who the population rejected 4 times, referendum included. It hardly makes sense for Muscat to impose him on us, it would seem to be a huge error of judgement, and if it is the sort of error in judgement he is prone to making, then I can’t see him getting into a position to make that decision!
@curious
In the first round, Gonzi got 59.1%, Dalli 25.4% and Galea 15.5% Dalli decided not to contest in the second round.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2004/02/29/top_story.html
Gonzi offered him the most senior ministerial portfolio after that of PM, ie the foriegn ministry.
Mary Borg – You said “So, what is the fault with this boy?”
Look at your last word, and the answer is partly there.
Yes MikeC, it’s the best term – especially when spelled correctly.
@Albert Farrugia,
As I said, you measure everybody by your own (rather short) yardstick!
Wake up and smell the coffee boy! PN have a five year honeymoon paid for by leiber.
Oh Lord why, WHY can’t we have a valid opposition?
@ david buttigieg
Ths honey moon for gonzi is over – if GA was elected then you might have had it paid for by labour but i guess he wasn’t the right one…
Oh there we go again … the mythical valid opposition! Isn’t that a convenient excuse not to give others an opportunity to prove themselves? I wonder….
@ MikeC
Again you say that using the term acolyte to describe Muscat should not be considered mud slinging. Again I partially agree if the word is used in the loosest way possible (both ‘acolyte’ and ‘disciple’ have some strong religious connotations and religion, in my honest opinion, is not always very rational). But I must point to you that acolyte and poodle have very different connotations. An acolyte decides to follow (or attend to) his master by choice. A poodle never chooses his master. Moreover the poodle is a dog which lacks any bite when on his own. Its just there for show. So using Poodle to describe Muscat’s relationship with Sant is implying that Muscat cannot stand on his own two feet and will need Sant’s guidance in the future to function. I fell that is mudslinging.
If I had to pick a term it would be ‘pupil’.
As to the referring to Sant as a hero I (mistakenly) presumed that you find no objection to the word being used to refer to a politician since you used it to describe Sant. If you were referring to what Labourites say about Sant I fail to see how this in any way relates to me and to the scope of our discussion. I guess you were using our discussion to get at the Labourites who might happen to be reading.
In closing I find it strange how you skirted around the whole point of my original post (the origins of the term poodle and the tactics utilized by the PN machine to assassinate characters) and found it more pertinent to discuss semantics.
@m
You really don’t have a clue do you? If you rather we have a one party democracy then lejber have certainly done a good job at prolonging the status quo.
@Mary Borg
“the mythical valid opposition” You have a point! In Malta it is fast becoming a myth!
@D. Fenech .. On the programme you mentioned there were others who expressed different views.
Be assured that Dr. M Falzon and the rest will back Joseph.
After the election of the 2 Deputy Leaders and New Adminstration we are to witness a new political structure that would be then envy of the opposite camp.
Today at 8.30pm the New Leader is to be interviewed on Smash TV and Joseph would certainly gives you a picture that would clear your smoke.