nice algorith!

As usual, when you start with the conclusion and construct your arguments to support the conclusion (as opposed to reaching your conclusion based on the arguments made), the arguments do not always sound very convincing.

Did all these proponents of Debono’s resignation call for Mintoff to resign his seat rather than unseat Alfred Sant in 1998? Somehow I don’t think so. And they didn’t because it didn’t suit them to do so at the time. Now, however, the situation is different….

[Daphne – No, Interested Bystander, the situation in 1998 was different.]

[Daphne – No, Albert, we elect a government. More to the point, we elect a prime minister.]

When these representatives group themsleves in parliament, the biggest group gets to govern, for as long as it remains the biggest group.

In Malta we have developed a warped “winner take all” mentality in elections that has little to do with how a Western democracy works.

[Daphne – You are quite wrong, Albert, as usual. Our parliamentary system is no different to Britain’s, because it is modelled on it.]

It’s the people, in their totality, who are sovereign, no the winning political party. The people express this sovereignty in parliament.

Moreover, the PN won the last election by 1,500 votes, one third of a quota. Its victory was therefore weak. What is happening now is a consequence of such a weak victory. Actually, I think that a government lasting almost 4 years after such a weak victory has already lived way past its welcome.

Excellent piece. Worth reading. This is the part I like best.

“In a Party, there’s a hierarchy, and you can’t just decide that because you ‘feel’ you are right, or you ‘believe’ you are right, than you are absolutely right. You are duty-bound to make your proposals and constructive criticism like everyone else, but you are not the one to take the final decision. There are people elected to take that decision after having heard everyone’s views.”

Should Franco vote in favour of the opposition in a probable vote of no confidence in the Government by the opposition he would be doing just that.

Franco has committed political suicide already. He is bent on pushing it further and is now also putting at risk his profession.

No one can blame the Nationalist electorate if it retaliates by boycotting his services.

1) Franco Debono is always right
2) When Franco Debono is wrong please refer to rule number one.

He can (again in his own mind) ask for a seat in the cabinet, dictate which ministry he wants, become deputy Prime Minister, decide which laws can be passed in parliament, and perhaps also have a say about which budget measures can be implemented. But this is only my suspicion.

The media in Malta has a habit of praising Dr ABela for any action, irrespective whether it is admirable or non-significant. He can do no wrong, and the media conveniently ignores the fact that in 1996, he, together with Sant and George Vella, decided to withdraw Malta from the PFP and froze Malta’s EU application.

He openly disagreed with Sant on the decision to call an election during the crisis, which means that he wanted to keep Malta out of the EU. I disagree completely with Gonzi’s decision to appoint him as a President.

Dr. Abela is awkwardly silent during this crisis, but has a personal interest in helping the MLP get elected in government. His son is a prospective candidate, while his daughter forms part of the MLP’s administration. It was never revealed what advice ha gave Debonio, and whether he tried to calm him down, or push him further.

Unfortunately, the media, in particular The Times, is very submissive to George Abela. His own PR is also very effective, and seem to maintain an element of subtle intimidation around the office of the President.

[Daphne – No, P Shaw, it’s just that there are particular laws governing the treatment of the president in the media. It is illegal, for example, to mock the president. That’s right. And it has conditioned the attitude of journalists and editors even in ordinary reportage.]

http://markanthonysammut.blogspot.com/2012/01/structure-and-hierarchy.html