So there are four horses in the PN leader race
Mario de Marco
Simon Busuttil
Francis Zammit Dimech
And wild card Ray Bugeja, who went to the Labour Party first, didn’t get what he wants, and is now trying the Nationalist Party – he will pick up the protest vote
I am not going to express an opinion on who I think should win. I’ll leave that to those who don’t know the meaning of ‘esprit de corps’ and ‘united front in times of trouble’.
I’ll just say this: given that Ray Bugeja, by his own admission, had dealings with Joseph Muscat on his possible involvement with the Labour Party, I hope he is not just another Trojan horse. We have had five years of them, and Muscat’s recipe for undermining the Nationalist Party from within worked well.
I do not know Mr Bugeja, having met him only once for a brief few minutes, but I will have to say that I felt really uncomfortable with his statement, in an interview in The Times, that after negotiating with the Labour Party to see how he could be involved, he decided on staying with the Nationalist Party after all because it is his “family” and his “tradition”.
One does not support a political party because it’s one’s family or tradition. One supports a political party through a clear and logical decision made on the basis of shared ideology and way of doing things, and approval of policy initiatives and attitude.
A potential party leader who doesn’t mention ideology and policies and talks about a political party in terms of a feeling of family belonging and tradition is worrying, though it feeds right into our culture of amoral familism, where ideology does not exist.
Mr Bugeja has made his first mistake already, even as he submitted his nomination. He said that he will seek to turn the Nationalist Party into a ‘people’s party that belongs to the grassroots and not the inner core’. In the next breath, he refused to speak to the media and said that he will not be ‘using the media tediously’ in his campaign, because his ‘job’ is to speak to party councillors.
The media are the gatekeepers for the people, Mr Bugeja. By refusing to speak to the media you are refusing to speak to ‘the people’ and in effect telling those who you would lead that they have no right to know anything about you or your intentions. Not a good start, at all.
Good luck to them all, and may the best man win.
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At least it’s not just a contest between two people. I think that may have been damaging to the party by creating a two-front competition which could create a sore loser more easily.
At this point I think I would be comfortable with anyone winning exept Bugeja.
The undermining of GonziPN was the work of Lawrence Gonzi himself ! He admitted that it had started within 48 hours of winning the 2008 election, with those famous sms messages sent to ex-ministers, informing them that they weren’t going to be ministers !!!
So your excitement wasn’t pre-election jitters (!!!)
Good comment Daphne, and I hope that those responsible for electing the leader are reading your comment above. We have had enough Troyan Horses.
The Troyan horses were the “clique of evil” working behind the scenes,
In my humble opinion DeMarco is the best candidate.
Any idea why Beppe didn’t submit his nomination in the end?
1. Mario Demarco
2. Mario Demarco
3. Mario Demarco
4. Francis
5. Simon
6. Bugeja
But my favourite is Beppe – pity he is not competing.
Can you imagine Mario as deputy to Beppe, or Simon? I would have hoped for his competing too. I find a lot of sense in his frank, no bull attitude.
There are some folk, I know at least one, who voted for Muscat to get Gonzi out and Simon in.
Don’t be ridiculous. If PN had won, Gonzi would have stepped down in a year’s time and Simon Busuttil would have become leader, almost by default.
On the other hand, I know many who voted Muscat to get Gonzi out and Demarco in. How about that?
You got that right. Check the last timesofmalta poll.
Spot on, Baxxter. I wonder if Demarco himself did that.
Daphne I believe the order you listed them reflect your preferences. Intelligence huh?
[Daphne – That’s the supposed emotional/female brain. Unfortunately, mine is more supposedly logical/male, which means that I automatically ranked them according to their chances as perceived. Ranking them in order of my personal preference would never even occur to me because it’s an irrelevance, but it’s interesting.]
In my opinion Simon Busuttil is the only option. Hope the 900 who will choose do so wisley and respect the 43% minority’s intelligence.
Unrelated but here goes:
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-04-05/news/pm-addresses-journalists-on-2013-budget-1331986432/
“He said that PL’s promises were based on IMF and EU estimates and not on government’s. The prime minister said that another year of PN administration would have led to very serious problems in the country’s finances. He added that the situation did not get worse since last December due to Labour’s pledge to keep the same budget which was shot down. However he promised that there will be no tax burdens on the people to redress the situation. Government already informed the EU that it will have the deficit below three percent by the end of the year.”
This paragraph is priceless. Was he speaking without a teleprompter by any chance?
JM had better get his ideas in order. He sounds like a drunk discussing “great ideas” at 4am.
Everyone is aware that Simon Busuttil will win. Ray Bugeja will fall off first, then Francis Zammit Dimech and finally Marco de Marco. Unfortunate but true.
Why unfortunate?
Although I like the idea of a seasoned businessman leading the party, I would say not this one.
We need a through and through Christian Democrat. De Marco has the pedigree. Also, as it happens, names count for a lot in politics, as can be seen in Greece, Argentina, the USA etc where successive family members are voted in.
What do you mean you like the idea of a seasoned businessman leading the Party? Are we now after commercialising politics and political parties? Labour has done it with Kasco’s chief and look where we’ve landed. The end justifies the means both in business as well as (totalitarian) politics.
JM is treating the country as one big shop-floor with talk of pulling the same rope and working for the good of the ‘company’ while letting his boys enjoy their cake. He’s undermining ‘the Union’ (the Opposition) by his divide-and-rule tactics. As in business his ultimate aim is to eliminate competition and gain total hegemony. I repeat, business and totalitarian politics feed on the same resources.
Bugeja seems to me to be going one step further than Kasco’s chief. He not only wants to nurture the party financially and organisationally but wants to control it directly and ideologically for his own entrepreneurial ego.
We want a political party to govern for the common good on the criteria of what is right and just. The contradictions and ineptitude of a party that gets elected primarily on ‘image’, stoked by deceit and financial mileage will, I believe, sooner or later implode to expose the sham government (from what we’ve already seen so far) that we now have.
One can deceive the people some, or even most, of the time but one can’t do it all the time. To shorten that period of deceit it is imperative that the media, both formal and informal (like this and other blogs), keep us on our toes and increase the pressure on this bunch of amateurs and their spiteful tactics and short-sighted policies.
So Demarco is a through and through Christan Democrat but Busuttil isn’t?
As for family names, the last thing we need is to become Greece or Argent-dago-tina. We’re close enough to banana republic status as it is. Enough with political dynasties. No more Mifsud Bonnicis or Demarcos.
Guess who is, to put it in his own words, “jghaddas rasu fir-ramel”
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130405/local/pm-defends-bencini-appointment.464313
Well Busuttil wants to make PN ‘people’s party’ as well according to the Timesofmalta, so Busuttil also made a mistake.
He’s already made more than a few this year.
I don’t like Mr Bugeja, because he described himself as a “conservative with a liberal heart and a capitalist with a social heart”. I know it seems unfair to judge him on that, but he doesn’t really speak to me.
Returning to PN grassroots is also something I am against. With Totaliterian Bullshit-expert Labourites, the last thing we need are Militant Pro-Italian Christians.
The only person I think fit for the job is De Marco. I see him capable of leading the party and our country.
I sincerely hope Mario deMarco. All others will only leave the PN on the opposition benches for years to come.
[Daphne – Oh come on. What did you say when Muscat was elected party leader? That he was brilliant, the perfect prospect and fabulously dressed?]
Jien nigi mill kamp oppost,imma naqbel li
Demarco hu l uniku persuna addatata.Nawguralu li jigi elett hu .
And no…the media are not the people. The media represent the organization’s agenda and that’s not exactly always the people’s view!
I hope the delegates choose wisely.
We do not need an outside for the sake of an outsider.
Especially as leading a political party is nothing at all like leading a Corporation.
One does not negotiate to get the better deal. One just leads.
” . . . those who don’t know the meaning of ‘esprit de corps’ and ‘united front in times of trouble’.”
During the last electoral campaign, it was starkly evident that some cabinet members (almost) blotted themselves out of the picture and hid themselves away, were shying away from sharing the burden, did not stand up to be counted in “times of trouble”, veered clear of the storm in order to remain ‘fresh’ for this contest while others were left to dirty their hands and possibly earn themselves a ‘dirty’ baggage for what was to come.
I hope that the councillors are wise enough to elect as new leader one who is capable to resume the party’s glorious pedigree departing from, and fueling itself with, the basic principles that it upholds.
This is NOT a matter of adopting what’s fashionable right now and, perhaps, beneficial in the short term. The party has to, first of all, regain its capillarity in Maltese society and aim at gaining and promoting levels of excellence rather than socialist-type levels of mediocrity.
And Simon Busuttil should be the choice.
Now that Mario de Marco has joined the race, how long will it be before the The Times starts pooh-poohing Simon?
Thank God Beppe is not in it.
Let their names not be Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death
While hoping that the best of the four wins, it is important that everyone rallies behind the new leader. The Nationalist Party, and most importantly the country, cannot afford any more internal bickering, vendettas, backstabbing and collusion with the Labour Party.
Those who cannot adhere to party discipline must be shown the front door immediately.
The party has to open the door to all those who genuinely want to help. It is in times of difficulty that one must show his mettle. It is in times of difficulties that historically great leaders were formed.
I agree with you all the way.
This is exactly what a friend and I were saying over lunch. We cannot agree more and we hope to God that he doesn’t get elected.
As regards this comment – “I’ll leave that to those who don’t know the meaning of ‘esprit de corps’ and ‘united front in times of trouble’.” – I seriously agree with you. I was appelled, just a mere few days after the election, to see that some Nationalist MP’s were already taking to Facebook for a good whinging and whining session. They haven’t learnt anything.
It is incredible. It beggars belief. And yet, there they were already clashing swords with the Party for some silly reason. Indeed, no reason is serious enough to warrant that any Party exponent takes the party to task in public, particularly after such a huge, crushing, momentous defeat. For God’s sake. Haven’t they learnt anything?
I’m afraid it’s not just ‘the people’ who make up the party, it’s the ones who’ll subscribe to certain standards, Mr.Bugeya.
Going to Labour means you don’t see any difference between the two.
Which means you lack the standards.
How many have submitted their name for deputy leader? is it just Claudette?
Is there still time for others to put in their names?
I don’t like Mr. Bugeja. I don’t know the gentleman, but he does strike me as a person of no principles at all.
I am totally surprised that he was even given the permission to enter his name for this election, especially after he admitted of having had discussions with Muscat about his insertion in the PL.
The PN members who are going to cast their vote in May should do so with their eyes wide open. Being good at managing money, after all, does not make a person qualified to run a party or a country for that matter.
I agree with you. The members who are casting their vote should do so with their eyes wide open. The PN does not need a ‘good businessman’ but a good leader.
This one’s for ciccio and Jozef, since they showed some interest in this sort of thing.
Chinese deployment in the Med, aka first naval visit to Malta after the advent of Malta Taghna Lkoll was Chinese. Coincidence?
Chinese flotilla: 2 frigates (type 054A: Huangshan F-570 and Henyang F-568), 1 supply/refuelling vessel (Qinghaihu)
Designation: 13th Escort Flotilla
Part of South China Sea Fleet, based in Zhanjiang.
Vessels had been taking part in anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean
Will spend one month in Med. Visited Malta and Algiers, will visit Morocco, Portugal and Toulon.
Launched in 2008, type 054A frigates, Jiangkai II class are stealthy multi-role 4000 tonne vessels, with sea-land missile launch capability.
This is the first time the PRC Navy has deployed such a large flotilla in the Med for such a long time.
Read a book, many years ago, before your time, Baxxter. Title was ‘The Yellow Horde Cometh’. Author disappeared.
Imagine that, Harry. A flotilla of escorts. It’ll be like Operation Pedestal meets sleazy Malta.
That is such a chauvinistic comment. Lots of people have commented about the Chinese naval presence.
‘…Another improvement of Type 054A over the original Type 054 (as well other older ships in PLAN) is in its information systems (IS) for maintenance and inventory control, which automatically provides information to shore based facilities or supply ships on the parts in need, all the way down to the very last detail, so that parts in need can be provided immediately, the resulting down time due to maintenance & repair is reduced to a fraction of what is used to be when such IS was not available. Chinese termed this IS for maintenance and inventory control another force multiplier because it increased availability for deployment when downtime is reduced….’
Who needs supply ships when Malta’s available? The confidential agreement could be a remake of Sceberras Trigona’s deal with North Korea.
Testing the waters, make that the draft, presumably.
Apropos, Chinese Intelligence predicts Korean regime on the verge of internal collapse with major uprising, civil war and millions crossing into China in less than two months.
Yes, my sources tell me it’s just a ploy to get more freebies from China.
Did your sources tell you about China’s statement to the FAO about total catches by their fishing fleet in the Indian Ocean? No wonder the Sammies are turning to piracy.
Hmmm, Baxxter, the Chinese are usually protective of their friendly regimes around the world.
But do not worry, the People’ Daily Online reassures us that this is only a peaceful visit:
“During the visit to Malta, rear admiral Li Xiaoyan will pay visit to Maltese President George Abela and Brigadier Martin Xuereb.
Cultural and sports activities, as well as workshops on convoy missions in the Gulf of Aden are to be held between the Chinese Navy and the Maltese military during the visiting period. Meanwhile, Hengyang, one of the two frigates, will be open to public visitors.”
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90786/8184120.html
Simon would have won the contest hands down had he not featured so prominently during the election campaign. He got my admiration for sticking his neck out against all the odds, but unfortunately in the process, he lost a bit of his shine.
I don’t doubt his abilities but at times he can come across as a bit aggressive and self centred.
Mario de Marco is a watered down Gwido. He retains his father’s good points and seems not to have inherited the not-so-good ones. Mario has risen through the ranks and has shown loyalty both as a back bencher and as a prominent member of the cabinet, growing gradually in stature.
I also believe that Mario has more appeal with the floaters and the opposing party supporters, just like George Abela did when contesting Joseph Muscat. It’s a tough one to call. The party delegates have to way things carefully and not take too much notice of the rumours which may be spread by both opposing camps.
[Daphne – Quite frankly, I can’t understand what all the anxiety is about. Less than five years ago, the Labour delegates elected a 34-year-old ex Super One reporter who had never done a proper day’s work in his life, who didn’t even have a seat in the House, who had a goatee and who wore things like a black shirt with a white tie and a charcoal suit, paired with brown shoes. And now look.]
Agree, Daphne. Let’s go for a pot-smoking, long haired, (all gone now) hippie. A sleeveless black t-shirted kind of guy. It worked in California two times. Moon beam Jerry is. again. in charge.
Nah, too far out of it for here. Let’s stick in a pure, ‘untainted’ guy. Someone who can gently combat the evil we face.
Fat chance. We need a kick ass guy, no quarter asked or given, Someone who dumps on this little shit who is about to ruin our country.
There’s a word which is hardly used in Malta. Surprising, given that we’re congenital practitioners of the arts. It’s called ingratiating oneself.
Demarco has done too much of that. It was more or less part of his job as politician seeking votes and minister seeking approval. But in these desperate times, we need leaders who can make themselves nasty. The time for being nice is over.
Besides, if we’re to start a new era of Maltese politics, we need men and women who have worked outside the confines of our minuscule island. That is largely the reason Maltese politics is so fucked.
Demarco for deputy leader, by all means.
Get rid of Ray Bugeja! Can’t afford thats position being given to an untrusted man…… And why he went to labour party then turned knocking on pn’s door? Who says its not a setup
So Mr Bugeja is going to keep a low profile. Wise move; better to be considered dumb by keeping your mouth shut, than to open it and prove to everyone what a shifty character you are.
Councillors should hear also what the man in the street is saying before casting their vote in favour of one candidate or another.
In my humble opinion Dr. Demarco is the best.
You say that Dr.de Marco is the best. Can we have your reasons why that is so?
Let’s not fall into the trap of the switchers who just voted for change for change sake. Ghax hekk, ghax joghgobni de Marco.
I must admit, I’m not too enthused with these candidates.
I would have liked to see Joanna Drake up there.
Same here.
Whilst respecting your (near) neutrality on this, I have to say it’s disappointing that this country’s leading opinion writer will not be entering the fray.
You have influence and sound judgment and you should use it in this crucial matter.
Despite what the merchants of doom are saying, I believe that the PN have a genuine chance at the next election and the choice of leader may tip the balance either way in 2018.
Ray Bugeja and Francis Zammit Dimech are non-starters for patently obvious reasons. However, neither of the two front-runners is clear favourite.
Both come across as a bit too sensitive and delicate. Both need to macho-up ever so slightly.
On balance I lean towards Simon because of his excellent track-record at the ballot box. He knows what wins votes and has performed pretty well under the intense spot-light of the recent election campaign.
There are suspicions that Mario won’t respond too well to intense scrutiny. Unavoidably, each candidate’s family life will be part of the debate. Simon’s separated status may weigh against him with the conservative delegates.
Having said this, apparently Mario’s wife is a bit of a liability. Is she? Whoever wins, the party must unite around the new leader. The time for dissenting voices to be heard is now, not in a couple of year’s time. 2018 will be here quicker than many think.
Why is Mario’s wife a liability?
What’s wrong with Mario’s wife?
By not speaking to the press, Ray Bugeja seems to be another Beppe Grillo.
Daphne what is your opinion regarding Dr Demarco standing for election with regards to the leadership post? It is obviously evident that he was on the periphery of what was the biggest swing of votes in Maltese history.
FZD is eloquent and get anyone to go to the opera with him, but as for leadership material, I do not think he can actually handle it.
As for Simon, he made some major gaffes which will definitely not be forgotten.
Raymond Bugeja is not even an option, and that leaves the much admired Dr Demarco, who I think can really get the party back to the glory it enjoyed in the post 87 election. Any comments from your part? I would like to read your true opinion on each one of them.
[Daphne – I have said already that I will not be writing about what I think, or sticking my oar in in any way. I did the same in the deputy leadership election. I see it as a case of may the best man win, and whoever wins will definitely have my support because I am going to vote for the Nationalist Party again.]
I believe in the intellectual abilities of the PN councillors the big majority of whom are capable of knowing the meaning of ‘esprit de corps’ and therefore will go for the best though three of the contenders have very good leadership qualities.
I Just had a very interesting telephone call from a very dear friend she follows your blog religiously Daphne. She declared that she only gets to know the real thing only from your blog. And reading what you just said about the Trojan horse contender I pray to God that the delegates choose the right horse.
And I certainly hope it won’t be deMarco either. The one who worked against Gonzi behind his back both via The Times and in other different subtle ways and then turned his guns against Simon.
Xi hadd jaf kif nista naghmel kuntatt ma dak l-imbecilli jismu Angelo Vassallo, residenti fuq it-Times online jitpastaz u jaqa ghan-nejk? Demmi ilma jgibli.
I think that the top two contenders are Simon and Mario, and I hope that whoever of the two loses, he will still be part of the leadership team.
For me Simon is the best bet. But the blogs are all in favour of Mario Demarco.
Time will tell.
I THINK THAT YOU HAVE RIGHTLY NOTED, AS A COUNCILLOR WITH VOTING RIGHTS, I AM DEFINITELY SEEING BEYOND MY NOSE.
I certainly hope that Simon wins this. I totally agree that he (like Mario) needs to be toughened up somewhat. However, unlike Mario he has showed incredible loyalty. He came back to help when he personally had so much to lose.
On the other hand, Mario, a Cabinet minister, hid in the wings during the election campaign taking care of his own skin so that as much as possible he would not get tainted by the electoral loss.
If this legislature showed anything, it is how rare and precious a commodity loyalty is.
With Mario , one gets the unreserved support of the Times. That counts for a lot. However, I personally have found it despicable how the Times have pushed Mario’s agenda. Did you not notice how critical they were of Gonzi’s government before Mario became a Cabinet minister? And how the tune changed after when he became part of it?
All I can hope is that the Times regains its status as an independent newspaper and stops being used for one person’s individual ambitions.
Both Mario and Simon are intelligent. However, I personally would prefer someone who does not come from one of the dynasties so to speak. Also Mario is not Guido and he lacks many of the qualities that made him the force he was.
Simon’s separated status somehow makes him more real. He has been through the difficulties that so many families have gone through and so can emphatise only too well. He should appeal to the liberal section and I can only hope that the councillors realise that they need to be more open in this respect.
Yes Simon made mistakes during the campaign but was also excellent, demolishing every opponent during debates. Also it is he who works who makes mistakes. He who doesn’t is not going to is he?
Simon has already shown that he is not afraid to stand up to Muscat’s ploys by taking a stand in the offering of exec posts to members of the Opposition. So he has the right raw material. Yes he needs to be built up but so did Muscat when he started out. Mario on the other hand seems to be singing out of Muscat’s same hymn sheet. He is pussyfooting around the real issues that are already happening.
Finally Simon knows Muscat well. They were in Brussels at the same time and is better placed to understand him. Something tells me that it is this fact that made Simon come back. Knowing just how dangerous Muscat is for the well-being of the country.
Either way whoever wins I hope will rally behind the other. If Simon does win we will soon know if Mario is going to play ball from the way the Times will react.
I do think that you have sussed out the DeMarco situation perfectly. I hope against hope that Simon wins, we will otherwise be ruled by a single ‘skond id-daqqa z-zifna’ muviment considering how entangled ToM/de Marco and the MLP are.
LAHHJAR GHAZLA MARIO DEMARCO GHAX GHAMEL XOGHOL KBIR U POSSITIV ,,U BHALA MISSIER HUWA EZEMPJU GHAL FAMILJI LI JRIDU JIGU IL QUDDIEM..EJJA JKOLLNA LEADER LI JGHAQADNA U NIMXU KOLLHA WARAJH LI ANKI LABURISTI JIBDEW JIKUNSIDRAW LI JERSQU LEJN IL PN MIN DIS SENA STESS UKOLL…GOOD LUCK TO ALL
Taqghux fir-ridikolu li taghmlu l-canvassing hawnhekk ukoll.
Billi qed tghajjat hawn ma tantx qed taghmillu gid lil de Marco.
Nispera li l-kunsilliera jharsu daqxejn lura fi zmien il-kampanja elettorali u jiftakru daqxejn minn fejn waslet il-hsara.
Nghid ghalija ma nacetta qatt li wiehed minn tal-familja jhalli lill minn juza` l-armi tieghu kontra tieghi.
Imma, jigri x`jigri nirrispetta l-ghazla tal-kunsilliera, ghax huma l-persuni responsabli biex jaghmlu dan skond l-statut tal-partit, u hekk ghandu jibqa min irrid jiehu parti jinvolvi ruhu aktar fil-partit.
Jirbah min jirbah, il-partit dejjem ikbar mill-individju u ghalhekk jien dejjem lejali lejn il-partit u min imexxieh.
Viva l-partit Nazzjonalista din ta l-ahhar harget minn qalbi bi dmugh nizel min ghajnejja.
Although I would prefer if Mario De Marco wins because he has in the past expressed my views and opinions perfectly, plus he has more edge, character and more shrewdness (just what you need to deal with Labour), I wouldn’t mind if Simon Busuttil wins.
He would probably do a better job of reconciling the liberals and conservatives under the PN umbrella. But I think Mario De Marco would offer a shrewder and more effective opposition with a better chance of winning the next election. I don’t know. I’m torn between the two.
I believe that Simon Busuttil should be the next Nationalist leader. He is the one thet is most feared by Labour and by Joseph Muscat and the Labour elves are working overtime so that he will not be elected.
I don’t put the least blame on Busuttil for the electoral defeat. Busuttil compiled an electoral programme that made sense. But he could not propose the 25% reduction in the electricity bills.
The people took Muscat’s word that he can do it. People do not care about technology and how they do it.
If people live in Sliema or somewhere else, but not in Marsaxlokk, they don’t bother if huge storage tanks are built in Marsaxlokk.
They don’t care about the risks there.
The risk is for the people of Marsaxlokk and the residents didn’t raise any voice against the power station. This promise led to the significant victory of the Labour Party.
demarco for leader