Meanwhile, in the civilised world (and a real liberal democracy) a prime minister commutes to his office
Published:
April 2, 2014 at 4:05pm
30 Comments Comment
Reply to Phil Click here to cancel reply
http://evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=32625
I love the Netherlands and the Dutch. I’d live there if it wasn’t so cold and humid
http://lastefani.it/contents/uploads/2013/09/matteo-renzi.jpg
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/waNbSXktykX/David+Cameron+Arrives+Parliament+Prime+Ministers/CqqqTpu29YN/David+Cameron
http://www.lettera43.it/politica/firenze-renzi-incontro-riservato-con-napolitano_43675111830.htm
How very telling. The Kenyans and Iranians were ‘ashamed’ (ashamed?) that the Dutch premier uses a bicycle to commute.
It appears that, with the exception of the USA, which is a world of its own, the size of a Minister’s convoy/police guard/security/etc. is in inverse proportion to how liberal you really are.
Seriously, if he tried to pedal up Mount Scibberras, he would really need the police sirens on the way to the cardiac department at the Sptar Fenomenali.
He did not scheme his way into this position to ride a bike, although quite a few of us would like him to get on his proverbial bike and ride himself and the likes of him into oblivion.
But he is only the Prime Minister of Holland. No comparison sorry.
Isn’t it great to see normal people who run their country and just get on with life?
As against wrapping their lips around the golden straw and sucking on taxpayers’ money until they are disposed of?
How third-world we still are in Malta.
It’s never been more obvious and in your face.
You’d need to have a screw loose to cycle in Malta.
…and Rutte is stopped daily by the press as he steps off his bike, may I add.
Members of the Dutch royal family have been known to cycle around every day for several years as well.
Maybe over there in Holland, they have plenty of parking bays for bicycles.
And here’s Boris Johnson:
http://cdn-wac.emirates247.com/polopoly_fs/1.286283.1283316457!/image/688939154.jpg
Muscat called a press conference this morning, explaining his reshuffle.
The venue was the corridor leading to the Chamber of the House.
The House of Representatives isn’t the prime minister’s to employ as his personal territory. A cabinet reshuffle is strictly executive business.
If this was intentional, rather than the fruit of pure ignorance, then it’s scary.
Methinks Mr Coconut won’t copy this one. Can’t figure the PM sweating on the bike to Castille from Burmarrad as a PR stunt.
He’d need the protective gear.
http://www.coconutcoasters.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/110308-0409-goincoconut2.jpg
http://www.blitzquotidiano.it/foto-notizie/giulietta-smart-bici-treno-taxi-muove-matteo-renzi-foto-1794671/
Funny you never noticed this in Gonzi’s days, he actually took the bus to work.
Mary ‘Titanic song’ Spiteri at the end of the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWY8u0JUoIg&list=UU7GKlpZqYYxeeHk9b9h6kLA&feature=share&index=8
Come on now! Can you even imagine our Jo doing something like this?
Jo couldn’t ride a bike to work – he’d be top heavy and topple over.
In the civilised world, you don’t get this reasoning:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140402/local/teenagers-tragedy-highlights-difficulties-faced-by-youth-minister.513275
And the comments following the article, are as turbulent as the article itself.
Jo would be unable to cycle up Burmarrad hill.
If memory serves me right the ILO held that the responsibility to travel to the place of work is the responsibility of the worker. Any expense incurred in the process cannot be claimed in considering wage increase, overtime or allowance. It is only in Joseph`s Wonder Land that the prime minister gets paid out of the common coffers for leasing his car to his government and people. We are lucky he is not frequenting the gym as often as he used to. I bet he would not have resisted having us pay for his membership.
If our prime minister were to cycle to work he’d probably break his bicycle, he’s so heavy.
I wonder whether Mark Rutte leased his bike to the Office of the Netherlands’ Prime Minister.
It seems that the “civilised world” you describe is very small. How many countries form part of this so called civilised world?
[Daphne – Very few, but they’re always top-ranked as the best places to live.]
Yet in Malta dignitaries need two bodyguards with screaming sirens (adding to the noise pollution) and the prime minister driven by a chauffeur. Chairmen, judges, magistrates all have a chauffer to travel in such a small island.
In a civilised and real democracy, liberal PM Rutte governs today in coalition with the socialdemocratics of PvdA. But two years ago he also accepted a minority cabinet with the external backing of far-right, xenophobic Wilder’s PVV party. You have endless shades of grey, out there.
Whereas our new President will be inconviencing a number of people with her 6-hour ceremony – http://www.di-ve.com/news/streets-closed-traffic-4th-april
In Germany judges, police commissioners, etc all provide their own means transport, be it a bicycle, car, motorbike, whatever one has. None are provided with a chauffeur-driven car.