I have to say a big ‘well done’ to The Times for its leading article (editorial) today
I am reproducing it here because I want to make sure you all read it. Well done, again. I agree with every word and it really had to be said.
I don’t think enough people have fully understood the truly shocking ramifications of Joseph Muscat’s appointment of Franco Debono to this role, and what it says about Joseph Muscat himself and his contemptuous disregard for others and for the standards and values which decent people respect.
Muscat’s amoral cynicism has long been obvious in Opposition but it is only with the free rein of government that it can come to full fruition.
The Times, Tuesday, March 26, 2013 – Editorial
LABOUR’S MOST DIVISIVE APPOINTMENT
“Ritchie is a sinister backstabber manipulating (sic) people’s lives behind the scenes.” The reference is to Malta’s former permanent representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana. The quote is taken from the March 23 blog post of Franco Debono.
This is the man who, that same day, Labour announced would be coordinating a convention to review our Constitution.
In the past months the former Nationalist MP has lampooned Eddie Fenech Adami, a former President just in case anyone has forgotten, even going so far (in recent days) as to make the ridiculous insinuation that blame could be attributed to Malta’s greatest statesman for the Tal-Barrani incidents.
This is the man Labour has appointed to coordinate a convention to review our Constitution.
Dr Debono has also persistently attacked Joseph Calleja over the tenor’s father being a victim of depression. A lower act than this is difficult to fathom. Yet this is the man Labour has appointed to coordinate a convention to review our Constitution.
The list could go on, and on. No doubt Lawrence Gonzi would be capable of adding many, many lines to it if he had to include the grotesque messages he was subjected to by the former Nationalist MP over a period of years. The former Prime Minister’s mistake was that he did not call time on these antics much sooner.
But those episodes are now inglorious history, and it is precisely the kind of inglorious history which the Labour Party, in its very positive campaign, had promised to put behind us. Instead it has just shoved the proverbial two fingers into Nationalist supporters’ faces. Is this what Malta taghna lkoll was really about?
Some will argue this move can be seen from no other viewpoint than to rub salt into the PN’s gaping wounds. But another perception has emerged: that it’s Labour’s way of saying thank you in the wake of his rebellious actions.
It was only to be expected that Dr Debono would receive some kind of reward after he was held shoulder-high by Labour supporters on election results’ day outside a PL club, but not even the most generous benefactor should have permitted that to include anything connected with the Constitution – which has everything to do with consensus and nothing to do with divisive politics.
It is a shame that news of this appointment has overshadowed the announcement that Giovanni Bonello – an eminent figure whom this newspaper had already proposed for such a role – is to head a justice reform commission being set up by the Government. But as Labour should have learnt from experience of the PN Administration, sound decisions on important issues are invariably overshadowed by a mishandling of other affairs.
Giving Dr Debono a role related to a review of the Constitution is mishandling of the highest order.
A review of the Constitution is necessary at certain junctures, and the time is ripe to revisit certain areas – not least the neutrality clause which has long been outdated. But to be enduring this process has to be above party politics, which is impossible given the divisive element Labour has introduced.
The Nationalist Party would therefore be acting in the nation’s interest if it says to Labour that this is an appointment with which it will not put up. It should object in the strongest terms, and would be morally justified if it decided to play no part in such a convention until Labour remedies the tragic mistake it has just made.
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Sorry, I beg to differ because this paper helped Joseph to be in power.
Issa tista’ tikteb kemm trid ghax fatta la zorba!!!!
Exactly my thoughts.
This morning I commented on Facebook that if The Times is trying to bring back to its fold a readership that is shrinking by the minute it will take a lot more than just this kind of editorial comment.
I’ve given up on this newspaper, and thank Daphne and others who shared this link on Facebook this morning for bringing it to my attention and to others like myself.
The Times must have had a hidden agenda. Perhaps ther aim was to see the PN government out. With that done, they can now turn ‘blue’ again. Now let’s see which PN candidate they’ll be rooting for as leader ….
A little late and extremely useless now. I think The Times has just become completely irrelevent.
It is incomprehensible that they are only seeing now what we have been seeing and commenting on for the last four years.
Was wondering why he launched an attack on the Times from his blog.
That isn’t Franco’s writing, though the sentiments are most certainly his.
Do you actually read his blog?
NOW The Times speaks up? After it turned itself into L-Orizzont’s older brother?
Now, that Lawrence Gonzi has been deposed paving the way for its own favourite .
My thoughts exactly.
Yes, but that does not invalidate what is said in the editorial quoted above.
There is no way that the convention can work. And that is likely to be the underlying reason for Joseph Muscat’s decision to appoint Franco Debono. Once the convention fails, Muscat will use that to justify putting the matter for decision by the people in a referendum.
Remember that the divorce referendum created a dangerous, and constitutionally and legally unfounded precedent, whereby voters and a worryingly large number of MPs interpreted the result as an ‘order’ by the voters to push through the relevant Act.
It is pertinent to point out that, while that worked in the divorce issue, no referendum purporting to amend the Constitution can legally override the constitutional requirement for approval of such amendments by two-thirds of elected MPs in Parliament.
And the need for that two-thirds majority approval also applies in event of any attempt to replace, by referendum, the entire Constitution by a complete new text.
The Opposition must immediately make its position clear and take a firm stand on any attempts at tampering with the Constitution in any way that may vitiate the rights and freedoms of the individual.
Which explains why Muscat wants to save every vote in parliament.
The PN will get to exercise its credentials, elegance and indomitability. Remember those?
Politics are simple really, unity is a gut reaction, not something to wallow in.
Muscat is weak, his convictions lack substance and the moves have been the ones of a plebeian. Watch Deborah ‘inherit’ those votes.
She who managed to reduce the numbers of the other hedonistic scam.
WELL SAID. AGREED.
Mid-dehra t-times qed tinduna kemm ma ghadhomx jaqrawha nies … jien l-ewwel wiehed. It-times kienet saret gurnal qatta bla habel kontra l-Gvern precedenti.
The Times is now caught between a rock and a hard place. In order to sell more, it has to be critical of the Labour movement government. But how can they do that when the owner (but not the director – sigh) of the company which supplies their paper is directing matters in Castille?
X’tistenna minn gurnal taht id-dwiefer ta’ Keith Schembri?
And a letter by Tim Ripard in the same page is excellent too.
The MLP should be ashamed of itself.
Such people have no shame, as do the 36,000 switchers who voted them in.
The rahli never misses a chance does he?
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/No-love-lost-between-Debono-and-Busuttil-during-Valletta-row-20130326
And another interesting piece, boiler no.8 being refurbished at Marsa.
As if maintenance ever required upping supply from that plant.
Step 1 if you have to proceed with Konrad’s cunning plan, if you’re about to dismantle Delimara under stress, revert to Marsa. The generation has to come from somewhere.
Plain logic.
Have you noticed how in the past year Frankie Tabone has replaced Boiler No. 7 in the news on The Times?
Re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.
The Times should carry an interview with Adrian Vassallo. The election is now over and he will do no harm to Labour if he kindly explains in detail why he was alienated from the party.
Or is there a reward for him also?
Could this editorial have something to do with a substantial drop in sales, and I know what I’m talking about.
Good point to make. We have also learned, directly from the editor of The Times, that they have no indebtness (in either sense) to their supplier of printing machinery and paper.
Which means that Kasco has nothing to lose now if The Times gets into a financial hole.
And right on cue to confirm what’s written in this editorial:
“Passers-by and patrons of one of Valletta’s most popular cafes were treated to an astonishing, but presumably highly entertaining, ruckus involving the newly-appointed Commissioner for Law Franco Debono and Nationalist Party deputy leader Simon Busuttil.” (MaltaToday)
Franco is not serene and cannot control himself.
Franco is now no longer just Franco. He is now part of the State, paid by the State, and appointed by the Prime Minister to a very important role.
Therefore, this incident, in which the Deputy Leader of the party in Opposition is insulted in a public place by Franco of the State, is quite serious in a European democratic state. It reminds me of the situation in Burma, Iran and Zimbabwe.
A quote from Karl Marx:
“In a higher phase of communist society … only then can the narrow horizon of bourgeois right be fully left behind and society inscribe on its banners: from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
Has Keith Schembri finally “divested himself of his directorships”?
Of course I am not saying that this is even remotely related to the Times’ sudden and inexplicable change in editorial direction.
Keith Schembri does not need to put pressure on the Times now after he achieved his goal.
And there are no outstanding debts due to him, according to the Editor of The Sunday Times.
“Instead it has just shoved the proverbial two fingers into Nationalist supporters’ faces. Is this what Malta taghna lkoll was really about?”
A rhetorical question if I ever saw one.
And it’s about time something decent (read objective/unbiased) came out of the Times in relation to Labour’s actions.
The Times of Malta: we excel at appeasement.
If there was ever any doubt …. http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/No-love-lost-between-Debono-and-Busuttil-during-Valletta-row-20130326
It seems to me ‘mission accomplished’ for The Times. And with this I do not mean the election of Labour to govern (this side effect was a necessary evil), but rather the down fall of our previous administration. Now it is back to normal at The Times. It seems to me that Macchiavelli has been well studied.
This appointment will come back to bite the PL – it’s not a question of if, but when, and my bet is quite soon. And when it does it will be another tragic-comedy for Malta.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/No-love-lost-between-Debono-and-Busuttil-during-Valletta-row-20130326
The Law Commmissioner – so dignified.
“Muscat’s amoral cynicism has long been obvious in Opposition but it is only with the free rein of government that it can come to full fruition.”
100% agree with that. Unfortunately, few people can read through characters, their faces, let alone their acts, what they say, and especially what they do not say.
This leading article in The Times is 100% correct as well. This is not only a divisive move, it is vindictive and insolent when it should instead be one of unity under the only law that is common to us all – the Constitution
However, I reserve my judgement about the moral ground on which The Times stands here, because The Times had the duty to scrutinise and inform about the behaviour of Franco Debono a long time ago.
Now I would go one step further. If Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had the audacity to appoint Franco Debono to this position, then The Times should seriously question the prime minister’s logic and the intentions in making this appointment, but nowhere do they mention him at all.
This move, together with the other decisions taken in the first few days in Castille, gives a lot of insight into Dr. Muscat’s mind, and especially now that he is the head of government.
By all means this is an outstanding editorial, but it has come rather late as The Times’ reputation amongst its core readership is extremely low and being considered as an extension to Super One, Maltastar and Malta Today.
The Times has been very reluctant to investigate stories about Joesph Muscat and his MLP, but has been vociferous in exposing in detail anything which could embarrass the Nationalist Party and the last government.
The Times for example was the paper, which came out with the story of the euro 500 ministerial increase, but it has failed so far to comment and ask pertinent questions on the cost of the new cabinet, and the contracts given to top party officials for their top government positions, and the whole super one staff as communication officers in the various ministries, to mention just two examples.
Furthermore the appointment of Anglu Farrugia as Speaker whilst the MLP is sitting on a nine-seat majority.
It takes more than one editorial for The Times to regain its old reputation and respect as Malta’s one and only independent daily.
Its revenue from sales and advertising might not decrease, but in my humble opinion it lost the readers’ confidence and trust. A lot of work needs to be done to recover this.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/No-love-lost-between-Debono-and-Busuttil-during-Valletta-row-20130326
What a mess.
No need to publish this, a simple e-mail reply would do. Did you ghost-write this article?
[Daphne – Of course not. I work for another newspaper, remember. I don’t backstab the people I work with or go behind their backs, even in the highly unlikely event I were to be asked to do anything of the sort. Unfortunately all this indecent behaviour being paraded as normal in the press might have led you to think that sharking your colleagues is acceptable and even admirable.]
It-Times ma tithajjarx tikteb editorjal dwar in-negozjant Keith Schembri tal-Kasko, il-chief of staff tal-prim ministru?
The Times is here showing that its former independent self still exists. Somewhat late in the day after wrecking or rather allowing damage to be wrecked.
There can be no democracy without an objective and independent media and the Times have for long held that honour.
Sadly over the past couple of years or so it has allowed to be used for personal ambitions and agendas.
I really hope that the Times can rid itself of whatever shackles it has so that it can regain so much of the credibility that it has lost and be that pillar of objectivity that we need. If to that it can add wsome real form of investigative journalism, there may be hope yet.
The Nationalist Party should issue a strong declaration that they will not co-operate at all with Franco Debono in this role, so Muscat can kiss any amendments to the Constitution a big good-bye.
Muscat’s move was at best stupid, though more likely evil.
If Debono wanted his thirty pieces of silver, for betraying his party and the country, the PL should have given him a job themselves.
They have, to which PL have commented in their usual style….bla bla bla, PN has not learned lesson, bla bla bla.
The opposite is in fact true, and the PN have learnt their lesson: stop being nice and decent and conciliatory. It gets you nowhere except ridden over roughshod first by your own people and then by the electorate.
Debono does not deserve cooperation and with his actions neither does Muscat.
What amazes me is the fact that Judge Giovanni Bonello did not comment about this incongruity and seems to have accepted it without question.
The Dr. (because at the time he was not a judge) Giovanni Bonello I recall and always admired, would have come out in full force critcising such a bad move.
But can’t you see that Dr. Bonello has been put in a position where he too cannot criticise the regime?
In his position, I would never have accepted the appointment offered by Dr. Muscat.
Our country needs independent minds to be clearly seen to be independent.
My thoughts exactly Ciccio. Gosh people do change don’t they? The Dr. Bonello I mentioned would never have accepted the appointment.
May I suggest the editor of The Times to send a journalist with a photographer to take a shot of the Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens.
There is a very interesting view of three Chinese military vessels. The Graffiti movement have not yet gone there to protest against suspicion of nuclear weapons on board the vessels. All Commies together.
Yes, I wondered whatever happened to them, KMB, neutrality of sorts and the like.
What is a Chinese flotilla doing in the med anyway, escorting arms shipments to Algeria, Mali, Chad and Nigeria?
They are contributing to anti-piracy patrols off the Horn of Africa. No bollocks about human rights, fair trial and all that crap with them.
But that’s just a very convenient excuse to flex their military muscle up the Suez Canal into the Med.
China is doing to us (well, ‘them’, The West) what the US did to the Soviet Union in the 1980s: bankrupting us through an arms race we cannot afford. With the PRC Navy operating in the Med, the US will have to deploy its scant assets alongside. It can’t even afford a carrier group in every ocean, so it’s hard to see how it will manage.
My dear wiggers of Graffitti, when China takes over the world, they will have your head on a stick, just like mine. They care nothing for your Maoism. You’re just round-eyed scum to them.
And there I was, thinking the F35 would save us. They, (the West) got the clearance between the landing gear and the arrester hook short enough to trip the darned thing on the wire.
We will bloody deserve it. Facebook at the skunkworks, dammit.
Meantime Russia cries foul as soon as they dismantled an SU-27 and reproduced it in Chinese. Mandarin will become compulsory to make it to Mcast.
I’ve just had a wicked thought.
You know about all those theories about strategic bombing by Douhet, Wever or Trenchard, about how you need to destroy your enemies’ industrial capacity by bombing his factories?
In the event of war with The West, China would just have to bomb the factories back home. Job done.
F35, my dear Josef? Our political leaders need to learn some history.
This Times editorial is excellent but this newspaper has much to recoup to compensate and offset the biased editorials of the past.
Another case of meritocracy…
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-03-26/news/joe-cordina-expected-to-be-new-gozo-channel-chairman-1264549890/
I’ll call myself M here in order to protect myself from the Commissioner’s bile.
The following is an exchange under one of the paranoid posts on his blog (http://www.francodebono.com/2013/03/26/the-times/):
M
Mar 26, 2013 @ 13:49:27
Franco, now that you have a public function, how about growing a bit of dignity in your dealings with those who disagree with you?
And how about explaining how you are qualified to perform a role that was previously reserved for the likes of Edgar Mizzi and G Mifsud Bonnici?
Here are a few true/false/other questions for you:
1. When a company becomes insolvent, directors must act in the interests of creditors rather than shareholders.
2. The EU has adopted the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction without any significant alterations.
3. Exequatur proceedings are unlawful under the Brussels I Regulation.
4. Article 338 of the criminal code is incompatible with Article 7 ECHR.
5. Consideration is one of the requirements of a contract.
6. Ambassadors are deemed to have full powers to conclude treaties.
You obviously won’t post this or answer the questions because you are spineless and incompetent.
Reply
Evergreen
Mar 26, 2013 @ 14:16:40
I’m surprised he published your comment. He has a habit of publishing only what appeals to him, being the self centered character that he is.
Reply
Cynical intelligence
Mar 26, 2013 @ 14:21:00
Art. 338 (W) – Leads an idle and vagrant life……..Some people from the previous cabinet come to mind!!
Reply
Eddy Privitera
Mar 26, 2013 @ 14:21:27
M. How ca you state that Dr. Franco Debono who is still relatively young, is not as capable as the learned gentlemen you mentioned ? As far as enthusiasm and drive I believe he can be even better !
Reply
M
Mar 26, 2013 @ 15:29:08
Simple – I doubt he’d get more than one answer to those questions right; and he probably wouldn’t even know where to start looking for the answers to other questions.
Reply
Catherine
Mar 26, 2013 @ 14:23:00
Where are the answers though?
Reply
M
Mar 26, 2013 @ 15:27:34
Aghti cans Catherine. Il-Kummissarju jrid isib in-notes tal-universita` miskin.
Reply
Cynical intelligence
Mar 26, 2013 @ 14:29:47
PS the position is of commissioner….at no point did anyone state that he cannot hire consultants or advisers.
Reply
To The Times:
We reap what you sowed.
How very true, dear Fermina Daza. I read the Times editorial with unbelieving eyes – saying to myself ‘how come?’
hey observer: how come? Is it perhaps because deMarco now has Lawrence Gonzi out of the way?
Hear hear times a million. The Times shored up that psycho by treating him as sane, giving him his pompous title, giving him ample column space in which to air his ridiculous and horribly-written views, clinically reporting every single crazy utterance of his without question, and following him up even when he had become irrelevant (iva Franco, hu go fik).
Now they have the gall to get Ranier Fsadni or Austin Sammut (their style here) to write this admittedly magnificent editorial.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, if Franco Debono’s appointment is a scandal, it is because Franco Debono is a stupid, unsophisticated, mentally unbalanced dolt without a shred of honour or integrity. You got your story backwards.
[Daphne – I would say that leading article was written by editor Steve Mallia. It’s his style and ‘voice’, certainly not Ranier’s or Austin Sammut’s.]
Possibly. Steve Mallia is one of the more enlightened journalists at The Times.
One thing is for sure: they certainly did not get Keith Allen Schembri tal-KASCO to write this editorial.
And that’s not because this editorial is critical of ‘Labour’, but because the editorial in The Sunday Times of last Sunday assured us that the editorial decisions are taken solely by the editor.
So now we know whose fault it was when The Times did not carry out its public interest duty to criticise Franco Debono when he was throwing tantrums in Parliament (and outside it) and threatening the government with its one-seat majority.
Paraphrasing Rod Liddle in The Sunday Times (London): Turncoat Franco Debono, 39 – but that’s enough about his IQ.
Who does The Times think it’s fooling? Can’t have the cake and eat it too. They messed the previous government big time and now expect their regular readers to come back – what cheek.
First they filled pages upon pages with whatever Frankie Tabone said, going as far as actually contacting him on any move PN was doing and now they cry wolf because they ‘think’ having Frankie run the Law Commission is a no-no.
The time will come when the Times will regret the day when it formed part of the force for a change. Now the change is coming. And more is expected.
Perhaps even the liberty which the Nationalists fought so hard for will be threatened. I feel already living in the past with all Labour activists filling all the key posts.
I sense we have a new leader?
The Times has been on this trail well before the 2008 general elections. I disassociated myself from it ever since.
Well obviously the Times now has no more interest in bringing down Lawrence Gonzi – he’s down already also thanks to them.
Now they will need to get back in track to be on the right side for backing up Demarco.
Their recent statement that their editorial staff is independent is bull shit.
Adrian Hillman, the company chairman, is Mario Demarco’s childhood friend and chief canvasser.
My opinion? With all due respect to Mario Demarco, he’s not the solution to the NP’s plight.
He clearly placed his personal ambitions and interests before those of Malta and his party and I’m not just referring to The Times. He’s proved to be a great disappointment.
I, for one, will terminate my party membership if Demarco becomes PN leader.
and that makes two of us……at least.
I have already decided likewise
I used to look at The Times first than perhaps enter here. Now I’m entering here and when I feel like it I pop overf for a while on The Times .
Sunday papers: used to buy The Sunday Times, stopped buying newspapers but now I am buying and reading The Malta Independent on Sunday.
Suspicious Mind is right. It would be a disaster if Mario Demarco takes Dr. Gonzi’s place.
Simon Busuttil for leader and Chris Said or Gejtu Vella for General Secretary.
Frank Psaila for Secretary General.
I agree with every word of the editorial except for this statement. “It was only to be expected that Dr Debono would receive some kind of reward ….”
Debono abused his position. Debono blackmailed Prime Minister Gonzi with the one seat majority for personal gain and to satisfy their own ego. It was fundamentally wrong.
Wrong-doing cannot and should not expect to be rewarded. Rewarding wrong-doing is an incentive to others to resort to wrong-doing in some shape or form in the hope of receiving an eventual reward. By rewarding blatant wrong-doing, Government is sending the wrong message.
I believe it is a fundamental mistake. And the same applies for JPO being retained as MCST Chairman.
I think that The Sunday Times editorial was also similarly critical although there was also a denial about the Kasco affair which i think was directed at you.
The PN cannot afford other turncoats within its fold, especially at the highest levels.
Frankly, and I cannot believe I’m saying this, it is starting to seem clear that the amorality Daphne speaks about is widespread on both sides of the house. The only force that kept the psychos in check appears to have been Gonzi, and they did their utmost to destroy him.
All my relatives besides me have voted labour (for a change in direction!!!!) stupid to believe that but anyways I must say they are already regretting!! They are seeing a double faced prime minister and true colors are coming out!!!
Too little, too late.
I hope Dr Lawrence Gonzi does not exit politics. If it were up to me he would still be PN leader. It was some of the people around him that let him down and now they all seem to have gone away. Gonzi is a person with sound principles and values. We need people like him in politics.
The Nationalist Party must meep Gonzi as leader.
This will bring up in the surface whoever is still in there playing the egoistic game for leadership.
Gonzi has done nothing wrong, some of those still around him did and the party faithful should look at each of them and see who are the real men those who are there for the fight and those who are there for the ride.
No. Even if PN had won the election, it would have been time for Lawrence Gonzi to step down. Nine years is an extremely long tenure by European standards. This is something we Maltese don’t get. Political leaders are not kings or popes. Two terms max is the norm.