That frigging peacock

Published: June 10, 2009 at 11:58pm
Hmmm, black shoes. Now there's a thought.

Hmmm, black shoes. Now there's a thought.

This story was in today’s edition of Malta Today. Not many people buy it, and it’s not on line yet, so I thought I would post it here to give it the greater exposure it deserves. The photo, however, is mine.

JASON MICALLEF STEPS FORWARD TO TAKE CREDIT FOR WIN

Labour’s spectacular win over the PN in last Saturday’s European Parliament elections has opened a door of opportunity for secretary-general Jason Micallef, to come out of hiding and take the centre-stage (and merit) for a campaign he was never involved in.

One year ago, Micallef was sidelined by the party after the humiliating March 2009 result, which the PL secretary-general had prematurely announced as an “absolute majority” for Labour. But the party delegates defied expectation by retaining him as secretary general in the ensuing leadership shake-up: prompting Joseph Muscat to appoint a “CEO” in the form of James Piscopo.

In what was widely perceived as a public snub, Micallef was given the duties of administering the party’s under-structures, such as local committees and the day-to-day running of the party.

But the grand victory celebrated on Sunday evening appears to have revived Jason Micallef, who was first observed at the Naxxar counting hall closely following deputy leaders Toni Abela and Anglu Farrugia, without saying a single word while his “superiors” addressed the media and announced the result.

While it was a known fact that Jason Micallef had been silenced following his blunder at the counting hall in March last year, this time round he immediately seized the opportunity to make his come-back: rushing to the Hamrun headquarters on Sunday, arriving at a peak time when the party supporters were gathering in celebration.

He was mobbed by the jubilant crowd that acknowledged him as a party official and had to be escorted by the police to get past the barriers.

Micallef was also seen walking towards supporters, shaking hands and hugging them, sporting his trademark smile.

Observers immediately noted the sudden opportunism, as throughout the campaign he would be seen arriving just before the party activities begin, and rather than being with the party echelons on the main stage, Micallef would be seen standing among the crowd and peeping from behind heads.

It was also noted that since the result, Jason Micallef has repeatedly appeared in interviews on One TV, where he would be asked questions related to “the successful campaign”.

However, his appearance on TVM ‘Bondiplus’ last Monday has reportedly irked senior PL officials who have expressed their concerns internally about his performance on television.

According to PL insiders, Jason Micallef’s remarks on “guarantees” for a new Labour administration to reduce utility tariffs were “unacceptable and irresponsible.”




5 Comments Comment

  1. Rita Camilleri says:

    once again, you hit the nail on the head Daphne. I like the shoes though, quite smart !!!!

  2. Corinne Vella says:

    Jason Micallef’s remarks on “guarantees” for a new Labour administration to reduce utility tariffs were “unacceptable and irresponsible.”

    Oh, really? Then why are they stirring that particular pot, leading people to believe that a Labour government will reduce those bills?

    Sieheb ta’ Sant u l-VAT.

  3. KS says:

    …March 2008 after Jason Micallef announced the ‘absolute majority’, there was Joseph Miscat saying that he cannot confirm the % but the MLP won by thousands. This was Sunday 9th March 2008. It’s in the blood…or DNA whatever one calls it…

  4. john says:

    Nobody has any idea what the utility tariffs will be in four years’ time. Yet this idiot rashly guarantees to reduce them.

  5. Jan says:

    And he had the cheek to ask Simon Busuttil if he would be taking responsibility for the disappointing EP election results.

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