A terribly ill-judged stance for which he will pay the price in electoral terms
timesofmalta.com, this afternoon:
PM ‘not sorry’ for appointing Dalli Commissioner
By Ivan Camilleri
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi vehemently refused to pass any comments on Commissioner John Dalli’s resignation but said he is not sorry he took the decision to appoint him Commissioner instead of Joe Borg in 2010.
Asked to give his reaction on the negative impact on Malta’s image due to Mr Dalli’s resignation, the Prime Minister only said that he did not want to pass judgement.
Instead he focused his comments on the appointment of a future Commissioner reiterating that this will be done swiftly.
When pressed to state whether the appointment of a new Commissioner will be announced following the next cabinet meeting on Monday he insisted that this will be announced ‘at the opportune moment’.
Asked whether, with hindsight, it was a mistake to appoint John Dalli Commissioner, Dr Gonzi defended his decision and said he was not sorry for his decision.
There are so many things wrong with this statement, and the thinking that underpins it, that I don’t know where to begin.
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There’s still time to do the necessary weeding now.
“There are so many things wrong about this statement, and the thinkingthat underpins it, that I don’t know where to begin”. And this is how Daphne found a way how not to embarrass furthet Lawrence Gonzi, because, for once, she is lost for words ! Incredible !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry Daphne. I had not yet read your other comments about the prime minister. Still I disagree that you have already condemned John Dalli before Dalli has provided his defence in this case.
The PM is not sorry for the appointment of John Dalli as commissioner.
Well sorry Mr. Gonzi, but most of us Maltese are.
Mr. Dalli is a disgrace to our country.
Hindsight is 20-20, isn’t it? Wara, kullhadd bravu.
Well, let’s take stock of Dalli back in 2010 when Dr Gonzi made the decision to appoint him EU Commissioner.
Dalli was an ex-Finance Minister who, let’s face it did a credible job. He was a victim of totally false allegations made in a report by some ‘investigator’ who, as a result, is still in jail.
Dalli was sore about being removed from minister due to the allegations made and expected to return to a ministry after the case was squashed. That didn’t happen and he carried a chip on his shoulder.
Dr Gonzi expected Dalli to respond positively to being granted the position, but he never seemed happy – even on day one. His relationship with the PM never improved even if he was raking in euros by the bagful in Brussels’ ‘prison’ compared to what his stipend would have been had he stayed on as minister. So, to blame Gonzi for making a wrong decision is rather unfair since few had doubted Dalli’s ability let alone his character (at that time), freshly absolved from any shred of guilt as alleged in the investigator’s report.
The developments in the last two years are unfortunate and allegedly created by Dalli himself and surely, had the PM an inkling of what was to unfold, he would have left him stewing in his juices.
Up to this moment, we are passing judgment on ‘words, allegations and no substantial evidence’, therefore it is prudent to wait before we start chopping heads off. This case will be processed and if very little doubt remains about actual wrongdoing, then the book should be thrown at every implicated individual of whatever stature, wealth, sleaze or prominence in our society. For the sake of Malta’s name, such a case will have to be dealt with expediently, fairly and professionally. If, on the other hand it is found that Dalli is not guilty of any wrongdoing, then the world Press and the EU should be made to retract and yes, apologize for pulling the trigger too fast. What’s fair, is fair.
I like Gonzi, but he’s weak with bullies. What he should have done was to wash his hands completely of him.
He should have said that he trusted Dalli at the time but Dalli betrayed his trust and landed Malta in deep embarassment. He should say that he’s very disappointed and he does not tolerate any type of wrongdoing from his MPs/ civil servants/ whatever.
Agree.
With all due respect, the PM cannot say anything which would sound judgmental on Dalli. It is not the Maltese PM’s remit to judge. In any case, he does not have access to the investigation report and under no circumstances should he rely on hearsay or scraps of information in the media.
Anything the PM says on Dalli will be interpreted and twisted beyond recognition.
Even saying sorry that he appointed Dalli would indicate that he is convinced of his guilt, something which the PM cannot and should not do.
[Daphne – Bollocks. Imagine if the prime minister at the time had refused to comment on the chief justice and Judge Vella or expect their resignation because the police investigations were still underway. He faced the media and was given hell for ‘prejudging’ the issue, but HE WAS RIGHT AND RESPECTED FOR IT.]
The circumstances you refer to are very different because the political context is different.
In this instance, there is far too much of a history between the two persons. Anything Gonzi says as a Prime Minister will be attributed to Gonzi the politician and Gonzi the person. Whatever the PM says will be misinterpreted and he will be criticized. Inevitably, the PM’s comments will become the subject of further controversy.
[Daphne – Yes, and? That’s what leadership is all about: doing what you have to do without fear or favour, and not doing what is convenient for you to avoid further personal inconvenience that you then interpret as political inconvenience. So what if what he says is misinterpreted and criticised? Exactly what is happening now in reaction to that weak and ill-judged statement, if not criticism of the worst sort, and from the people most inclined to be irritated with the PN in general and with the PM in particular?]
For the PM, making any kind of comment is a lose-lose situation.
[Daphne – Not at all. There is only one kind of reaction which causes him to lose further respect: the one that in fact was chosen.]
Dalli’s fall from grace is his own doing and Gonzi the politician must not do or say anything to suggest that he is adding his own metaphorical stab.
[Daphne – Wrong, wrong, wrong. There is another person at fault here: the prime minister, for having NOMINATED (not appointed) Dalli for a role for which he was and remains horribly unfit in every respect. He was bound to make a hash of it, and he was completely unsuitable. A man who is still close to his drug-smuggling brother – European Commissioner? A man with a history of fingers in pies and with a bad attitude like his? A man who can’t even SPEAK? A man eaten up by grudges and bitterness that have warped his thinking already by the time you’ve nominated him? No, this is a case of being hoist by one’s own petard. John Dalli was nominated EU Commissioner for much the same reason that Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando was made chairman of the Malta Council for Science and Technology and Franco Debono was made a parliamentary assistant in the PM’s office. Mistake, mistake, mistake. And deeply wrong because you don’t use public money and pubic office to appease your enemies.]
Exactly, it’s either Lawrence Gonzi or John Dalli at this point.
Hear, hear Natalie. The PM has no choice. The least the country expects is some sort of face-saving action if at all possible. This villain has brought shame to us all and destroyed all the hard work done by his colleagues and which had built such an excellent profile for Malta.
Gonzi always sits on the fence, like Muscat, trying too hard not to upset anyone.
Dr Alfred Sant had more guts when it came to standing up to bullies.
Who do you think Gonzi is trying not to upset this time? Dalli?
I think that Gonzi tries hard not to have to eat his own words and until he has solid evidence and not contradictory or incomplete reports, or wrong translations, he will not express publicly his disappointment in Dalli. There seems to be confusion even within the EU and OLAF themselves. Was he fired? Did he resign? If one followed the several announcements from EU sources, it seemed nobody knew whether they were coming or going. ‘No conclusive evidence’ or ‘clear evidence of Dalli’s knowledge of what was going on’? Were these not questions which immediately raised doubts about the completeness and thoroughness of the investigation?
Does anyone for just one split second, doubt that Gonzi is more than a bit upset at how things evolved implicating Dalli and Zammit in this alleged scandal? On camera and in diplomatic circles words are usually measured because once spoken, they can never be taken back under any circumstances.
Maybe Gonzi is waiting for the report
I stand behind the Prime Minister on this one. He did actually sentence John Dalli for a 4 year imprisonment term in 2010.
The OLAF investigation has only served to liberate him prematurely.
I’m not sure he could have said anything else at this point.
No matter how things look, the AG is still launching an investigation. It would be irresponsible for the PM to pass any judgment at this stage.
[Daphne – This is getting a little exhausting. The AG is not launching an investigation. The AG will read the report of an investigation that has taken place already. I really can’t understand why this is so difficult to follow. We will not have a separate investigation in Malta. We can’t have a separate investigation, for the simple reason that the Maltese AG is not empowered to conduct investigations in the European Commission, and the Maltese police are not empowered to request a search of John Dalli’s European Commission databank.]
If he said he regretted his decision, it would be passing judgment, and even worse if would be an admission that the PM appointed Dalli when he had misgivings about it.
Admittedly he could have said “only time will tell” but the brief article hardly gives you a fair context to how the interview went.
The AG will read the report and determine whether, what appears in the report, is sufficient to proceed against Dalli et al, under Maltese law.
The AG has no authority to conduct his own investigation, more so, that the alleged wrongdoing took place in Dalli’s office in Brussels and not in Malta.
The Malta police authority, however, may investigate Mr Zammit who resides in Malta and seems to have corresponded and allegedly facilitated meetings between Swedish Match and Mr Dalli from his Sliema home/business location. Again, subject to such deeds falling under the criminal code of Malta.
If you are correct, then the Times article http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121019/local/ag.441759 is VERY misleading. Reading that, I concluded that if the AG cannot comment on a pending investigation, then it’s unlikely that the PM will do so.
[Daphne – The AG cannot comment on any investigations. The prime minister can comment on what transpired in Brussels. The AG deals with the investigation. The Prime Minister deals with the fall-out of the resignation and its significance. Imagine if the prime minister at the time had refused to comment on the chief justice’s investigation by the police until the outcome was certain. The outcome, in Arrigo’s case, came many years later – eight, I believe – because he refused to admit guilt and fought the process all the way. This is not a murder trial of an ordinary person. This involves high office. EMBARRASSMENT AND COMPROMISING YOUR POSITION are enough. There doesn’t have to be ‘guilt’.]
Why do so many people have bullshit for brains?
Well, what did I tell you? Unfit for office. Oh the joys of Maltese democracy.
Yes, you did tell me this, quite a while ago, Baxxter.
So, what is he fit for? The slammer? Or maybe he can pull an Arrigo.
I’m talking about Gonzi. He is fit to run a missionary evangelical group. Or a small-town legal office. But not a country. He is not particularly bright, has poor leadership skills, and is much given to piety. Unfortunately, this is just what the Maltese love in a man.
Iva, madonna, cans tajjeb bhal dan biex nigbru giehna …… hxejnieh wkoll ?
Mbaghad jghidu li Gonzi maqbud f’xibka ta’ hazen.
Kif ghidt int, cans bhal dan, jien nghidlek biex iz-zejt jitla’ kollu u jigi estirpat kull min irid il-hsara lil pajjiz, u joqghodu lura.
Il-punt hu li l-partit qatt ma tilef giehu. Mur ara Joseph u r-riklami fuq One, m’ghandhomx ma xiex jaqbdu, xejn.
Il-Partit Nazzjonalista ma’ jistax jibqa’ sieket, ghax ha jispicca b’xi Franco jghid li Dalli kien fix-xibka u l-partit qed jahbilu. Mhux qed niccajta, ghax ma’ jafx idawwar.
In-nies ghandha bzonn tifhem fejn qieghda, tal-Labour ma’ jistghux jitkellmu, l-aktar jekk ghandhom jaghtuh.
One hour after Jozef ‘s comment :
http://www.francodebono.com/2012/10/19/do-you-think-dr-gonzi-should-shoulder-his-responsibility-and-resign-after-rcc-john-dalli-and-silvio-zammit-resignations/#comments
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=152217
Looks like the “not sorry” comment was not the only sorry thing during that press conference.
Very interesting article by Noel Grima in The Malta Independent on Sunday. “Who is to blame for the Dalli fiasco”. It is not on line as yet.
The very serious cross party meetings which took place in 2008 or thereabouts put Dr. Gonzi’s choice to appoint John Dalli as commissioner as the worst decision possible.
Is he the one who takes decisions? Or are they suggested by a trusted team at OPM who do not have the foggiest idea of how to run a country?
Noel Grima’s conclusion:
“When in Brussels, last Friday, I heard Dr. Gonzi make that remarkable statement, that he has no regrets at having appointed John Dalli as Commissioner, and later say that he did not know anything about him. I realised conclusively that here was a man who has well and truly lost it”.
“He has brought this on himself by way of his favourite vice – his short-termism. His penchant for resolving an immediate problem and worrying about it later. Look where it got him. And look where it got us”
We cannot trust Joseph Muscat. We cannot trust John Dalli and his alternative party. I am beginning to suspect that we cannot trust Lawrence Gonzi’s team, either.
With this scenario, my vote is shifting to new PN candidates only.
Apparently no one is aware but Dalli had begged the PM for this post.
This statement is enough to make me ask myself – Do I vote for PN? I am having very serious doubts. I believe that I am losing faith in the party.
I will not vote Labour for the simple reason that Dr Joseph has too many of the old guard around him.
Couldn’t Dr Gonzi have answered that he believed that Mr Dalli was the right man, but unfortunately he was proved wrong? Dr Gonzi has lost touch with the people and he is not doing a service to his supporters.
No, Lawrence Gonzi has to stop thinking that Dalli still means something in the PN.
The humbug didn’t play ball to the leadership contest last January simply to remain a virtual unknown. At most, he impressed Labour and Silvio Zammit.
Time for Jim Hacker’s killer instinct, the rest will return.
agree
Is it perhaps that the PM is being very prudent prior in passing any judgments; until all doubts are cleared and clear as crystal?
[Daphne – Why would the PM who sent Dalli there feel the need to do that, when the people who received him have felt no such reservations? The PM’s judgement is clearly not superior to that of the European Commission and its investigating officers, is it.]
“Strong with the weak, yet weak with the strong.”
A couple of weeks back, I stated the above.
Unfortunately, the latest comment by our PM has proven me right.
Same with me, I, too like Dr Gonzi.
However, I do not think he is weak. Actually, I think that like his predecessor (Dr Fenech Adami) they put into practice what they believe in – to forgive and forget and never to judge.
[Daphne – It is not the business of prime ministers to forgive and forget and not judge. They can do so in their personal capacity, but have no right to do so in their official role. Also, it is odd that you should mention Fenech Adami, because as I recall, his reaction to being informed by the Commissioner of Police that the chief justice and another judge were under investigation was very, very different.]
They are both good, pious men. Many times, their attitude will be misjudged as weakness.
[Daphne – Good, pious men take good decisions, not decisions that are poorly judged to be convenient at the time, only to blow up in your face later because they were unprincipled to begin with.]
A “pious” man as prime minister?
I give up.
Of course he is pious, he was a member tal-Azzjoni Kattolika.
“Pious” is not a desirable trait in a PM, at least in my book.
Are there no non-political business or public sector people of worth that could bring an untainted sheen to the role of commissioner?
Well maybe, maybe not. Surely Labour cannot attack Gonzi with it as we can always refer to Gadget’s “Il-Pjan ta’ John Dalli”, or Dalli’s constant parading on Super One.
Let’s not forget that OLAF is not a Court of Justice, by which I don’t mean that I think Dalli is not involved in this matter: in fact I do think he is.
The jurisdiction over such a case is Malta’s responsibility.
[Daphne – Not at all. Dalli and Zammit could be prosecuted in Belgium because the wrong-doing was committed there. It’s purely a matter of diplomacy to leave the decision up to Malta. If Dalli has diplomatic immunity (not sure about that) Zammit certainly has none in Belgium.]
I think the P.M. is being prudent until the outcome of the AG’s decision and probably a Court trial followed by a sentence either way.
The mistake or otherwise on the choice of EU commissioner is the P.M.’s responsibility.
The abuse of that appointment is solely Dalli’s.
[Daphne – I disagree totally. The abuse was also in the appointment itself. You don’t select an EU Commissioner on the basis that you want to get that person off your back, and then dump a major high-risk person in the Commission. Yet, some countries have selected their commissioners in a similarly abusive manner, but that doesn’t make it right or even safe.]
Daphne: In another post you corrected the commentator, by informing him that John Dalli was not ” appointed” but “nominated”. But in the above post you refer to John Dalli’s ” appointment” not “nomination” ! So we all make mistakes, don’t we ?
Don’t you think it is appropriate to wait for an investigation to be carried out first?
[Daphne – Don’t keep putting your Labour brain on display, mandango, because it’s getting embarrassing. There has been an investigation already. It started in May and ended this week. The report was compiled and handed to the president of the European Commission. It will now be sent to the Maltese Attorney-General. Dalli’s resignation was demanded at the CLOSE of investigations, not the start.]
I am sure that Gonzi’s position is precisely that, and he is not mistaken in my view to adopt such a cautious approach. Then when matters are clearer, one takes a clear unequivocal stand.
[Daphne – The position cannot be more clear. If the president of the European Commission saw the position so clearly that he demanded Dalli’s resignation, then the prime minister is in no position to gainsay him. It is we, as in Malta, who embarrassed the European Commission with our poor choice. Now the prime minister should be a man and face up to that.]
Daphne: Even when you have a valid argument, you lose it by bringing in stupid comments, such as ” Don’t keep putting your labour brain on display” . What the heck do you really mean ? Do you mean that “nationalists” have a superior brain ? If you do, then Franco should have called you a “Hitler” !
Dear PM, your comment made ‘with hindsight’, surely lacks foresight. A ‘Par Idejn Sodi’, are also needed to pull the reins with clout, rid the party from renegades and dishonest individuals and restore respect and discipline.
Lawrence Gonzi has a moral duty to see that the PN is elected to government in these circumstances. The country doesn’t need these individuals anywhere close to power, I think, and so should the PM, that any discerning individual’s realised at this point what’s going on.
Except for the pathetic lot on the Times comments board ie.
What’s required now, is a return to the lost meaning of words, if good has to prevail sometimes making an emphasis is an absolute necessity.
If as PM, he’s adopting a formal stance, as leader of the PN, Lawrence Gonzi cannot remain silent. Whatever Dalli can come up with, no one’s going to be blamed for having resisted his method and rot. Let him unload on Labour the sleaze and corrupt practices they so wish inflicted upon us.
Will the PN please do away with this sense of guilt for having had an unelectable adversary for so long, it’s more duty to galvanise the country again. They’ve had their umpteenth chance and just look at the mess they’ve made. This time, Labour have really exceeded expectations, incredible how their sense of foreboding has intoxicated civil society.
That is why the PN exists, to reverse the entropy, a condition of this place.
Get over Joseph, he’s a pathetic little poseur, not a challenge.
Daphne… why would someone be sorry for his decision if that decision was not in itself wrong.. you are interpreting the decision with hindsight but at the time one wouldnt have known that JD would (allegedly) go so far .. just as much as no one could forsee the extent FD or JPO (Mistra) would go … I dont think your comment is fair.. Ask Gonzi if he is sorry that Dalli did what he did (once found guilty).. no doubt he would say he is sorry … Remember guilty until proven (even if i think he is guilty – everyone is entitled to an opinion) and therefore the PM cannot pass jdugement of being sorry as that would be condemnation a priori !
[Daphne – No, I am not interpreting the decision with hindsight. I said exactly the same thing at the time. I was incredulous that he was even considered for the post, because it was obvious that he would see it as a massive ‘business networking’ opportunity for John Dalli & Associates, just as he did with Libya when he was a cbainet minister.]
Did you post your comments then, or just discussed your opinion privately ?
It seems like Lawrence Gonzi has turned into a masochist.
I would say that the PM saying the equivalent of “Damn, I should not have done that” constitutes political suicide anyway.
Considering that the PL are virtually fawning at Dalli, I think the PM judged the non-commital course to be the safest.
Besides, I believe that the culpability or otherwise of Dalli still has to be proven in a court of law – no matter how obvious it seems.
[Daphne – If culpability in a court of law were what this is about, then OLAF would have handed the file to the Belgian police, not the Maltese AG, for prosecution in Belgium, where the crime was committed.]
I’m trying to read between the lines. Maybe he wanted to say ‘I gave him enough rope to hang himself’.
There are no lines to read between and the PM’s statement should be unambiguous: “Dalli did not live up to my expectations. He has let Malta down.”
Anna, I agree with this view. I think John Dalli finds himself in this situation, with the rope in his hands.
Besides, he now faces the task of clearing his name.
I also think that this is a moment for reflection by those who looked up at him as their father confessor. Rather than inflicting revenge, the PM is letting the process of justice take its course.
Meanwhile, The Times has updated the story. The PM has added that he regrets the developments of the past few days.
In his position, I would have limited my reply to this last bit only.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121019/local/pm-dalli.441761
Clearing his name? There is no such task. His reputation wasn’t admirable on the 15th of October.
Ma nistennihiex minn Gonzi stqarrija bhal din!
Tigix tghidli li qed jibza’ minnu wkoll issa?
Din, apparti isem Malta mcappas fil-gazzetti barranin, mhux skalda, ta, imma z+++ go s+++ il-Partit Nazzjonalista, sur prim ministru.
Cawlun, something tells me you’re a Labour supporter lightly disguised as a Nationalist one.
John Dalli has embarrassed Malta – all of it – on an international scale. On a national scale, however, he has embarrassed your Labour Party, not the PN. Everybody knows that he was Muscat’s ally in attacking and trying to harm Gonzi and his party.
Lil Antoine Vella:
Il-kumment tieghi kien oggettiv. Ic-Cawlun jiftah gwenhajh u joghla ‘l fuq mill-politika partigjana patetika taghkom.Sakemm tibqghu dil-ping pong stupida taghkom se nibqghu kif ahna!
Nispera li din il balbuljata li ghamlu tibqa tissemma xi mkien imqar forsi fuq il bijografija li behsiebu jghamel Is sur Dalli.
It’s been updated on Wikipedia, under John Dalli.
The PM realises that this is another nail in the coffin and that the chances of the PN getting re-elected are practically zero now. His stance seems to confirm this state of mind.
Wishful thinking, NikiB. This incident simply confirms that Muscat has transformed Labour into a bring-in site.
I can’t understand the “innocent until proven guilty” and the “let’s keep an open mind” brigades.
The OLAF report has condemned Dalli totally and utterly.
“Unambiguous circumstantial evidence” is simply legal-speak for “caught red-handed being a crook”.
I agree that there will be a price to pay for Lawrence Gonzi over this. Appointing this man EU Commissioner was just one of a catalogue of massive misjudgments. If placating two lunatic MPs was a mistake, then voting “no” to divorce in parliament, after a clear referendum result, was frankly appalling.
Now the inevitable Dalli scandal has erupted.
The list of Gonzi shockers is long, and the price to pay will be a general election victory for a shambolic Labour Party. Needless to say, election defeat will bring Gonzi’s leadership of the PN to an end, and, when that happens, it won’t be a day too soon.
I stand with Gonzi on this issue. There is no point right now to pass judgements. Dalli’s reputation has been already torn to shreds.
Gonzi should just appoint a new commissioner ASAP. We have finally been vindicated after all the damage he has done to the party through Maltatoday, Bla Agenda, Sargas, etc. and the PL knows this too – one of their weapons against Gonzi has backfired in their face.
The post on timesofmalta.com has been updated.
“Updated: PM regrets embarrassment to Malta……
……Asked whether, with hindsight, it was a mistake to appoint John Dalli Commissioner, Dr Gonzi defended his decision and said he was not sorry for his decision.
However, he later clarified that of course he regretted the developments of these last days and the embarrassment to Malta.
“However, at the time of Mr Dalli’s nomination, it appeared the correct thing to do.” ”
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121019/local/pm-dalli.441761
My opinion about Gonzi’s “No regrets” comment is that the PM wants to stay away as far as possible from Dalli.
I, for one thought that with John Dalli as Malta’s EU commissioner everyone stood to win .It was a win-win-win-win situation. After all he asked Gonzi for the position, which later he described as imprisonment.
I couldn’t see Gonzi at the helm with a chief mutineer in his cabin(et). I hasten to add that both Dalli and Gonzi are good managers, but their styles are different.
It was up to Dalli to behave himself, Gonzi gave Dalli a golden opportunity for which he had the right apparent qualities. One cannot blame Gonzi for other people’s mistakes.
[Daphne – Dalli did not have the right qualities, and this was apparent. The prime minister is not being blamed for Dalli’s bad behaviour (not ‘mistakes’). He is being blamed for his own bad decision in nominating Dalli, which is different. If Dalli is culpable for what he did, then the prime minister is guilty of putting him in a place where he was almost certain to do it. Putting him there was irresponsible. I said so at the start and I am not pleased to have been proved right. Dalli was patently unfit for the post, in far too many ways. It was the sort of wrong-headed appointment that we could expect of a Labour government – the man is completely inarticulate, for heaven’s sake, and that’s to say nothing of his major character flaws.]
Gonzi believes in the rule of law and would not pass judgment on anyone until he sees irrefutable evidence, and maybe after the courts pass judgment.
Dalli was not put on the EU Commission by Gonzi.
Gonzi or rather the Prime Minister nominated Dalli as Malta’s commissioner, after Dalli was grilled by the selection committee (?), he was accepted as commissioner.
Bottiglioni was not accepted as Italy’s commissioner after he was grilled, but Dalli was.
I see this as an exercise in hindsight. Gonzi gave an opportunity to Dalli of €250,000 per annum plus perks for a position of high esteem. Later it proved to be that he was throwing pearls to swine.
This is like an investment gone wrong. You invest in Lehman and afterwards they file for bankruptcy.
Gonzi needs to show some backbone ASAP.
What does he have to lose?
When you are 12 points behind in the polls with very little time left only extreme measures will change the future.
He needs to have a dedicated task force on this Dalli issue full time and get to the bottom of it now rather than later.
If Dalli was really aware of Zammit’s actions then he should pay the price in full view of the public eye.
At the very least Zammit who is clearly guilty of asking for 60 million to change a law, needs to sample prison food for a long time.
If Dalli is found to be involved in this sleazy affair then Gonzi needs to accept that his appointment of Dalli was totally inappropriate and directly led to the nation being ridiculed internationally.
If this proves to be the case, I think Gonzi should consider resigning after such a poor judgement call, and we can go into the next election with a new leader and a good chance of winning.