Nationalist Party leadership election today
I like this picture, which I’ve just clipped from timesofmalta.com. It sort of sums up the spirit of the whole thing. Well, to my mind there are only two real contenders, Simon and Mario.
I’ve known Francis all my adult life and really like him. He’s incredibly decent and loyal and an astute politician, but I don’t think he’s the one.
I’ve met Ray Bugeja only a couple of times but noticed how very civilised he seemed and how perfect his manners are. When it had first opened, I went to his restaurant at Portomaso and was struck by the excellence of everything, and the level of attention to detail, especially in the service. He also seemed decent in a way I can’t put my finger on. But there are things that leave me uncomfortable: the non-politician, outsider status; his admission that he first approached the Labour Party when he returned to Malta. That didn’t sound right.
Simon and Mario – it really is between the two of them, I think. I knew both outside politics: Mario is my exact contemporary and a friend from way back in sixth form; Simon I got to know much later in my working life because he is around four years younger. They both have a lot going for them, so may the best man win.
Of one thing you can be certain: that the contender who doesn’t win will not spend the next decade doing a John Dalli about it.
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Reply to Dez Click here to cancel reply
Meantime.
http://www.maltarightnow.com/?module=news&at=%26%23379%3Bvelat+l%2Disem+ta%27+David+Mangion+b%26%23295%3Bala+right+hand+man+ta%27+Muscat&t=a&aid=99846866&cid=19
Bugeja is too much of a wildcard. Simon and Mario both have excellent potential. I see Francis as the one who is most logical in his arguments and an excellent communicator.
For me, Mario is the only choice. He is the bridge between the old and the new of the PN, a reluctant politician in the first place, who entered relatively late in life because of his successful practice.
He is a person who analyses issues in-depth because of this fact.
He is nobody’s “man” and has no powder puff future direction for Malta or the PN.
The party does not need breaking down as some people are crying out for, just ridding out of the deadwood and continuing in the same vein as previous PN opposition parties have done.
The current lot in power have the keys to the sweet shop and you know they are looting it wholesale. Only a matter of time before people see sense and realise what we have lost as a country.
After the leadership election John Dalli’s behaviour went from bad to worse. He reached his peak when he was discharged by the EU Commission.
The moment he was thrown out of the EU Commission by Barroso was definitely spectacular, and must have been most embarrassing to him. It definitely was a blow to any reputation he may have had – and which he sought to protect, in vain, by writing legal letters (which he called ‘official letters’) to Silvio Zammit.
But in my view, his hostile behaviour had peaked here:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080713/local/mater-dei-is-part-time-hospital.216561
“Mr Dalli also believes it is high time to start a discussion on divorce in Malta and he intends to make a formal proposal about the matter to the Prime Minister.
This is the first time a prominent Cabinet member of the Nationalist government has publicly spoken on the need to start discussing divorce.”
In fact, I think this was a defining moment in the politics of 2008-2013, and should shed a lot of light on the behaviour of some prominent PN backbenchers in the years that led to 2013.
Think about how this shifted the political forces in the years that followed.
Notice also the timing of this statement – this was barely one month after Joseph Muscat had been elected to lead the Malta Labour Party.
I am morally convinced that John Dalli knew that the sure way to destabilise the leadership of Lawrence Gonzi was to put the subject of divorce on the national agenda. He must have known about Lawrence Gonzi’s personal position on divorce. And he may have thought that there were more liberals than conservatives on the subject of divorce within the PN at that time.
In my view, what remains to be explained is whether – but more likely, how – this subject and the strategy was discussed with Labour.
I think that the majority will go for Simon – He seems a wee bit ahead of Mario. May the best man win – he has a tough job ahead of him and I hope the new leader will try and put some toughness in the PN parliamentary group.
I think that the decision will go in favour of the candidate Lawrence Gonzi favours to succeed him. Most probably that would be Simon.
Did Il- Guy’s “endorsement” help or hinder Mario Demarco?
Discuss.
I agree it’s between Simon and Mario. Both will make very good leaders, but I believe Simon is better as the leader of the PN in opposition. There will rough times ahead and surely Muscat can’t be handled with any velvet gloves.
I hope that after the election they will still remain united as seen in the picture and try to involve everyone to struggle for another victory.
Agree that it’s either Simon or Mario. Mario came out a tad better than Simon in yesterday’s edition of Xarabank. Fluent when asked what takes priority, party or country.
Only Mario and Joey can save the PN.
What a soft spot you had writing this article. Well chosen words and good manner of writing without incitement. I wished you could write all other articles like this while still maintaining whatever criticism that comes with it, then you would have a full house following your blog. I do not expect you to be politically inclined as your role in the society is well needed to check which ever party is governing.
[Daphne – 1. I already have a ‘full house’ following this blog. 2. I have a ‘full house’ following this blog because it is not like other blogs and I am not like other people/writers. 3. The minute I cease to be myself I will not have a ‘full house’ following this blog. 4. I have been successful as a columnist for 23 years precisely because this is the way most people want their political commentary written, even if many others do not. 5. Writers require readers, not votes. 6. There is no such thing as a political commentator who is not ‘politically inclined’; those who are not politically inclined by definition have little or no interest in or knowledge of politics, which is why they are the wrong people for the job and are unreadable. But thank you for your interest. I am not here to be nice to people or worry what they might think. There are enough people doing that already. Oh and incidentally, what incitement are you on about?]
Simon would have more chance if he wasn’t directly involved in the electoral campaign. Mario is more a man of the people and more of a traditional politician. Mario needs to look a bit less sombre though and sound more positive.
They are all nice, articulate, decent men, and worthy to be in the PN but to me none of the quartet has the leadership qualities desperately needed to galvanize the people as Eddie Fenech Adami did so naturally.
Great democratic leaders like Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher or Tony Blair had one thing in common – vision.
Sad to say, none of these contenders has the vision as to where they want to take the country.
Bugeja approaching Labour first sounds like an opportunity investment exercise.
All four contenders are real gentlemen. However I do believe that we need a new face and a new style of politics. Raymond Bugeja with Francis Zammit Dimech as deputy Leader would be my best bet.
http://siehbi.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/peppis-a-giver/
This contest is in stark contrast to that for MLP leader in 2008, described by Evarist Bartolo (and Coleiro Preca?) as the dirtiest on record.
The 1993 MLP leadership contest was also marred by an anonymous letter against Lino Spiteri.
May the best one win. It’s a tough road ahead.
I am convinced that whoever wins will most definitely do an excellent job.
No amount of switchers bitching, especially about Simon Busuttil, will ever change that – they would better concentrate on how the government, which they have put in to power themselves, is running the country instead.
Good luck to all of them and may the best man win.
… “Of one thing you can be certain: that the contender who doesn’t win will not spend the next decade doing a John Dalli about it”
Yes, how unfortunate was Dr Gonzi. I voted in that contest. From the look on Dalli’s face, I knew, back then, that he was going to create a great deal of trouble.