Who is Olaf Dalli?

Published: October 25, 2012 at 8:16pm

Alternattiva Demokratika has released this statement. It is a fair assessment, but we really can’t get away from the fact that the first person John Dalli chose for his Commission cabinet is Harry Vassallo, former AD chairman.

It’s difficult to understand why he would have done that. Was it on Saviour Balzan’s recommendation? But even so. This is not to cast aspersions on Vassallo’s abilities or suitability for the post, not at all.

But why the ex AD chairman?

And incidentally, who’s Olaf Dalli?

PR 25-10-2012
Dalli case: Police Commissioner must now act fast

Prof. Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, said: “We congratulate the Attorney General on his speedy examination of the Olaf Dalli dossier. The AG has this morning presented his conclusions on the Dalli case to the Police commissioner.

Commissioner John Rizzo must now act fast. In the name of justice and transparency he has to present the case as swiftly as possible in the Maltese courts since Malta’s name has been tarnished the world over and all Maltese want to know the truth about what really happened.

It is also John Dalli’s right to know exactly what he is accused of and what proof there is against him. This is a basic right for even the most callous of criminals. Moreover, the whole issue should be discussed as quickly as possible in the Maltese parliament”.




27 Comments Comment

  1. Richard Borg says:

    Why the innuendos?

    [Daphne – I’m not into innuendos, Mr Borg. So please specify where you have seen them. If I ask something, it’s because I want to know the answer, and not because I know the answer already and wish to be coy.]

    • Richard Borg says:

      Who is Olaf Dalli?

      [Daphne – You cannot be serious. That’s a frigging joke. Sometimes I worry about whether I should mark out jokes as such, you know, for the slower ones or those from a different cultural background.]

  2. George Grech says:

    And what if OLAF is right and it turns out a fellow Maltese tarnished Malta’s name the world over?

    What if this person doesn’t give a f**k a keeps tarnishing it PURPOSELY with his shenanigans?

    What will be my rights then as a Maltese citizen?

  3. Aston says:

    Prof. Cassola must have been thinking in Italian when he said that. It doesn’t translate that well. “This is a basic right for even the most callous of criminals” sounds like he was labelling John Dalli one.

  4. David Farrugia says:

    Probably he meant OLAF “Dalli dossier”.

  5. thinker says:

    His Russian alter-ego?

  6. canon says:

    Olaf is not a common name in Malta. But there was one in the newspaper sometime ago.

    [Daphne – Olaf Cini, the convicted bigamist and fraudster, as it happens.]

    • il busu says:

      When Olaf Cini was very much in the news, because of his actions, the people in his home town coined the phrase “tolafx”: ‘don’t try to cheat’.

    • Alfred Bugeja says:

      And of course, there was Olaf Terribile, former chief of staff for President Abela and former head of protocol. He had resigned after a clash with one of his staff, Marika Mizzi if I’m not mistaken.

  7. FP says:

    Read OLAF in caps. Happy?

  8. jackie says:

    “Olaf Dalli” is clearly an admirable attempt by AD to reduce its hyphen foot-print (whoops!).

  9. Uninterested Bystander says:

    John’s twin, whisked away at birth, raised on Kinnie and vitriol, brought out on a long leash every other Friday, given to low moans and munching sprouts.

  10. Brian says:

    For Christ’s sake…. Malta’s name has not been tarnished through this unfortunate episode.

    It’s John Dalli’s name that has been tarnished, and the onus is on him to prove otherwise.

    I mean, just for argument’s sake; It has very recently been brought to light that the late Jimmy Saville (Sir, if I may add to his title name) has allegedly been marked as a sex attacker and a paedophile throughout his career during his BBC employment, and with a direct connection, linked to an ex- British PM’s aide within 10, Downing Street.

    Therfore within your reasoning, all BBC and staff at 10, Downing Street are paedophiles…..BULLOCKS to all of you!!

    • Quite nice says:

      Jimmy Saville wasn’t nominated by a sitting prime minister to occupy a policy-making role that affects the lives of millions.

      And it’s bollocks. Bullocks have them too.

  11. Brian says:

    @ Daphne

    Second line I have omitted ‘therefore’ the & onus

  12. yor/malta says:

    Daphne the plot is getting to a point where everybody is in with a say (myself included).

    Dalli’s appointment as an E.U. commissioner came with a whole list of rules the result of which is a high salary and a generous pension as compensation for such a stringent list.

    On accepting to become a commissioner Dalli accepted to be neutered from any business or business dealings that he may of had or was involved in, so any transgression and his boss had solid grounds for firing him.

    Sometimes life amongst the fat cats or czars is not what we expect it to be. Why is this simple fact so difficult for our Maltese minds to grasp?

  13. Allo Allo says:

    Olaf Dalli is a new Bla Kommixxin couple competing with Debono Galizia

  14. Ninu says:

    Now that cards are facing up, it’s just a waiting game.

  15. Francis Saliba says:

    The AG referring the file to the Commissioner of Police DOES NOT MEAN that it has been concluded already that Dalli has a case to answer. He has not been charged with anything as yet.

    • AJS says:

      What does it mean then? Surely, there was enough evidence of sorts for the AG to pass it on to the police to see whether they (too) find reason to prosecute.

  16. AJS says:

    According to Blackadder IV, “Olaf the Hairy, High Chief of all the Vikings, accidentally ordered 80,000 battle helmets with the horns on the inside”.

    A fitting metaphor?

  17. Raphael says:

    Dalli may be totally innocent of any crime. He states that he did not know of the discussions between Zammit and the tobacco company.

    Not knowing is a major failure for a person in that position.

    The buck stops with him irrespective of whether he knew or not. In most advanced democracies this is enough to trigger a resignation.

    How he resigned is another matter and the facts around that are still developing.

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