Robert Abela: WHAT a disgrace
Robert and Lydia Abela, far right. The other two are (as you know by now) Magistrate Consuelo Herrera with her brother Jose’s canvasser, Doreen Mil-Qiegh il-Belt.
Now even the new deputy leader Louis Grech is not being wheeled out to speak to crowds, after being such a massive flop in the few appearances he made.
At today’s Labour mass meeting, it was Robert Abela who warmed up for the great leader. Yes, Robert Abela, son of the President of the Republic, a man who only a couple of weeks ago said he would not be standing for election because he wants to concentrate on his law practice.
So what was he doing there?
His presence was utterly absurd, but his speech was shocking and his manners appalling. Not a gentleman, to be sure – which means he’s in the right party.
He was all ‘GonziPN’ this and ‘GonziPN’ that. What a way to talk about the man who made his father President of the Republic and put his parents in San Anton Palace where they have been holding court for the last few years.
It is because of GonziPN that Robert Abela was able to have his and his Labour-Party-official wife’s baby baptised at Verdala Castle, where they have also – with spectacular vulgarity – installed a plaque to mark the historic occasion.
“Mal-Partit Nazzjonalista, l-interess partiġġjan jirbaħ fuq l-interess nazzjonali,” Robert Abela told the cheering crowd. Indeed. That would be why, then, his law firm has had the monopoly on legal services at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for most of the last decade. But the crowd spread before him don’t know that, do they.
For God’s sake, Abela – if you can’t be grateful, at least be decent. It’s not that hard. Il-vera arukaza, and his father is even worse for not explaining to him just how ill-mannered and churlish he is. But then maybe he likes it.
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A plaque to mark what?
[Daphne – To mark the christening of their child. Can you believe it.]
That’s not just vulgar, that’s plain vandalism.
Anything goes under PN. In the name of reconciliation.
Did any journalist comment on this?
With all due respect to everybody. In 2007/8, a person who was very, very influential in the PN ended up being sidelined. I was present at a meal in which another person, whose relative was very influential in the PN, complained with the first person about the mistakes the PN was committing, including the Abela appointment. Both agreed that they were not recognising the new PN.
Certain people should have listened to certain other people.
There’s no need to mention names. We all know who all these people are.
I, for one, don’t know who these people are. But I can speak for myself.
I’m tired of having to hold my nose when voting PN (in order, as always, to keep Labour out). And why do Labour need to win the election anyway?
Their people have been showered with favours, plum jobs and extremely lucrative positions, all without the trouble of governing the country or managing the economy.
What sort of twisted fundamentalist version of Christian Democracy is this?
OK. Not everybody knows who these people are. But the people who matter, know.
The people who matter know that the very, very influential person could no longer help those who knocked on his door, because he had been sidelined.
Why on earth should someone who can help people, and who people trust, be sidelined?
My analysis is that there were, and still are, many BIG EGOS around. Time to cut them down to size, or the electorate will do it. Heed my words.
It’s called Fear of the Mob.
@ H.P.
It is a well known fact that the PN hardly ever took care of its grassroots, but has always had a policy of rewarding its most strident bashers.
Labour, on the other hand, has always believed in taking care of its supporters. From jobs for the boys, to plots for votes, and every kind of goodies in between.
The tragedy is that Labour have always tarred PN with its own paintbrush, and Labour supporters believe that this is Gospel. In fact from this idea stems Labour ‘s belief in alternating the reins of power, as now it’s Labour supporters turn to feed at the trough, with the implication that the PN’s have feasted for more enough.
And the Nationalist supporters?
They just grit their teeth, and except for the very few, always moan that that is PN gratitude. Yes, there have been some exceptions to both unwritten rules, but by large, these policies are written in stone.
The big egos are smart enough to know when their time is up …and put together a cushy pension plan for them and theirs in the 10 years leading up to said retirement.
Put these people in proximity of authority and they’ll mistake it for some bloodline to power.
X’injoranza.
That plaque should be removed immediately. It does not commemorate an event of the State.
In the above comment I was under the impression that the plaque was put inside the palace. Planting a tree is a different matter. Planting a tree on such occasions is commendable.
Whether the president was breaking any rules, in this case is up to the appropriate bodies to verify.
[Daphne – Planting a tree is commendable. Sticking a large permanent plaque in the ground beneath it is not. The christening of a president’s grandchild is not a historic occasion. There was another president who did the same for the christening of a grandchild. No prizes for guessing which. If presidents are going to be sticking marble plaques into the ground for every family occasion that takes place at Verdala Castle, the place will before long take on the aspect of a cemetery. besides, as I said earlier, it is extremely vulgar to leave your mark like that, about a purely personal and private family matter, for posterity.]
Right on!
I am surprised why YOU are surprised.
Why don’t they install a plaque at the Auberge de Castille saying “Mintoff hexa Malta hawnhekk”?
Probably because, to do Mintoff justice, we would need many more similar plaques all over Malta. That may be a tad bit too expensive right now, until Labour come to power and get their private investor friends to pay for them all.
Good one, Grezz.
Don’t the rules apply to everybody? I think they should have obtained a permit. If it was done without a permit, it was illegal. The President’s immunity is limited to his official deeds, or is it.
Art. 5(1) Criminal Code:
Provided that no criminal action shall be prosecuted against the President of Malta in respect of acts done in the exercise of the functions of his office.
Is it an “act done in the exercise of the functions of his office” placing a plaque to commemorate one’s grandchild’s baptism?
There is NO immunity. If the Commissioner has balls (like he wants us to believe when he sues you and other (wo)men in the street) he should prosecute the President in terms of art. 325, keeping in mind subarticle (2).
I’m fed up of seeing this Family behaving as if it were … Royal …
325. (1) Whosoever, by any means other than those referred to in the preceding articles of this sub-title, shall wilfully commit any spoil, damage or injury to or upon any movable or immovable property belonging to any other person, shall, on conviction, be liable –
[different punishments enumerated]
Provided further that in the cases referred to in paragraphs
(c) and (d), except where the damage is caused to public property proceedings may be instituted only on the complaint of the injured party:
Provided further that in the case of damage to public property, the punishment shall be increased by one or two degrees, and the offender shall be ordered to pay by way of fine (multa) the amount of the damage caused.
(2) Where because of the geological, palaeontological,
archeological, architechtonic, artistic or historical nature or
importance of the property spoiled, damaged or injured it is not possible to estimate the damage according to the rule laid down, in article 335, the damage shall be deemed to exceed one thousand and one hundred and sixty-four euro and sixty-nine cents (1,164.69).
Is Verdala Castle a holy place?
It’s national heritage. That should be more than enough to refrain from vandalising the place.
Today’s ‘speech’ by the President’s son sent a very strong signal to those who expect the President to be impartial.
It shows why the President doesn’t want to get involved with the Farrugia Sacco case.
Not because he is impartial, but because his sentiments will certainly make him vote by his heart not by his ‘brain’.
Having said this, Labour will say that Eddie, while President had his son in politics so by Labour’s logic, if Beppe militated in PN why shouldn’t Robert do precisely the same? Of course, most readers here see the difference but then we never apply Labour’s logic.
I blame Gonzi for making his father the president ta’ so*** . The biggest mistake ever. People like that don’t know the meaning of loyalty or decency. Ma jafux jisthu.
As long as the wheels are turning, no one tries to count the number of spokes.
Once these wheels come to a standstill, even a fool can count them.
The wheels within the PN have been turning for a quarter of a century.
Sometimes turning smoothly, and sometimes less smoothly. But always turning. And no one tried to count them.
Everything was being taken for granted. If they come to a standstill in a few weeks’ time, we shall all be able to count the spokes.
In simpler words, we shall all be pointing to certain controversial appointments to sensitive positions. All this in the name of reconciliation.
Out of curiosity, who paid for that plaque?
Not surprised. His father’s political speeches when still in politics were as bad if not worse.
I agree. People who laud him have probably forgotten that. It was a mistake to have him made president.
Imagine when they are in power, if this is what they are like with just the taste of it.
Daphne,
shouldn’t you say:
minn qiegh il-belt
and not…
mil-qiegh il-belt!!
let’s only hope you have the guts to publish this comment!
[Daphne – Yes, I suppose so. Incidentally, it doesn’t take guts to publish this comment. It takes guts to face down a mob of rabid Mintoffjani, which I do quite happily.]
LOL,”face down a mob of rabid Mintoffjani”. You’re a nothing more than a coward hiding behind an IP Address. You’re a disgrace to people like my father who actually did face down not only “Mintoffjani” but policemen in the 70’s and 80’s and went up to Sicily to turn on the radio so the party could have it’s say. Yet it’s people like you which get to enjoy the bounties of the PN.
[Daphne – Yes, right, I’m sure your father did. I do indeed enjoy the bounties of the PN, in exactly the same way that you do. “A coward hiding behind an IP address.” Hardly. That would apply to you, though. My comments have my name and photograph attached, though being a Laburist, you might have failed to notice that.]
Haha. Of course, I’m a “Laburist”, Daphne. Just because I’m disgruntled at the way my family was treated and shunned away by the PN, I’m a Laburist. That’s basically as far as your mental capacity can take you “Talks against PN. Clearly a Laburist.” Get your head out of your large behind and you might start to realize that people like my parents, who still pay money for the “Tessera” (although God knows why), might have been hurt by the actions of the PN after giving so much to the party. But as I said your IQ can only take you as far as calling me a “Laburist”
[Daphne – What did the PN do to your parents, dear? Put them in the stocks and whip them? Take their money and run? I have never been able to understand this intimately personal relationship people feel with political parties, as though they are good or evil relatives. It’s so very Sicilian village c 1950. And I don’t believe you anyway.]
Then why not take the opportunity to restore some dignity to the Verdala Castle and remove the plaque in response to his ingratitude?
I’m almost sure that to put up a plaque in a classified building like Verdala Palace, they needed a MEPA permit.
[Daphne – It’s in the garden, not the building. They planted a tree or something, to mark the historic christening of Lydia and Robert Abela’s baby.]
I suppose the garden is scheduled as well.
@Ed: Minn qiegh il-Belt or Mill-qiegh tal-Belt
Baxx iehor dan Robert Abela. Imissu jisthi l-President ta’ Malta ihalli lil ibnu jwaqqghalu l-unur tieghu mal-hamallagni.
X’unur? Apples don’t fall far from the tree, you know, and skond iz-zokk il fergha.
This article reminded me of the other pampalun tal-Lejber – Michael Falzon, ex deputy leader and famously ‘l-iljun tal-bidla’. One of BOV’s top paid executives who rarely, if ever shows up for work.
L-aqwa li qeridna dal-gvern. Qed jiffangaw diga min issa, ahseb u ara wara 9 ta Marzu.
And the relevance of the photo being what exactly?
[Daphne – Please don’t be absurd.]
The relevance is that women over 40 should not wear backless dresses especially if they’re overweight.
And people over 25 should behave with decorum.
If there is anyone who cannot say that “Malta ma hix taghna ilkoll,” it is Robert Abela.
In fact, if there is anyone who proves that “Malta taghna lkoll,” it is George Abela, Robert’s father.
Forget Malta Taghna Lkoll because it will become Bongu Malta Laburista and everyone should look behind the scenes. PN always was the party of freedom and I hope it stays like this.
Are the MEPA accounts published? Can we find out how much money his firm got out of their contract?
[Daphne – I believe the figures have been published. You should be able to find them on the internet.]
When one deals with legal advisors, one is not only discussing legal fees, but the nature, content and effect of legal advice given.
I did not listen to Robert Abela’s speech, but I had the same reaction when I watched the news and saw that he had preceded Joseph Muscat’s speech during the PL’s meeting.
He should really be ashamed of himself, but then what do you expect from Labourites?
This is one episode in this country’s history where ‘Only in Malta’ is an apt description.
Just one question: who paid for the plaque? Was it paid from the President’s (our taxes) budget? Or personally by the president or his son?
This is bordering on the ridiculous. Goodbye Mr.President, and good luck.
Veru tal-misthija – dawn nies bla valuri u arroganti.
Rikonciljazzjoni ta’ Z….i.
No, his father should not explain to him (his son) but to the whole country and is expected to make a public apology for his son’s ungrateful and unacceptable behaviour.
His father is the President of Malta and not merely Robert’s father. Is there any stronger evidence of being a Laburist means ‘arroganti, ingrat u marmalja’?
Apart from being in complete agreement that Robert Abela had no place at the mass meeting since he will not be contesting the election, I’m rather perplexed as to why he or any other member of his family should feel indebted to the Prime Minister or the PN in general. The latter did not ‘make his father President of the Republic.’ The President of the Republic is appointed by the House of Representatives.
[Daphne – Don’t be ridiculous. Nominations for president of the republic are made by the prime minister. The house then votes. The house cannot pick its own man. It can only veto or approve the prime minister’s choice.]
Skuzani Eldarion, imma ir raggunament tieghek hu raggunament bazwi – tahdem ghal dak il-partit li temmen fih – ghax verament temmen li li ha jaghmel hu ghal gid tal pajjiz u mhux ghaliek personali.
Il-familja tieghi hadmet hafna fil-80s ghall-PN, u ghalhekk konna qlajna hafna fuq rasna mil-MLP, sa arrestaw membri tal-familja tieghi u meta telghu il-PN qatt ma tawna xejn personalment, u QATT ma ppretendejna xejn ghax ahna hdimna biex ikollna pajjiz sura ta’ nies.
Il-PN taghna u taghna hafna – serhan il-mohh, xoghol, edukazzjoni u hafna affarijiet ohra – ghalhekk ikollok it-tessera tal-partit.