Is the prime minister familiar with the expression ‘locking the stable door after the horse has bolted’?
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Very few people know that last Tuesday the Prime Minister called Dr Simon Busuttil to his office in an attempt to try to reach a consensus with the Opposition.
This is definitely significant given that a few days before, the government bulldozed its way forcefully over the Opposition. It did not even accept one single amendment presented by the Opposition with Minister Mallia constantly insulting and belittling Busuttil.
After the bad publicity Malta received in the media across the world, Muscat went into panic mode and last Tuesday he was quick to invite the Opposition leader to his office for talks. The meeting took place in the Prime Minister’s Office in Parliament and lasted well beyond midnight.
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Busuttil should have refused to meet him. He needs to make things simple for people to understand because the average voter will take this as the PN’s seal of approval.
If there was any proof required that his is a hidden agenda it’s this.
It doesn’t make any sense to have a nine seat majority, force the bill through parliament, emphasize conviction and then beat a retreat.
It also implies not only doesn’t he trust his parliamentary group but the empty space around him is growing.
The meeting was a feeble attempt to test the Opposition’s stand. Going by today’s statement by the Leader of the Opposition, Muscat hasn’t made any progress.
Simon Busuttil, unlike Muscat, doesn’t change tune depending on circumstances.
Perhaps Simon Busuttil needs to keep clear of Muscat, even because the latest appointments and reshuffles are showing Muscat to be somewhat of a liability.
If anything, the PN’s media need to be integrated even further into political strategy, that includes ensuring official statements are carried by all newspapers. Make noise, will follow.
If Muscat cannot lead the agenda, which he isn’t, neither should he be left to turn it to his advantage. He’ll come out saying he’s leading discussions next.
Bit perverse and novel situation this, we’ve never had a prime minister who’ll keep following until it suits him. There’s a clear risk that any future failure could be blamed on the Opposition.
Remember pairing, he’ll twist and cheat until the situation’s unreadable. Turn up that volume PN.
Busuttil has the upper hand in this thing. Why should or would he dance to Muscat’s tune?
He already did it once with the issue of Mallia’s meddling in the security service. I hope he doesn’t do it again.
Very few people know about the above fact because the media did not report it.
However, many people know that soon after the law was enacted and when all Labour MPs had voted for it and the President of the Republic had signed it, the prime minister started to announce a retreat – although he did this through his human tools.
I detect that the vote in Parliament was effectively handled as a ‘vote of confidence’ in Joseph Muscat and his government. Labour MPs opposed this bill which seems to have been sprung upon them, but allowed themselves to be railroaded into voting for it.
Ghalaq l-istalla wara li harablu z-ziemel, jew ahjar hekk kif lesta r-remissa mietitli l-hmara.
Kieku kont Simon kont nghid lil Joseph : “Min ixarrbu jieklu l-bakkaljaw”
Simon Busuttil should have told Joseph Muscat to first revoke the citizenship sale law, and afterwards try to reach consensus.
Simon Busuttil should have had the good sense to insist that the meeting is held in his (Busuttil’s) office, and not rush straight into Muscat’s arms.
Has everyone forgotten how power is played?
[Daphne – You’re wrong on that score. This isn’t ‘Busuttil’ and ‘Muscat’. It’s the leader of the Opposition and the prime minister. The latter is more senior to the former and the former goes to the latter, at least on business of this nature.]
The Maltese (in majority) are voicing their disagreement with the sale of Maltese citizenship as proposed by the government. Simon Busuttil should press for a referendum.
Simon Busuttil as Leader of the Opposition did well not to turn down the invitation extended to him and snub the Prime Minister.
This is no time for false pride by assuming an ‘I told you so’ attitude.
It is in Malta’s interest to resolve this citizenship issue without further ado and Simon Busuttil showed true leadership qualities in not shirking responsibility.
I have every confidence he will not jettison principle but will rather sway the Prime Minister by sheer force of logic which events have more than proved to be on his side. His main challenge will be to help the Prime Minister save face.
Busuttil is a lot smarter than he looks and more than most people think and compared to Muscat …well let’s just not bother to even try to compare
I support Dr.Simon Busuttil in trying to reach consensus on this matter because it/s for the benefit of Malta.After all Dr. Busuttil has made it absolutely clear that the PN is against the selling of passports and consensus can be reached on other points which are beneficial to Malta
Simon Busuttil has fallen cleanly into the filthy hands of that artful manipulator Joseph Muscat.
And he, Busuttil, knows it, albeit rather belatedly. Why else would he keep voicing and tweeting his “the Opposition will not budge on the principle that citizenship is not for sale” thing, if not to try to remind us that he is not made of wood pulp after all.
Opposition has made its point several times over, in parliament, sealing it with its “no” vote. The mess is not its doing and it should not now be drawn into helping to clean it up.