A week with Labour (no earthquakes, but lots of gaffes)
In the space of a week, we’ve seen:
• a non-national political leader organise what he calls a national non-political protest and then brands “a manifestation of courage”;
• the same non-national leader addressing the nation with a backdrop of flags of Malta and the EU, rather than the flag of the only organisation he represents, the Labour Party;
• a trade union call the people of Malta to a “national manifestation”, when it is not a national leader (perhaps they meant nationwide protest, but we’ll never know);
• the raised eyebrows of a former PN journalist make headline news in the MLP media while the MLP leader’s breach of protocol is reported as exemplary behaviour;
• the MLP media report that the MLP leader spoke on behalf of “the Maltese people” when he did no such thing;
• a person with no identifiable role in an organisation infiltrating that organisation’s private event;
• a former cultural adviser to a Labour PM put the leader of the opposition on a par with heads of state, including the Pope.
That’s seven major gaffes and the week isn’t out yet. They all only ever listen to each other, so how will they ever learn?
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I’d include Joseph’s letter to Barack in that list.
Would there have been so many gaffes if the delegates had elected to the leadership the likes of Michael Falzon or George Abela? Somehow, I don’t think so.
They will NEVER learn. If they – and their supporters – were capable of learning they would stroll into office, but they’re not. The terrible thing is this is not just an MLP problem. It’s a national problem.
Could you kindly elaborate on this:
• a person with no identifiable role in an organisation infiltrating that organisation’s private event;
[Daphne – The Labour Party putting pressure on HSBC to include Mrs Muscat in the bank’s Cares for Children Fund, because it is chaired by the prime minister’s wife – as a result of which she is now going to public events organised by that charity and vulgarly attempting to steal the limelight. She got herself invited along to the opening of some charitable flats in London, which were officially opened by Mrs Gonzi as chairman of the fund, and the Labour Party’s ‘news’ website Maltastar.com reported her presence, quoted her ‘speech’ and ended the story with the line ‘Mrs Kate Gonzi was also present.’ Also present. The handyman’s wife Mrs Gonzi.]
‘the raised eyebrows of a former PN journalist make headline news in the MLP media ‘
what’s this about? couldn’t find anything on maltastar
[Daphne – It’s Karl Stagno Navarra, who now works with Al Jazeera, taking umbrage at the PN’s letter of congratulations, beneath the relevant story on http://www.timesofmalta.com. Of course, Maltastar.com chose to mention that he used to work with the PN media, but oddly omitted to mention that he now works with Al Jazeera, which may have some bearing on his views.]
Surely somebody in the Labour Party must be aware of these gaffes. Why don’t they let J Muscat know that his conduct is improper and that it’s not doing his party any good?
Tim Ripard: “this is not just an MLP problem. It’s a national problem.”
Too right.
Kieli & Tim Ripard: Yes, it is a national problem. Perversely Joseph Muscat does represent the country, but not quite in the way he imagines. Every gaffe he makes is made in everyone’s name.
Just a note to put some of your reader’s minds at rest (and also MaltaStar.Com). I chose to criticise the PN’s International Secretary’s message to congratulate President-elect Barack Obama for what in my opinion was inopportune in content. The way it was written clearly showed bias towards the Republicans, while ambiguously reflecting on oddities such as references to the war on terror and Guantanamo. I expected the PN to be a little bit wiser in its judgement of the historic moment of President Barack’s election, rather than show what I call ‘hidden irritation’ at the same news the whole world has expressed satisfaction to hear. Also, allow me to comment that my emploment by Al Jazeera or my previous role as journalist at the PN media has absolutely nothing to do with my reactions. It’s just an opinion, in other words, it’s just the way I see it. I just expect better from the PN international secretariat, no hate, nor regret. Love all!
The Silver Lady has been wonderful – all over the place as her self-important politician-husband.
I wonder how she didn’t write to Michelle (Obama) pointing out their shared first name.
Michelle (Muscat) should suggest to the other Michelle (Obama) to take a leaf out of Joseph’s book and declare ‘Inhobbkom’.
Be positive. Consider it national entertainment.
Sarah: The people who are aware of these gaffes are outside the Labour Party, but that doesn’t mean those inside don’t know. They’re probably reading this site right now but will think all the free advice they could pick up is just a nefarious plot to undermine their cunning plan.
A. Camilleri – More like an “embarassment to the nation” than “national entertainment”.
As if having Mintoff as prime minister for all those years (not to mention his Labour successors) making us a laughing-stock was not enough. Now Joseph comes along and claims to represent “the Maltese”. They’ll never get it right.
@ Corinne. What I meant when I said that it (the fact that the MLP never learn) is a national problem is this: as a result Malta suffers from mediocre government. With such a poor opposition, the PN come out looking like God’s gift in contrast and this is a bad thing because they are far from being God’s gift. Your sis has pointed out many PN shortcomings in her articles over the years, especially in the period ’91 – ’96 if my memory serves.
Let’s face it, taxpayers have had a raw deal. Development has uglified the country whilst tens of thousands of properties remain unoccupied; public transportation remains a mess; roads, though gradually improving thanks to EU funds are still poor on the whole; we’ve paid through the nose to support the drydocks and for major infrastuctural projects which were inevitably finished late and over budget (airport, hospital, Manwel Dimech bridge, sewage treatment plants); the PN government has failed to promote renewable energy just as it has failed to plan for a looming water crisis; the ‘kmamar’ at Torri l-Abjad and Gnejna are still there; the civil service is still inefficient; cars are still the most expensive in Europe (but we need them desparately because of the dire standards of public transport); we lack sufficient doctors, pilots, nurses and teachers. Whilst it is true to say the PN in government has done an enormous amount of good, in attracting investment, growing the economy and improving standards and – most of all – in giving us our freedom back after the nightmare of Mintoff, it has a lacklustre record in many fields, and this is a result of having such a poor opposition.
This is what I mean when I say that when the MLP never learns it is a national problem. I do so wish we had a serious and capable opposition.
[Daphne – In political terms, you’d call it the absence of a good opposition. In real terms, it’s actually the absence of competition.]
Tim Ripard: There is something worse than a weak government – the possibility of swapping it for a hopelessly incompetent one.