Mangion denies George Abela's 'presidency' claim

saviour cachia

May 2nd 2008, 22:25

The heat in the campaign pointing toward the new leader of the Malta Labour Party is getting hotter. Everyone's has every right to say and believes what he wants. But certainly nobody has any right to discredit any of the five contenders. They are all in with the same intention to make the MLP reachable and electable by 2013.
I maintain that it would be a big miss if Dr. George Abela experience and well-provened ability is given the sideline.
So far, Dr. Abela is like the tortoise in our childhood much known fable in his race against the rabbit. Let me concede that he is still a little bit behind, but certainly not due to incorrect behaviour but by a prejudice stigma against him.
But no one can forget what happened to the rabbit who was well ahead...he finished losing, and it was the tortoise who was first to cross the line.
Despite the race being almost five weeks away, Dr. Abela had managed to jump over a number of hurdles which certainly proves his qualities and characteristics. Come on George keep it up. The contenders will soon be reaching the straight and it is there where it counts, hoping always that whoever called upon to vote use his mind rather than his hear.

Cedric Busuttil

May 2nd 2008, 07:08

I love this one Dr Mangion. And who of the ones you have consulted will tell you so? Are you sure you did not miss out anyone?
It's a word against a word and you know this perfectly well. NONE of us at home will ever know the truth - ie: if it has been said or not. People / readers just follow their instincts when it comes to what should they believe. Everyone should know this, especially you in politics. Look back to last election. What makes an MP lose popularity? What made Louis Galea lose popularity? People not involved in politics are intelligent too. Heal the wounds for the party's sake.

M Camilleri

May 1st 2008, 18:26

George Abela the natural choice for you is to go back to history where you belong and where you are stuck and please don't harm our party anymore!!
Is this the kind of mentality you are proposing to unite the party?

j micallef

May 1st 2008, 18:15

Dr Abela makes a few seconds statement about a presidency offer. Dr Mangion makes a written statement that no one from the MLP made the offer to Dr Abela. Who will the thinking people believe? They could not be both correct. On the other hand, both could be trying to take us for a ride! Credibility is a relative thing, and people tend to believe those who do not have a past riddled with incorrect utterances.

Dr Mangion used more or less the same strategy that was adopted by the MLP when a statement from the PN before the EU referendum claimed that certain MLP bigshots were in favour of the EU, but preferred to publicly tow the line with Sant' s over-our-dead-body opposition to it.. The bigshots were allegedly made to sign an affidavit that they were all for Switzerland-in-the-Med or Partnership - and the MLP assumed that this was the end of the story and no one doubted its version any longer!

Dr Mangion would have done well to steer clear from inflating this issue out of all proportions and making a mountain out of a molehill. Sane politics dictate that It would have been forgotten and dismissed within hours, but the MLP has only managed to perpetrate it and rekindle memories of the pre-EU referendum farce.

Andre Bonnici

May 1st 2008, 16:22

For all I care, leadership contenders such as GA should forget the past and focus on the years 2013-2018 if they aspire to be the next PM. By telling us who was right or wrong in 1998 is beyond us and nobody cares. That's past history.

George Abela is stuck with the past, and would make more sense in planning his retirement and perhaps offer his services as an advisor to the new leader who would be younger and definitely forward looking.

Paul Zammit

May 1st 2008, 13:18

this is getting too much. iIs this the George Abela yu vote for after he has been creating these controversies? I wish the members could vote. I would be in the front line to campaign against electing Dr Abela! We want someone who can unite us rather than dividing his people! and his tactics are not uniting us at all! I wonder why many people resent him already, and no surprise, as many others have declared before, won`t vote labour anymore if george abela is ever elected as labour leader!

@saviour cachia

Is this the way how to make a winning party, by dividing the party to be able to rule? Is Dr Abela a man of his word when published documents and several people are proving the opposite to what he`s saying in public?
`All this is possible if we are credible...` george abela said. But he has to be credible himself first and foremost!!!!!

Adrian Sammut

May 1st 2008, 11:41

What else do you have to invent dear george abela? you re disappointing many of your supporters.!!!

Jason Borg

May 1st 2008, 11:40

@ Malcolm Seychell.

I think there is a flaw in your arguement. On one hand you say the George Abela is the only one who can work with the Nationalists, Labourites and Moderates, and on the other hand you say that he is not managing to get the support of the Labour people. It seems that Abela is only managing to get the support of the definitely Nationalists but pretending to be moderates.

a.Gauci Cunningham

May 1st 2008, 11:38

Whatever happened to Labour United?????........whatever happened to "....Labour is a team GonziPn is not..."!!!............if you want to know who's going overboard J AGUIS ask Micheal Falzon ( you know the one you say you lost because he agreed to an extra hour) or all those thousands of laburisti who voted YES in 2003!!! The MLP should stick a card at the door of their Glass Palace and say " MHUX IL-LABURITSIT KOLLHA WELCOME SORRY!! ooooo what a field day Pn would have saying " ....qed tara laqas il-laburisti stess ma jaqblu bejnietom..." .Grow Up and become a team!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stefano Cremona

May 1st 2008, 08:53

I just love how the MLP, it's members and media machine unfold their own soap opera!
Like Dallas and Dynasty they have love/hate tangles between themselves that continue on and on!

David Stellini

May 1st 2008, 08:37

First we had Dr Abela's claim about the EU u turn which was flatly denied by George Vella, and now the presidency claim. Go on name the person or admit you invented the story.
Frankly I am not impressed by his debacle in the 2008 General Conference. If he really had the party at heart he would have made his views known that he was against the calling of an election at the Executive committee, and tried to convince Alfred Sant . But instead he voted in favour that the decision is taken by the General Conference and sprung the rabbit out of the hat there ! Clearly his hidden agenda was for the General Conference to agree with him and turn the tables on Alfred Sant....

J. Agius

May 1st 2008, 07:06

Don't you think you are going overboard now, George? Mention the name of who told you so if one has to believe your allegation. Enough is enough. This is not the style of leadership you aspire to do, if, God forbids, you win th

Chris Zammit

May 1st 2008, 01:10

Is this what Dr. Abela means, when he states that he wants to unite the MLP? Can he be so gentle and declare what his real intentions are? Does he want unity or simply divide and rule?

If I'm not mistaken, this is the third time since his resurrection, that he declares something similar without proving it or even worse gets contradicted by those concerned. Is this mudslinging or not?

1) First he said, that he left the party in 1998 simply because he did not want an early election. Then comes Dr. G.Vella, which like Dr. Abela was also Deputy leader and states that when the decision was taken by the executive committee, of which both of them formed part, Abela did not vote against!

2) Then, he also said that way back in 1998, there were internal discussions, to change the party's policy regarding EU membership and yet again Dr Vella and even Dr A. Sant stated that this was not true (at least on official level).

3) Now, there is this latest smoke screen of presidency allegation made by a 'high position labour official', but yet again no name mentioned. This time we have denial from Dr. C. Mangion in his role as acting leader of the opposition. Dr. Abela why is this name a secret? Are the praises thrown at Dr. Mangion last Sunday still applicable??

Surely Dr Abela's words do not indicate goodwill and certainly won't unite a party which is still under shock after electoral defeat. How can he pretend to get support from delegates or party members if he continues to show this attitude! Is there any hidden agendas maybe?For example hearing some of his statements, passes through my mind that he simply does not want to get elected so that he can continue adopting the attitude of the last 10 years of 'I told you what would happen, but you didn't listen!' Will he use this same arrogant approach with the electorate if he becomes leader?

On a personal note, honestly at first I was not supportive of Dr. Abela's bid to become MLP leader, but after listening to him, I thought that maybe he was right and that his intentions were good. To date I have followed nearly all his speeches / statements etc.and I can declare that he has put me back to square one i.e. from the five contenders he seems to be the least reliable. Ironically he is the only contender who spends time attacking party officials!

saviour cachia

Apr 30th 2008, 23:33

Dr. Charles Mangion, you did your duty. Tried to verify what Dr. George Abela had said about the presidency claim. On relying only by this report, one might jump to a hasty conclusion that Dr. Abela might be a liar.
I very much doubt it, and only time will tell. But ain't I a staunch supporter of Dr. Abela for leader? So my word is just worth two pennies.
Nevertheless I vouch that Dr. Abela is a man of his word and if you want to know why the former deputy leader is coming back to our dear party and putting himself forward for leader: just read his column on the Labour electronic website: maltastar, with specific insights of how the leadership contenders are looking at the contests ahead on June 5 and 12.
Just a glimpse from Dr. George Abela column:
'My firm commitment is to lead the party to electoral victory. Malta is in dire need of a government led by Labour. All this is possible if we are credible, inclusive and progressive. I am offering my humble services to achieve the best for Labour, to make Labour once again the Party of Success.
This is only a sample, read the full text and hope that the delegates who seem to be casting their vote for the new MLP leader, will truly use their mind and not their heart.

Malcolm Seychell

Apr 30th 2008, 23:01

@David Farrugia

It is not a secret that ABC and DCG are nationalists supporters. However I don't blame them that they want GA as their leader and the least they would like to see is Sant's poodle

GA is moderate who is able to work with anyone including nationalists, floaters and laburisti.

If the laburisti are going to keep on this mentality they will never see the government again.

GA is being targeted by almost every high official in the MLP.

Last Sunday il mument said that Joseph Muscat was part of the strategy team in this election.

Why nobody said anything about it and Michael Falzon was attacked by party officials for the extra hour given in election day?

Albert gauci Cunningham

Apr 30th 2008, 22:54

........and just before anyone says why I ( as a Pn supporter) support G.Abela may i say that I do not think G.Abela is the best one to lead the MLP....but neither is J.Muscat.................Evarist bartolo is my fav.----honest, relaxed, media savvy, humble and Liberal!!!

Andre Bonnici

Apr 30th 2008, 22:50

I expect George Abela to substantiate his claim to be taken seriously. This reminds me of another occasion when Gonzi claimed that Labour MPs sent him confidential emails.. only to retract his spin hours laters blaming it on the Sunday Times!! These are merely Mintoffian tactics (sic).

Joseph Grech-Attard

Apr 30th 2008, 22:28

Mr Franco Farrugia
I totally agree with you. Most Maltese (not only) politicans these past few years think only about themselves and, maybe, their party. The country stands last, if at all. When things go wrong they always blame somebody else, rather than themselves. They go to extremes just to be credible and we sometimes forget that being credible does NOT mean saying the truth, but just making the public believe. Ethics and morality have disappeared from some politicians' vocabulary. "But that's politics" we are told, " and everybody else does it."

Paul Micallef

Apr 30th 2008, 21:51

Dr Abela is this the way you intend to lead the Malta Labour Party as a future leader? You are only making things more complicated than they really are at the moment.

You are only giving more fuel to the PN

Alex Ellul

Apr 30th 2008, 21:51

And MLP proponents write comments saying that the PN has got problems...mmmmmmm

Jonathan Borg

Apr 30th 2008, 21:12

This is the third attempt by the Labour party administration to put George Abela in a bad light. First Alfred Sant personally defends George Vella regarding what was supposed to be a change of EU policy by the Labour government in 1998. Then a personal 'for your eyes only' letter by Alfred Mifsud to then Prime Minister Alfred Sant is published in the local press. And now this. Why is the Labour old guard so afraid of George Abela? This is becoming very much like a whole 'month of the long knives' in very Labour fashion.

Albert gauci Cunningham

Apr 30th 2008, 20:26

Imagine George Abela says that the person in question is Jason Micallef ( just an example obviously!!) and the latter rebuts by saying its not true who will A Daley and D.Micallef believe??......mhux ovvja the same ppl they've believed when they told them Partnership Rebah, Svizzera fil-Mediterran, "Rebha taghna terga tkun (1998), Mintoff traditur, VAT is bad, Local Councils are bad and that they've won the election on the 10th of March 2008!!!!...............
I'm not saying that G.Abela is some saint but you've already chosen who to believe.....you chose to put more glitter on Sant's clique and believe that it looks good and believe that tomorrow could be better and believe that the PN's life is short and you'll reach the promised land "sooner than you think"

David Farrugia

Apr 30th 2008, 20:25

The closer the leadership election gets, the more I understand why the PN and life sworn nationalists such as ABC and DCG support George Abela.

JOHN SCERRI

Apr 30th 2008, 20:08

The MOST challenging task of the new MLP leader will surely be to pick up the pieces and reunite the party. It will most probably mean that some might lose their post.
Such a Leader will need a lot of backing , support, and loyalty.

This contest has unfortunately developed into a jigsaw puzzle of considerable proportions .
Remember,
MLP only lost by a mere 1500 votes. So there must have been some good going on.

Why am I, a non MLP supporter ,but a Maltese citizen, saying this?

When listening carefully to comments by contestants on the media one gets the impression that the party is in ruins and has to start afresh.. out with the old in with the new. Is this true ? Personally I do not think so.

If one had a house which was falling apart it would be better to demolish it and rebuild instead of patch it up. - I do not think MLP is in this state.

Before the elections MLP ONE TV and ONE radio were, according to statistics, classified as most popular among listeners and viewers - MLP was winning local council elections - MLP said that all was ready for elections whenever it came.
What Happened ? Was all this pre election talk a scam? I think not. the facts prove it.

If MLP had won the elections would it have been a government evolved from a deteriorating party ? I think not . Reasoning would have taken a different tone similar to what was being said during vote counting day.

What is misleading the public is that an impression is being given by some contestants, from the manner with which they express themselves, that there are splinter groups inside the party and the party itself will never be united and become one whoever will be elected.

A more diplomatic mode of speech and mutual respect towards each other will surely instill a positive impression of what the future will be for MLP. as well as for a would be future Labour prime minister.

A Daley

Apr 30th 2008, 19:22

Dear George, One should either name people or go into hibernation, like you did for 10 whole years.
Dear George, by your gestures, you seem to have a hidden agenda. What is it? Will you, (like Dom), spoil the game?

D. Micallef

Apr 30th 2008, 19:22

It's very simple Dr. Abela. Just say who made you this offer rather than obscuring all those in the higher positions of the party, if you really wish the best to the party. With these statements, failure to unite the factions within the party is already evident now, let alone after 5th june.

Franco Farrugia

Apr 30th 2008, 19:16

But aren't we missing one thing, here?
Aren't we all realising what a SCANDAL the present generation of politicians are causing to the younger generation? That is to say, those few young people who follow - or try to follow - the political scene in Malta at the moment?

We don't know any longer where truth lies; we don't know any longer who is saying the truth and which truth is being said. We don't know any longer what to think, who to trust, who to have faith in!!!!!

Can't we get it into our thick - very thick - heads that level-headed citizens are simply dismissing politicians as those who simply LIE all the time, and just to suit their ends?

Can't we realise that we are expecting to have a situation in which people will lose all trust in the present establishments? And no amount of force, coercion and sarcasm (ABC, take note!) will remedy matters.

There is NOBODY here who is thinking about the young generation and we continue to hysterically and hypocritically denounce people who are pedophiles when the politicians and those other columnists (I am speaking in general, here, referring to nobody and to everyone at the same time) who make up the establishment, are doing infinitely worse harm than such sick people.

Andrew Borg-Cardona

Apr 30th 2008, 18:48

Interesting - George Abela makes an assertion, Charles Mangion reacts that the assertion is unfounded, because that's what his colleagues told him. If Charles Mangion says that he didn't make the proposal to George Abela, I believe him, but his denial is hollow insofar as it is based on what others said to him.

Robert Cassar

Apr 30th 2008, 18:45

Just in time. Is Dr Abela going to accuse Charles Mangion of forming part of the Party machine now? Dr Abela must tell us who offered him this deal. Come on Dr Abela. Show us your true colours.

martin saliba

Apr 30th 2008, 18:37

As in the case of Minister Pullicino when he declared that no one employed in his ministry had spoken to Mr. George Micallef. How can he know. Is he divine. By the same token , how can Dr.Mangion know for sure that no one in the labour party spoke to Dr. Abela. In short , could he have been lied to and Dr. Abela is telling the truth?

paul fava

Apr 30th 2008, 18:29

I am fed up with these declarations and immediate denials. The ball is in your court now Dr. Geoge Abela. We all expect you to substantiate your declaration now. The sooner the better!