Karmenu Vella celebrates the 1981 electoral ‘victory’ on a truck with Mintoff – report in The Times, 28 December 1981
When the Labour Party held a mass meeting to celebrate its amazing success in the 1981 general election (the meeting was preceded by a three-hour demonstration and followed by a talent show), Karmenu Vella was right there at Mintoff’s hip as usual, on a truck.
The caption to a photo in The Times on 28 December 1981, accompanied by a report of the meeting, says: Prime Minister Mr Mintoff (3rd from right) waves to an enthusiastic crowd during yesterday’s demonstration in Valletta. Also on the truck are (l to r) Ministers Karmenu Vella, Danny Cremona and Dr Joseph Cassar, Mr Joe Borg, Minister Reno Calleja, Mr Leo Brincat and Minister Dr Vincent Moran.
And in the true spirit of the progressive movement, the women followed behind in a cattle truck of their own, led by Maggie Moran. Censu was on one truck with the men while his wife Maggie was corralled on another truck with the women.
Back in those days, they didn’t have a truck for homos (“It-trakk tal-pufti u nisa-rgiel”).
The Times, Monday, December 28, 1981
GOVERNMENT PARTY BOUND BY ITS PROGRAMME – PRIME MINISTER
The Prime Minister Mr Mintoff said yesterday evening in Valetta that Government was ready to debate with the Opposition matters on which there was common agreement but the governing party was bound by its programme on matters on which there was no such agreement.
Mr Mintoff spoke for 20 minutes at Freedom Square at the end of a big demonstration marking the success of the Malta Labour Party at the recent general elections. The rally was followed by a talent show.
The parade began at Castile Square and proceeded through Merchants Street, Archbishop Street and up Republic Street, taking nearly three hours to finish. It was attended by thousands of supporters most of whom carried Labour Party flags, neckerchiefs and cockades. They sang popular party songs and carried pictures of Mr Mintoff and other successful M.L.P. candidates. The vehicles which accompanied the parade were covered in party and G.W.U. posters and pictures of Mr Mintoff.
Mr Mintoff rode on a large truck at the tail end of the parade. On it also were leaders of teh General Workers Union and the Malta Labour Party, as well as Ministers in the new Cabinet and newly-elected M.P.s. Another vehicle carried officials of the M.L.P.’s women’s movement led by the president, Mrs. M. Moran.
DAY OF JOY
Mr Mintoff described the occasion as a day of joy. Labourites had every reason to feel happy. The Party had fought an election in which it not only had the Maltese Opposition against it but opponents from outside the country who, he said, painted the M.L.P. as being no longer democratic, as a party which did not have the people behind it and that it governed through the Police.
Mr Mintoff claimed that had the Nationalists been elected, they would have been incapable of governing. Whoever was against the worker was unable to govern the country, he said.
Mr Mintoff said it was futile for the Opposition to say they won more votes. “The Labour Party obtained a majority in seats,” he said, recalling occasions when his party had more votes and yet stood in opposition.
The only thing that marred the election was the appearance of people in blue jackets, he added. It was the duty of the Police to investigate why election agents wore identical clothes. Such a thing had not been seen since Mussolini introduced the black shirts. Malta would not tolerate fascism.
It was such things (the blue jackets) that Signor Piccoli (secretary of the Italian Christian Democrats) should have noted, Mr Mintoff added.
The Prime Minister emphasised that the Labour Government was one for all people. There would be no reprisals against anyone, he said, since all were Maltese. The Party will act with justice and honesty, he declared.
Mr Mintoff said there would be more broadcasts from Parliament so that the people would realise how many empty promises the Nationalists had made.
Finally, Mr Mintoff thanks all those who had worked to ensure the party’s third electoral success in a row and felt sure that with what the government intended to do, they would win the fourth as well.
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And then followed the worst years of our lifetime – though not for pro Labour, because apparently they were living in heaven.
Amongst whom Karmenu Vella who penned his masterpiece “Il-bajja tal-Mellieha” (with due apologies to the real authors).
“The Prime Minister emphasised that the Labour Government was one for all people. There would be no reprisals against anyone, he said, since all were Maltese. The Party will act with justice and honesty, he declared.”
Well, the old rogue’s fans always believed he had a sense of humour.
If Karmenu Vella could write and tell the truth, his would be a most interesting autobiography.
In 2013, he will become the only person to have served in the cabinets of all four most recent Labour leaders: Mintoff, KMB, Sant and Muscat.
Quite a survivor, if nothing else.
“The Prime Minister emphasised that the Labour Government was one for all people. There would be no reprisals against anyone, he said, since all were Maltese. The Party will act with justice and honesty, he declared.”
And in February 1982, an Hon. Minister (RIP) turned up at my place of work to inform me that I was to be transferred on the basis of what he described as “reports having nothing to do with my post or the discharge of my duties,” (read, taking active part in the electoral campaign of the P.N.).
“One for all the people” my ass. I was in Malta still working when thugs roamed the streets.
Niftakar kemm konna qbizna bil-ferh fuq it-trakk ta’ Salvu Meli.
Ftit jiem wara dik id-dimostrazzjoni kien gie Karmenu Vella il-Kazin tal-Labour tar-rahal biex jispjegalna kif irbahna l-elezzjoni skond ir-regoli demokratici u kostituzzjonali ta’ Malta. Fl-irhula l-ohra kienu marru ministri ohra bhall Joe Grima jispjegawlom x’kien gara.
Intom kontu dhaltu ghal-loghba u wara li tliftu ridtu tbiddlu ir-regolamenti.
Translation:
“I remember how we had jumped for joy on Salvu Meli’s truck
A few days after the demonstration, Karmenu Vella had called at the village Labour Party club to explain to us that we had won the election according to the rules of democracy and the constitution of Malta.”
I’ll stop there because this is where I point out that you were celebrating without knowing what you were doing. Why else would you have needed Karmenu Vella’s explanation of the election result – and one which you accept unquestioningly even 30 years later – if you knew what you were doing?
I (don’t) hate to say it, but it’s no wonder you vote Labour.
Salvu Meli presumably being this one, whose many trucks, I believe, were often used by Labour:
http://homeinteriors.com.mt/salvu-meli-and-sons-ltd
http://f1plus.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20060226/local/port-workers-demand-involvement-of-zammit-dr-abela-in-negotiations
http://www.illum.com.mt/2007/07/15/l2.html
“Finally, Mr Mintoff thanks all those who had worked to ensure the party’s third electoral success in a row and felt sure that with what the government intended to do, they would win the fourth as well.”
Should have said “…and felt sure that with what the government intended to do, they would stay in opposition for a quarter of a century.”
“Mr Mintoff said there would be more broadcasts from Parliament …”
Yeah, in 1997-1998, when he and Alfred Sant exchanged insults in Parliament.