They believe they are ‘God’s gift to Malta’ and award themselves (not by an independent commission) their raise.

We must start thinking too if we really need 65 representatives on this small island….most of them just vote anyway…and many times parliament is empty of these PART TIMERS

Well lucky us, that at least with politicians, we get to kick the bums out.

Some questions had been put to the Labour leader about the case, and also about any connctions to Bateman, and I am waiting for the answers.

To me, the salary increases panic was just a distraction.

[Daphne – I was being sarcastic, Albert. It is in the grand tradition of leaders of the ‘working-class’ to live high on the hog and even be admired and worshipped for it. All this fuss about what ministeres are being paid, but then when Mintoff got a MILLION EUROS in taxpayers’ money for being deprived of the view from L-Gharix, the Labour Party said nothing. There is a reason for this – the Eva Peron syndrome. The worshipful admirers live vicariously through their ‘made good’ leaders. They want them to have wealth and trappings. They would despise Muscat is he drove a beat-up car. The people whining most loudly about the ministerial salary increases are not the peasants of our life and times, but people of my sort of background, who have the reverse syndrome. They see politicians as their servants and inferiors and wish to look down on them in every respect. They would be very happy to see a politician drive a beat-up car.]

You had even gave us examples how on other countries, political leaders have given up on holidays or other luxuries, as a sign of being one with the people.

Yet apparently this does not hold for the Prime Minister. Even when the Prime MInister himselfs declares that the worst is not yet over, and gives himself such an increase, this principle does not hold….strange..

It was spun (by the nasty Nats) that this was the first step towards payment for health services. Ever since the Nats have been unable to introduce any sort of charge – no matter how insignificant and how important.

The Labour Party will be in government in 2/3 years time – unless they keep shooting themselves in the foot. So they might as well resign themselves to the same pay as the current incumbents – for the entire term. Every time they moot the idea of a pay increase they will be hoisted by their own petard.

Have fun, ja qatta cwiec!

Still, one has to admit that the government was very insensitive and I daresay stupid.

Envy is a fact of life, and politicians more than anyone else should know how to manage it. Had they given themselves the increased salary whilst slashing VAT or decreased income taxes, then it would have been a different story I think.

@Hot Mama, you certainly shouldn’t demand that your director’s salary is downsized. A decent director however would not prance in with a new car after having denied employees their bonus.

It’s all a matter of sensitivity and leadership and on this issue, the government showed a severe lack of both.

Whoever is entrusted with sorting out the mess should take time, and lots of it.

A charade lasting two and a half years plus should be now tackled with calm and certainly not over a weekend.

Maltese citizens with a fair amount of grey matter (there are quite a few of them) should be roped in and their advice sought.

This time round the Maltese electorate expects that every politician will do his/her duty. With apologies to the late 1st Duke of Bronte.

Logic tells you that people who have more responsibilities at work have higher salaries. So if I use Joseph Muscat’s illogical reasoning, shall I demand that my director’s salary is downsized to suit his idea of meritocracy?

Unbelievable!