No problem with your opinion of Franco being a prat. Since the PN restored democracy in 1987, this is a free country with freedom of expression.

Being “ta’sapienza” (of knowledge) you should know you shouldn’t rely on first impressions of persons, or events which may deceive.

The PN have been in power since 1987. I would have expected to be past the ‘raising issues’ stage by now and firm legislation in place (not like this new right to legal representation farce recently introduced where the accused have to forfeit the right to remain silent).

As to your enthusiasm about Dr Debono, having met him while he was canvassing before the last election, I’m afraid my first impression was ‘what a prat’.

Well done to Franco Debono, for raising issues like the right to legal advise during interrogation and party funding, both of them perfectly in line with the P.N’s beliefs and; principles.

Ta’ Sapienza, please note.

Look around you, make the connections, and bingo! Whether it is mega development projects or major government civil or procurement contracts, you can be sure that one, or more, of the same ‘influential’ persons, is deeply involved.

Funding of political parties is just an insurance scheme, which is timed to mature when that party is in power. On the other hand, recognizing that political parties have a role to play in the democratic system and thus need to be organised and run efficiently (hopefully to produce good future leaders of the country), then public funding should be seriously considered.

And that’s why the hard decisions that need to be taken for the long-term benefit of the country are rarely taken or worse still the few decisions that make sense are withdrawn or amended as soon as “the people” start moaning.

This is not democracy at all, and unfortunately it seems that there is no way out of this mess. Maybe the only way out could be an economic disaster that will give the people a wake-up call about the need to change our way of looking at things.