Tuesday, 5th August 2008 - 03:02CET
Jason Micallef re-elected MLP general secretary
Sceberras Trigona returns as international secretary
Jason Micallef was re-elected MLP general secretary with a comfortable lead.
Jason Micallef has been re-elected general secretary of the Labour Party, emerging triumphant from a bruising contest where the field, despite having been narrowed to four candidates from the original six, was still wide enough to divide his opponents.
Mr Micallef, won the vote of 370 party delegates (out of 837 valid votes) in an election which was held yesterday evening at MLP headquarters in Hamrun.The result was announced early this morning.
Alfred Grixti won 229 votes, Joe Vella Bonnici 224 and Keith Grech just 14.
Mr Micallef has been general secretary since 2003 but opposition to him hardened after he was partly blamed for the March 8 general election defeat.
There was also no change at the top of the party administration, with Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi beating off a challenge from Wenzu Mintoff.
Louis Gatt was re-elected vice-president.
Joseph Cordina is the new finance secretary while Ray Azzopardi was uncontested as public relations officer.
Alex Sceberras Trigona, a former foreign minister, returns to the MLP administration, having beaten Joe Mifsud to the post of international secretary, a post which he once also occupied, while Aaron Farrugia was elected the new education secretary.
The general conference was opened by party leader Joseph Muscat, who in brief comments thanked the people for the solidarity shown to Labour health spokesman Karl Chircop, who is in critical condition in hospital.
The party delegates will meet again today to vote in 10 members of the party executive and discuss amendments to the party statute, notably on the selection of candidates for the European Parliament elections.
Comments
Part 2
A final reply, trusting to bridge differences.
@ Dr Muscat's recent decision to appoint a HANDPICKED person of his choice to occupy the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) further confirms my ( and others' ) claims that Mr Micallef wasn't the person suitably qualified to occupy the post of MLP General Administrator.
In effect, this move would automatically and officially downsize the roles of General Secretary and other elected administrative posts within the party structure. In such a way that those elected for their political/propagandistic qualities rather than for their managerial capabilities would find that the terms of reference/responsibilities for the post they occupy are being completely re-defined.
Part 1
A final reply, trusting to bridge differences.
@ I've never disputed the fact that Jason wasn't democratically elected. I respect the delegates' decision. What I and other Labour stalwarts contested was the fact that he wasn't the best choice and least merited to emerge victorious.
@ Jason was publicly opposed by certain party members on an individual basis, not acting in concert as a unit, as was the case with the party machine that gave him its full backing.
@ Although the sender of the anonymous e-mail denigrating Alfred Grixti cannot be definitely identified, it can be safely assumed to which contender camp he/she/they belonged to.
@ Dr Falzon acted in an ethically-correct and gentlemanly manner by identifying himself as the Report author re Jason's past performance. The previous case can in no way be linked to this.
@ One cannot be labelled elitist for favouring adequately-qualified persons for a vital administrative post. In that case, every selection board demanding a university degree as a pre-requirement to appoint administrators would be guilty of elitism. Absolute crap!! Would you label Dr Muscat an elitist were he to appoint as CEO a tertiary-level qualified person?
My personal expressed opinion on this matter doesn't carry any clout. But when Labour stalwarts such as Lino Spiteri, Leo Brincat, Michael Falzon etc pronounce themselves in newspaper columns, they definitely carry more weight politically-wise than the average delegate (probably illiterate) does.
The well-ingrained perception regarding corruption or political abuse under ANY Administration prevailing among locals doesn't stop there. It manifests itself in the common man's everyday perceptions whenever one isn't promoted, fails an exam, loses a lawsuit, receives a parking ticket etc. The most common response to such misfortunes is likely to be due to prevalent corruption. Common sense demands that accusations of corruption must be proved, even though it may be difficult to achieve, if they're to be considered credible.
The PN government has another 5 years at its disposal to implement their electoral promises. Due to various contrary factors, it isn't expected they'll be implemented in the first Budget. If I were you, I wouldn't pronounce myself so hastily about this. Remember, don't count your chickens before they're hatched!!
Going by your staunch pro-Jason stand, I wasn't far off when I stated that all this anti-Jason blog criticism isn't music to your ears!!
In short
(1)Jason won 44%of the vote even though it was a four way contest. Thusif it was a two way contest betweem any of the other candidates he would have almost certainly have won anyways. Furthermore if the party machine was fully favouring him why did you claim previously that Jason was opposed publicly by certain members from the same party machine(Dr Falzon,Lino Spiteri,Leo Brincat,Evarist Bartolo,Jimmy Magro,etc)??? Why let an 8pg report by Michael Falzon clearly attacking Jason be sent to the delegates? Clearly the party machine wasnt favouring anybody but was split amongst itself on who to elect.
(2)An email whose origin can not be definetly identified can not be used as an argument. Conjuring one up is rather easy. Why would delegates be swayed by a factitious email and not by the said 8pg report by Falzon????
(3)Favouring the other contenders just because they've got a university level of education sounds rather elitist.
(4)Yes Jason criticized George's canditature publicly, but plenty of other people including George himself criticised Jason's in a similar manner.
The delgates have democratically chosen, and their decision should be respected.
Part 2
@ Michael Falzon submitted an eight page report to delegates outlining reasons why Jason shouldn't be re-elected. Isn't that enough proof for you ?
@ Are you aware that someone clearly backing Micallef conducted a vicious e-mail smear campaign against Alfred Grixti, another contender, unfairly depicting him as a PN "lackey" for having participated in a NETTV interview ? Do you approve of such base, denigrating tactics ?
@ Jason triumphed because, as you admit, the powerful party machine gave him its full backing. And because the opposing votes were split among the three contenders.
@ The other contenders are more suited because they've never behaved arrogantly in private or on television. Academically-wise, they're also better qualified. Their professional background/experience are universally-deemed essential requisites for a managerial post. One is a lawyer, the second a Head of School/University lecturer and the third a Management Consultant/University lecturer.
@ Is it acceptable for a party General-Secretary not to know the number of first-time voters? Is it ethically permissible for Jason to criticize George Abela, then leadership contender, on TV to try to influence his candidature negatively with all Labourites? Please provide answers. Don't attempt to circumvent factual arguments.
With respect to the calls of corruption on the Labour billboards, they were completely uncalled for, but not for the reasons you may think. They were uncalled for because there is already a well ingrained perception among the populace that corruption and abuse of political power are common place under the present administration. Furthermore it is also well known that the chances of ever pinning a member of government with any kind of charges is next to none. So why on earth risk the libel charges?
Oh yes one final thing I fully agree the PN s electoral programme of promises was superior. However PN s record of implementing their electoral promises is a miserable one, and this one would seem to be no exception.
Part 1.
I expected you to comment about what decides an issue from a non-issue. Once you haven't, I presume you've accepted my arguments.
@ That's exactly the reason why Jason least merited to emerge victorious. He formed part of the Select Strategic Election Committee that botched up the election issue.
@ Landslide or no is irrelevant. The party in government for 2 legislatures has everything to lose for not complying to every voter's whims. Most voters expect a change.
@ The reason given is one of the many that contributed to Labour's downfall. The main being that level-headed voters regarded Labour's electoral programme as mediocre and lacking credibility.
@ Have you the nerve to call the PN campaign as denigrating Dr Sant? What about the billboard and mass meetings MLP campaign depicting all Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries as corrupt ? Even Dr Falzon had the guts to state that some Labour billboards were outrightly slanderous. Have any corruption charges been levelled and proven against former cabinet Ministers ?
@ Was Jason discredited SOLELY by Dr Falzon ? What about George Abela, Lino Spiteri, Leo Brincat, Evarist Bartolo, Jimmy Magro, the ex-Secretary of FŻL etc ?
I appreciate your concern to attempt to limit the ferocity of comments being expressed, making this blog the most commented. However, the blog editor has the faculty to withdraw the blog when he feels things are getting out of hand. That's his prerogative, not yours. The amount of space the media devotes to readers' views reflects audience interest for a particular topic.
By what stretch of the imagination can you decide for the readership that this topic is a non-issue? Party delegates have elected to a crucial post a person whose past performance was abysmal and who least merited to emerge victorious. Such an unexpected outcome has rendered the issue a much-discussed item, making it a veritable issue. I assure you that should this election have gone another way as was expected, that would have BEEN a non-issue. Interest generated would' ve been low, with most contributions expressing congratulations to the victor.
Your desire to promote positive/proactive journalism is utopic in the local context due to the lack of tolerance and our love for polemics. A change of mentality promoted by politicians, Union leaders, party newspapers and TV stations has to be established as an initial step.
Haven’t you ever wondered that the reason behind such ferocity in comments by so many bloggers on such a non issue could stem from excessive focus on the subject by the local media (or atleast particular segments of the local media).
Going by the various incoherent arguments expressed in your inimitable literary style, you proclaim yourself disposed to celebrate, welcome and take pride in whoever is elected to MLP administrative posts, no matter if the incumbent belongs to Labour's past or present.
You've called upon anti-Labour bloggers whom you described as closed-minded(sic) to change their tune as they're stuck up in the PAST. I wonder how you'd describe one who's ecstatic about having elected an avowed Euro-sceptic to the post of International Secretary - a post the same incumbent occupied over 30 years ago !!
It is advisable for you to take M. Muscat's excellent piece of advice about this matter to come to your senses. MLP delegates have also re-elected to the same posts the President and General Secretary who formed part of the select executive Strategic Election team that brilliantly scuttled the party's chances of success in the last elections. Dr Sant, ex-leader, Dr Mangion and Dr Falzon, ex-deputy leaders, all shouldered their responsibilities, resigned their posts and retired from the administrative scene. Jason Micallef and Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi should have, as gentlemen, likewise shouldered their share of the blame for contributing to the Labour debacle.
Bloggers who wish to comment on various critical problems currently affecting our country have at their disposal numerous sites on the same website where they are free and welcome to post their comments.
Can it be that your misplaced complaint about criticism appearing on this particular topic as being out of place is because it doesn't sound like music to your ears ?
Excuse me if I find this hilarious..
Mr. Ben Grech is so right.
Part 2
It seems you equate privatisation of parastatal enterprises with the notion of selling off the family heirlooms. There's nothing wrong, economically-wise, in so doing in order to avoid bankruptcy or to invest the proceeds in more viable enterprises. Modern economic theories maintain that the private sector is more conductive to a healthier economy as it avoids waste and overblown workforces to concentrate on achieving expansion and higher profits. No wonder Private employees are better paid than State ones!!
Mid-Med's privatisation is a success story. It was absorbed by an operator of high international renowned standing. It has succeeded to expand its operations base sector and increase profit margins substantially. Its employees and the government have benefitted greatly from the changeover.
Sea Malta was bankrupt thanks to the GWU having negotiated unrealistically high salaries for its overblown workforce, thus rendering it unfit to compete in a highly-competitive, limited market. It was more of a liability than an asset.
The process of privatising Maltacom was initiated by Dr Sant and proved a fruitful project. It was subsequently taken up by the PN government. More shares were offered to the public, although Government remains the majority shareholder.
Part 1
"The proof of the pudding lies in the eating". Proof is paramount. MLP delegates have doubtlessly proved that they intend to retain a conservative party by largely re-electing the same line-up as the pre-2008 election fiasco set-up. Labour delegates are displaying an ingrained mentality to preserve the MLP in a perpetual conservative cocoon.
What qualifies as conservative requires proof; unlike your senseless penchant for labelling those who don't subscribe to your extreme views as "you conservative lot". Not that the term itself is degenerative, since the Sant government (1996-98) was heavily lambasted by Dom Mintoff for applying anti-social economic measures (viz higher W&E charges) - tantamount to adopting conservative policies.
Your outdated mentality concerning anti-privatisation has been abandoned even by Russia - the first country to adopt the Communist economic system. It dates back to the 70s with Mintoff as its promoter (Remember his quip - Aħleb Ġuż) . Contrarily, the present MLP leadership boasts of accepting privatisation (viz the Drydocks) as governmental policy. You must be the sole survivor hankering against State assets created by Labour Administrations being privatised, or, according to a convulsed mentality, being sold off to foreign (not foreing) companies cheaply.
At least I am proud of someone and to be clear they are not just anybody !!
Still in the past my friend !!
@ Dr Francis Saliba
You are correct I didn’t mean everyone but only those who are closed minded.
Thanks to point that out .
What's so shocking about you is that you tell US to change and update
when YOU have just elected Alex Sceberras Trigona in a post he held 30 years ago,
after which, 25 years ago, he was signing secret treaties with North Korea.
And you declare that you're PROUD of Alex Sceberras Trigona!
Pleeeaaase...
Labour really is beyond redemption.
If you think that by electing Jason Micallef Labour has lost already than good for you. I hope you keep thinking this way and may you spread your thinking as widely as possible. That is what floaters and moderates want to hear from your party.
I am amused by your call "To everyone" to change. Reminds me of the army recruit marching out of step with the rest of the squad who protested that it was the others who needed to change step.
If you think that buy quoting DOM MINTOFF , Dr Alex Sceberras Trigona and or anyone else from that past and present of the MLP you are going to intimidate me , well you took a wrong way I WAS, AM and WILL BE very proud of them no matter what you others say .
Thanks !!
Now you can continue your litany !!!!!
So if I am getting it good , you are suggesting that Malta don’t trade or don’t make diplomatic relations with China , Russia , Libya , Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, The Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia , every Arabic state etc . Or whichever country you think that was evil just because the MLP did trade or diplomatic relations with ?????
Please do update your foreign knowledge cause is a bit confused . I know you think that you or anyone from the PN side know a lot more than anyone else on this planet just because you was in favour of Malta accession in the EU but it only got that far !!!
Sorry I m not getting your updating on this issue
Ethelbert Schembri:
When Alex Sceberras Trigona wielded power at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Maltese emigrants writing in this blog from abroad would have been guilty
of Foreign Interference!
Foreign diplomats in Malta were ordered not to talk to Nationalist officials.
If they did, they were Personae non Gratae.
AST went to Pyongyang and even Dom Mintoff.
And when Mintoff alighted from the aircraft,
Kim Il Sung's military saluting him broke into song,
you know which?
MA TAGHMLU XEJN MAL-PERIT MINTOFF.
They sang to their heart's content.
Unbelievable!
AST is so anti-Europe because he was so pro-Communist countries.
Our friends when he was Foreign Minister were the Ceaucescus,
Mrs Elena Ceaucescu was decorated by the Malta Labour government.
And you tell us you updated your policies by electing AST international secretary.
Hallina!
In his latest comments after he was elected, Jason Micallef talked exactly as if he has been elected party leader, not secretary general.
He will be "everyone's secretary general" and he will forgive his opponents.
He's so arrogant!
Labour is truly in a mess: this guy has got Joseph Muscat elected, and now himself and the others in his clique.
Who can stop him? (Joseph surely didn't)
To think that in 5 years' time this guy could be the secretary general of the party in government!
Please change the music cause YOU are stuck in the past not us !!
Can everyone notice that there are some blogs with the same writing !!!
The MLP has updated its foreign policy years ago .
And if you can’t tell us something new on Jason Micallef, Alex Sceberras Trigona, the new leadership and administration please stop writing on them cause as I said , you are stuck in the past not us !!
Your comments are more than 30 years !!
Come on come with new fiction , you are more than capable !!
Thanks to all
Back to Square Minus One
with Jason Micallef and Alex Sceberras Trigona.
Many have spoken here about Jason,
but AST deserves mention too.
It is unbelievable how Labour just takes
diametrically opposite views on everything,
and does this with a straight face!
Not only was Alex Sceberras Trigona adamantly against EU membership,
he even argued that membership needed a full twe-thirds vote in Parliament
as he argued that EU membership breaks
(and obviously, according to him, still does)
Malta's neutrality provisions entrenched in our Constitution.
That is, he was not only arguing against membership
and the great 'tragedies' it was going to cause us
(as Joseph Muscat did in 'Made in Brussels'),
but also that it was impossible to join the EU
as membership needed the vote of Labour MPs,
and they were dead set against EU membership.
Labour has gone back three decades with Alex Sceberras Trigona
in the same post he occupied 31 years ago.
He is against our EU membership,
as Foreign Minister he signed the Secret Treaty with Communist North Korea in Pyongyang,
and he ordered foreign dimplomats not to talk with Nationalist Party officials.
Not only is he anti-European,
he's an embarrassment to Malta.
They were afraid of George Abela, so they praised and promoted him to the maximum. Result - we ousted him.
They did not want a strong backing ( deputy leaders ) to a fragile new leader. They did not want a Gulia/Cardona tandem. So , guess what? they attacked Ang. Farrugia/Toni Abela. Result - we swallowed the bait and acted like imbeciles.
Now the BIG ONE - They wanted Jason Micallef so they opened an all out assault - sort of a bombardment - on all fronts. They even made the best of Michael Falzon, Leo Brincat's, and a host of other genuine MLP followers. And Bingo - they found the Joker- they got an EN PLEIN. We voted Jason in. What a sorry plight ! What a nightmare to be fooled over and over again.
But now, let's be damned cause we deserve it and hope that one day we would have some brains. Who knows ?
Jason had nothing to say about internal (dis)orgainisation and how the party is directing him to carry out necessary reforms (ie his real role); Just talk, rhetoric, coming from a person who has lost most of his credibility...
This is not a personal opinion but a reflection of a widespread opinion I come across held by labourites and who can hardly hold their noses any longer.
Leadership should read the riot act to the general secretary who is to keep strictly to his role, namely that of ADMINISTRATION in accordance with policies and directives handed out by leadership, Many suffering reds need to see this NOW. Much damage has already been inflicted as it is. Many feel like giving up. Joseph, Leo, Varist, send us a ray of something please...
On hindsight, the news is not that bad. Lets face it, another person on the unemployed list ain't too good!
Calling people hamalli, abjetti and ignorant just because they chose differently than what most people thought? This type of talk only helps to create a bigger divide between various sectors of Maltese society.
What seems to be lost in translation is that the ABSOLUTE MAJORITY of delegates did not want JM as Sec Gen. So it's not that the delegates are stupid and out of touch with the way things are on the outside.
I suggest to get rid of all competent persons in the MLP. You do not need them!!! The MLP delegates are replacing the world's best philosophers... They surely know how to decide for the better of our country.
Well done delegates!!
(P.S. How many "abjetti" and "hamalli" are there among these MLP delegates?)
So again I appeal to the new leader (in whom I have full trust) to find a way to make Jason leave his post. I also appeal to all others who have weight to put on pressure and work for this cause. Jason MUST go as soon as possible.
It is unbelievable how Labour just takes diametrically opposite views on everything,
and does this with a straight face!
Not only was Alex Sceberras Trigona adamantly against EU membership,
he even argued that membership needed a full TWO-THIRDS vote in Parliament
as he argued that EU membership BREAKS
(and obviously, according to him, still does)
Malta's neutrality provisions entrenched in our Constitution.
That is, he was not only arguing against membership and the great 'tragedies' it was going to cause us (mimmicking Joseph Muscat in Made in Brussels), but also that it was IMPOSSIBLE to join the EU as membership needed the vote of Labour MPs, an impossibility at the time.
Dear Mr Schembri:
Labour has gone back 30 years with Alex Sceberras Trigona.
He is against our EU membership,
as Foreign Minister he signed the shameful Secret Treaty with Communist North Korea in Pyongyang,
and he ordered foreign dimplomats not to talk with Nationalist Party officials.
Not only is he anti-European,
he's an EMBARRASSMENT to your party!
I remember as a teenager being unable to reconcile the love for one's country and people with declarations of love to some of the worst examples of mankind, vide Rumania's Caucescu, Korea's Kim il Sung etc.
You see to many, excluding you, that was not love for the country but use of the country for one's own benefit. Malta was prostituted with some of the world's worst for considerable personal gains, like shipwrights and civil servants becoming filthy rich at the expense of national interest.
Some MLP official, this week said he wants to serve his party not his party to serve him. It seems to be part of MLP.s historical modus operandi.!!!
As you conclude…..You now need to work....and really hard if my add!. Its a long way to tipperery!!!
Where is the new labour, the new vision that they all talked about.It seems, that the MLP, are not ready in thinking and working to form a govt,Take the GWU, for instance,they are still thinking of winning, by bullying,and using all language to impress the people, like they did,last week,when addresing the drydocks workers,but this kind of bullying is over now.
It is a affront to loyal labour supporters that this situation once again puts at risk any hope for a strong and viable opposition. I fail to see any new saviour stepping forward, indeed we seem to end up with men of straw ( don't you just wish sometimes that parties are composed of and run solely by women , maybe Malta might be jolted out of the mediocrity of patriarchal politics/ journalism and the rest of the ics and isms.)
change your stupid attitude or else you will remain there...and so far this new leader has done nothing WOW to win floater votes! still have time though, 5yrs and maybe 10yrs or more with the help of jason...
now yes start criticising me...don't mind...but think prior writing...be intelligent!
As for Jason he is valid person and keen to work , after some touches he will be bright as ever, Good see Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi and Louis Gatt re-elected. They work hard for party and country. Welcome to Joe Cordina and Aaron Farrugia .
The delegates said their say and we are after all the administration under the helm of our beloved Joseph Muscat.
Now Jason Micallef, one of Sant's boys, and one of the members of the group known as the clikka or the inner circle within MLP. What ever the rumours are, Jason Micallef was far from the best choice. I was sure Alfred Gixtri would have been elected, but yet Labour suprise us again.
Anyway to give a little respect to labour 500 delegates did vote against Jason Muscat, and he won by a majority of 300 votes in total. Still Labours big cry for change has fallen on deaf ears.
Well conclusion, unless you are a hardcore labour supporter, you can see Labour was just talking about change, but didn't like the taste when they heard about the required action that was needed for change to happen.
I use the word conservative to describe your lot in the full sense of the word . While the conservatives have been in Govt there only intention was to wind back the clock to the old days. Every asset that a labour Govt created to give this nation security and less dependance on foreing powers, your lot has sold to foreing on the cheap, Such things as Mid-Med bank, Sea Malta, Maltacom and so on. Maybe you do not remeber the old days , when you had beggars asking for money at the main entrance to Valletta, or coming around knocking on doors and asking for a piece of bread.Need I go any further . Finally who do you align your selves with in euro Parliament
Why are PN lot so concerned about who is elected within the MLP.
If according to these PN supporters, the person or persons recently elected are unfit and will go to make MLP to loose an election, - - for goodness sake, be happy, enjoy yourselves, not show us all as if you are livid with what is happening.
Enjoy yourselves!
Why are PN supporters proving to be such a sad bunch!
Try breathing some fresh air at the new state of the art Garden of Eden that PN erected in lieu of the Marsa Power Station!
Now where did I put those light bulbs?
Please admit that a normal gradual evolution of social services occurs continually in all countries under all political parties and it is ridiculous to credit these solely to any one political party, anywhere.
What is incredibly outstanding in Malta is the near-miraculous spine jerking overnight U-turns of the MLP about VAT and membership of the European Union with the cherry on top of the cake going to the newly elected MLP international secretary and his notorious open association with the CNI which no one can negate or gloss over.
Dr Alex Sciberras Trigona was never an activist in the CNI and was not against the EU . He just made some programs to explain the work of the EU.
His position was , is and always will be that he wants all the BEST for MALTA. Outside and now inside the EU . He always said that we must be prepared for the every negative that may come and take all and if it is possible more from every good that may come for the best of all Maltese . He even lectures the EU diplomats on international relations .
If everyone notice his position and that of the MLP are alike .
The MLP in his glorious history always wanted the very best for Malta , even if it meant an unpopular position .
If anyone is doubting the position of the leader and the administration of the MLP on the EU just don’t know anything . So please stay quiet in your caves or just pick up the pace !!
I wish Jason all the best for his re-election ! NOW back to work !!
The more you rave and rant penning irrelevant and illogical arguments that are beside the point re the above topic, the further you expose your anti-PN frustration for having to swallow the bitter pill of Labour having sufferred a third consecutive unprecedented defeat at the polls.
You've every right to be ecstatic to celebrate Jason's victory in being re-elected. This is the third time in a row that delegates have landed the MLP in a muddle by voting against mainstream opinion both on a national level and within party structures. They have succeeded to make a mockery of the newly-coined slogan STAGUN POLITIKU GDID.
Apart from floaters and PN sympathisers, a considerable number of prominent Labour exponents publicly opposed the idea of re-electing Jason due to his arrogant behaviour and adverse perception displayed on TVM's "Xarabank" . Among these one finds Leo Brincat, Lino Spiteri, Michael Falzon, Evarist Bartolo, George Abela, Jimmy Magro, Toni Abela, the ex-Secretary of Forum Zghazagh Laburisti, Anna Mallia, Charles J. Buttigieg.....the list is endless. Not to mention the 467 Labour delegates representing 55.8% who clearly opposed his candidature. If that doesn't make sense to you, I just can't imagine what will !!
Au contraire. The PN are extremely happy that Jason is back. Having ,as your opponent, a totally incompetent person just makes it sooooooo much easier! Maybe next time Jason will get the number of new voters right huh?....
Now do be quiet ! Unless you have something intelligent to say.
According to Chambers Dictionary "Conservatives" means
averse to change; a Party that favours the preservation of existing institutions.
I believe you should apply the term "conservatives" to MLP delegates who have given ample proof by their votes that they favour a status quo in maintaining the same persons to occupy administrative posts as was the pre-election situation. MLP delegates have opted for the same unnamed administrators who were publicly chastised in a damning Report as being the chief culprits for Labour's third successive defeat at the polls. You certainly cannot apply the term to the PN because it has effected changes in the administrative set-up even though it won a third unprecedented victory.
It's crystal clear that the two Deputy Leaders, the General Secretary, the President and Vice-President, the PRO and the International Secretary all belong to the MLP old guard. This has resulted in a complete mockery and farce for Labour's newly-coined slogan "STAĠUN POLITIKU ĠDID". Notwithstanding Joseph Muscat's expressed desire to cause an earthquake within the Party structures, the MLP CONSERVATIVE core is bent on having its way to PRESERVE the Party in a cocoon as it has always been since time immemorial !!
Don't let them bother you
As for the list of PN being against...you forgot Air Malta, Mr. Daley. You see, I as a conservative or a PNjan (I am more of an Eddiejan actually but that's another story) have no problem admitting past mistakes of the PN, this is totally unlike you, who makes god out of the MLP and worship it.
Just think for one moment, since 1987 till today, think about all the things Labour opposed through it's various leaders and you probably would not have enough space (with the 200 words limit imposed by the timesofmalta.com) to list them out. I think with the climax being...Labour won the referendum...only to be kicked in the butt in the following election for daring to tell Mr & Mrs Poplu, your voice in the ref..meant nothing because I (funny as it may sound) claim victory. Well we know the sad story that followed for MLP then.
What an honour to find my name added to such a distinguished company.
Thank you.
Will you stop all these University jokes? 1. They are not funny, 2. Stop acting so defesively. We don't judge you because you did not go to uni, we judge you because your put silly arguments forward - kidding :-)
Now that the members have been chosen I expect them to work for Labour's future and I expect Joseph Muscat to show a stict leadership. I'm confident he'll succeed cause the guy has got great guts and vision.
Your angelic portrayal of the Labour party (both in the UK and Malta) is quite laughable!
The public voted in a referrendum for the EU at the time so therefore it was the right decision for the conservative party to be in it...to suggest otherwise is just wrong.
No wonder I left the MLP years ago....a new beginning my foot !
Time to split the party guys and the sooner the better!
What arrogance!!
You owe the working class an apology.
I just wish I were able to get into one of the 370 brains who voted for Jason Micallef, however it would have to be one delegate who voted voluntarily for Mr. Micallef, not because he/she was influenced by his self serving machine. I wonder what makes such a brain tick.
There simply is no logic in confirming a loser unless there is a hidden agenda behind all this. Joseph must be secluded somewhere trying to figure out where to begin.
First he is surrounded by two deputies not famous for being forward looking. On the contrary, they come from the 'dark era' which lately the MLP exhorted us to forget. Then we have Jason who has been given a chunk of the blame for the election loss and the cherry on the cake must be Alex Sciberras Trigona a confirmed anti-EU activist.
Now we know what Joseph meant when he said that he will open his arms to just about every Tom Dick and Harry.
He did so and ended up with the so-so, the bad and the ugly.
First it must be said that the MLP is more democratic than the PN, who elect their JS from among just 60 people. Now maybe that's a better way to get the person you want elected, but certainly not very democratic.
Delegates will not change, but they can and will be change by being contested in the local committees and that's what we are going to do. Talking about change and doing nothing isn't going to get us anywhere. We all have to participate in change to make it happen.
PN was against:
Minimum wage,
Pensions,
Women's vote,
The Republican Constitution,
Children's allowance,
I.D Cards, (Remember Eddie - Ser insiru dittatura bl-ID Cards)
Voting rights at 18,
Freedom of speech and Religious belief,
2/3 pension,
Free Health Care, etc, etc, etc.
In UK the Conservative Party took Britain into the EEC, while Labour was against.
In 2008, Labour works hard within the EU while given half the chance the Conservatives would leave the EU.
Does this mean that the UK Political Parties are a farce like PN in Malta?
Grow up, and accept different opinions.
Watch PN bringing in Divorce Laws. Should we start condemning PN because it used to be against? They changed their mind. So what!
So much for saying that you've been to University. Yeah, pull the other one!
Now where did those light bulbs go!
The person LEAST wanted by PN to be MLP General Secretary has won!
Just lump it in the same way as you are swallowing the vague promises of your party.
As for anyone mentioning that PN people go to UNI. The fact that these persons claim that they know every student's political view is another way of you confirming that we are living in Zimbabwe.
This person meant that we have so many stupid gullible people in Malta, that they vote for the party that could not even deliver a few bulbs to every household, as promised to be received by the end of March 2008. What a farce!
Only Mugabe knows his people, what they eat, where they live, what they believe in and also HOW THEY VOTE.
Enjoy the most expensive place in the EU while receiving 31% of the EU average salary!
Any University student with a first in economics, to shed some light for the next budget?
I know the subject is the MLP election of last night but frankly I don't give a toss about what happened.
However I am writing as your attitude is worrysome considering that it came from someone who supposedly took tertiary education.
I studied abroad at an institution ranked much further up than the UoM because I could. Does that supposedly make me smarter/ better than those who studied at Tal-Qroqq?
The fact that there are (supposedly) more Nationalists than Labourites at the university does not make the latter incompetent working class secondary citizens. I know of very able graduates from both sides of the political spectrum.
Remember that the PN gets elected from the working class too. To forget so is arrogant to say the least. You need the votes of the working class too, you know!
Yours is a text book case unfortunately where passing exams does not make one clever. I suggest you apologise to the rest of the people who have written in this column.
Jason Micallef is one of 'em
So if the the 57% who did not for for JM rally behind one candidate, the incumbent will be thrown out. It's no use lamenting, persist and go for change. Maybe I'm dreaming but it is possible if there is the required determination. We are very happy with Joseph Muscat, but we DO NOT want Jason. So we expect our leader to note our disgruntlement and act accordingly.
If you want a good administration, you have to vote for it. If you want to vote for it well, you need to have good delegates - delegates who are not only aroused by flags and party hymns but by ideas and concepts! Delegates who are prepared to give ideas, to understand, and to reflect. For god's sake!
now it time to work ,to win ,and not steel elections like pn.
dear pn supporters thank you for your advise to not choose jason but the advises we dont take them from opponents.
by the way all this will not let us forget jpo scandal
The fact that there are more Nationalists than labourites at University means something. There are more MLP supporters who are arrogant as they say that the people are ignorant cause they voted PN (Ha Ha!) How rich coming from a party which is supported mainly by working-class people who talk only about politics in a stupid way.
Even if the MLP wins it would have stayed in opposition for an embarassing long time.
Ask Jason, he knows best.
@ Michael Catania
Guess who is hibernating. The PN might be short of policies as you put it. But being short is better then being without any.
Sharon Ellul Bonici ( watch Xarabank)
Anna Mallia ( watch Xarabank)
leo Brincat (read L-orrizzont)
Ex-FZL President Aaron something (read Times Blogs)
Jimmy magro (ex-secretary Gen)
Micheal Falzon (ex-Deputy Leader)
Charles J Buttigieg (prominent labour Blogger)
JOE Galea (an even more prominent MLP blogger)
Laurence Schembri (MLP blogger)
Toni Abela (who called Jason ---MISS PEPSODENT)
......nothing can hide the fact that thousands of MLP supporters are disappointed at seeing jason back there ,probably more arrogant than he ever was, and noone can deny that the "Earthquake of Change" is nothing but a long gone cliche with no more substance left to it....................bury your head deeper Daley it suits us just fine.........pity is that your pig headedness is going to destroy your party's chances of ever being credible.........you elected JM and threw him in a den of old timers and a pond of sharks
"the only way is uuuuupp"
I have a feeling that the party delegates do not reflect the social sphere but in their majority they are a group of elderly citizens who go to their local MLP club for a chat with friends over a cup of coffee. I`m afraid that these pensioners are not up to date with today`s global changes and still reflect the party`s mentality of the 1970s & 80s.
AST`s election is a case in point
Unfortunately these senior citizens are outnumbering the younger ones who are really after a change.
Same as you did when Dr. J. Muscat was elected and you all 49% disagreed because you wanted someone else, you are confirming more and more that your end is near.
Someone here thanked God for going to Uni. Ha ha ha aaaaaj.
One wonders what kind of a person this would have been if he had not attended Uni, because his reasoning is tantamount STUPID! Oh, 90% of the population do not know anything because they never attended University, is that it? ARROGANCE of this sort must come from someone that has swallowed the bait of PN's deceit and lies!
Enjoy your livid and arrogant attitude because you are confirming that Gonzi took you for a ride.
Now where is the doctor of my choice (FOR FREE).
Where are those free light bulbs?
Where is the medicine from which ever Chemist I want?
Oh my God, it's 2008 not 1988!
Enjoy, the divorce law coming through the window!
Deceitful of what?
Taken for a ride or what?
Envy or what?
This is worse than when Alfred Sant called it quits having failed miserably in a general election only to be ‘persuaded’ to stay on as leader for the good of the party.
Jason Micallef’s reappointment is clearly splitting the party apart. One only has to follow the many negative comments about JM to conclude that with him as General Secretary the Labour Party has no hope in hell of ever becoming credible and a united opposition party capable of ever being elected to government. Can anybody imagine George Abela, Leo Brincat, Evarist Bartolo, Wenzu Mintoff, Michal Falzon etc work amicably with Jason Micallef. Or, can one imagine the added burden Joseph Muscat is now facing to keep a half floating ship riddled with holes from going under.
The die is cast, the Labour Party is truly heading for a new beginning, the same beginning that begun 10 years ago, with most of the same delegates as dead weight.
Good luck Joseph, it looks like I will never ever have a chance to vote Labour.
Will be this a matter of who laugh last, laugh best?
What`s the problem with a veggie-vendor (are these people who look at the social-class and occupation to quantify a person the same persons who preach that we should help illegal immigrants and not be racists ??) ??? Didn`t one other party in Malta recently have a "bajjad" as its Segretarju Generali ??
You remind me of the fable of the scorpion who begged a frog to carry him across a fast stream. Half way across it stung the frog and as both were fast drowning the frog asked the scorpion what could have induced him do something so stupid. To which the scorpion replied "Because I am a scorpion, stupid!"
Does the fable remind you of anything?
Today it is a very sad day to the Malta Labour Party because our Karl is battling for life. I am really
disappointed with all these destructive comments towards Jason and some of the comments that PN will be forever in government and making equations that are unbelievable. I am sure that Jason and Micheal Falzon will arrange their differences for the good of the party. I am sure that everyone knows who was wright before the 8th March election. Tell the Shipyard workers, the GO workers, the Public Transport workers. All of you who will be paying a 95 percent surcharge till New Tarrifs will be implemented with more Surcharge included in the Water and Electricity bill. Oh Its Jason's and Sant's fault.
ma nesagerawx!! .....lets see what happens cos till now i ve yet to see the gonzi i voted for
Those who are saying that they are floaters and now they are saying that they will never vote MLP are exagerating. We have five years more with this old government and the worst has still to come. Besides the new MLP leader and his team have enough time to reorganise the party and be prepared for the next election.
As regards to Jason, I am not saying that everything was ok in the party when he was the secratary. He admitted that he done wrong in certain areas, and hope that he will change.
Let the work begin so that the MLP will be ready for the next election!
Please stop being a political double-face. Stop auguring this and that. Let the MLP supporters face their problems and please face your own. One good example is JPO. Stop being politically parochial. Do not treat readers like fools.
You write; "Some may be very upset about the results but it's better if we accept the wll of the majority and move on. "
May I ask you what majority you are talking about? Wait, second thaught, no need to answear. I figured it out. I bet you had the same Math teacher that Jason Micallef had. Tell is it so?
The whole country will be in a full dictatorship when the MLP finally realises its mistakes!!!!
Pls don't be pathetic!!!!! He made mistakes & he admitted them??!! Mistakes you call them? What about those lousy remarks he said in regards to his party colleagues ( you know who?). Are those mistakes? Fleeing from naxxar when he knew what happened hours before was a mistake too?? Leaving Michael Falzon behind to face the music? Still denying defeat at 10pm while PN supporters were all celebrating in the streets was a mistake too? How about not knowing the real amount of new elegible voters?? A genuine mistake i guess you would say!! Its a shame peple like you form part of political parties.......U need to wake up & wake up the party from its death-bed!!!! BTW you lose an election not LOOSE like you wrote.....
What a racist comment!! Well done. I went to University too, my parents didn't. But 3/4 of what I learnt in my life is thanks to them.
And then what's all this fuss about Jason Micallef??!! As if a general election is won or lost according to who is general secretary. What I'm interested in is how the government runs the country. We'll see that in five years time. Surely the next general election will be based an the two political leaders: Gonzi & Muscat.
Yesterday Jason won against all odds. Maybe this shows that he has matured a bit. Time will tell.
good luck!
a) Confirm Mr. Jason Micallef as General Secretary and
b) Having Dr. Alex Sciberras Trigona as International Secretary !!!!! ( The Stauncest Anti E.U. Maltese Citizen Per Exellance !!!! )
Now how can the MLP have us believe that they are really on the ' change for a more modern approach to politics mode ' if they cannot make the appropiate choices.
I am not and have never been a Labourite sympitizer I must admit, but as a Maltese citizen, I have always hoped for this Nation to have a strong opposition.One which gives us an absolute assurance of scrutiny of the Goverment when in opposition and one that is trustworthy and resposible enough to respect the will of the people and accountable when in power.
I'm afraid that, going by yesterdays outcome, I've been let down once again.
Good luck Labour and good rythms to the Nationalists
This is indeed a sad day for MLP ..but surly not because of Jason, but because KARL is fighting for his life …
Joseph Muscat = Alfred Sant
Anglu Farrugia + Toni Abela worse than Michael Falzon + Charles Mangion
Jason Micallef = Jason Micallef
Zrinzo = Zrinzo
Sciberras Trigona worse than Mifsud
Why do they like the opposition benches so much?
Does Jason have a invisible string tied to his finger in the photo above?
Anyway, now, let's hope to see some key people resign from the Party. I mean ... how can you stay in the Party after having heavily criticised a Sec. Gen., openly, and then, having that Sec. Gen re-elected? You wrote and spoke against one of the candidates and the delegates voted in his favour - isn't that tantamount to a vote of no confidence in you? That they couldn't give a damn to what you have to say?
We must pay for the wrong decisions we made on the 8th March election and pay for the drastic increase in Prices and more taxes that we have to pay in the future.
We must not make a character assasination to Jason and try to give him the fault of loosing the election. We must suffer for our mistake that we ve done on the 8th March and see that we will never repeat the same mistakes!!
Hey Guys look at the bright side of this re-election - no increase in people out of a job!!!!!!!!
..first of all Nationalists are over the moon and they can't be happier than to see the MLP re-elect a person who cannot build a bridge over a pond let alone over the ocean of indifference and bitterness that exists between himself and half the Party....and secondly since when does the MLP depend on the PN's reactions before it makes a move??
......how can the MLP preach ACCOUNTABILITY when its officials are accountable to noone and nothing apart from themselves!! ?? Shame Shame
the fact is that the majority of delegates DO NOT represent the labour voter. In my opinion, one of the great challanges that JM must face is to restructure the party and on how party officials are appointed. Unless so, wrong persons will continue to take wrong decisions, leading nowhere except to a permanent place in opposition.
You have just given 'new beginning' a new meaning!
Oh and Mr R De Battista, I wouldn't be too confident about saying that "the delegates' choice made a lot of sense" when considering the party's pathetic track record...
MLP - Your Party in Opposition for Life!!
Once again delegates have proven their worth......
Benny Saliba
You represent the mentality of an MLP delegate to PERFECTION!!!
"Ah, well. it seems as if the Nationalists (apologists and all) are not at all pleased with this result. Must be good news for the MLP then"
Exactly their mentality, exactly the mentality of a person who has not yet understood that elections are not won solely with the vote of staunch supporters but also with the vote of floaters...
Anyways, I must ask one point: How can the public expect the delegates, who's most important decision apart from these elections is what brand of Kunserva to buy, to elect the leadership of a party? I think that these decisions should yes be taken in a democratic way, but by persons who have a certain level of intellect, who can actually decide for themselves and for the good of the country, rather than do what they have done all their lives: i.e. obey orders...
Ever been in one of those dilemmas where you need to cry and laugh at the same time!!
Look at Alfred Sant . 3 lost elections and 1 lost (not according to him) referendum. Despite this he stayed on and Labour Supporters still screamed Fredu Fredu!!!
A new leader was elected and promised an earthquake of a change. New faces ,new way of doing business, no more militancy etc!! Next thing you know he's got Anglu Farrugia and Toni Abela as deputies!!!
I really would love to know the collective IQ of the delegates. The MLP did not lose the last election just because it had a poor leader in Alfred Sant. A big part was also played by the party machinery. So what do they do?
Get a new leader ...great. Elect poor deputies, keep the same General Secretary...bad news.
Well.. maybe not so bad ......if you're a Nationalist.
To all those that have been taken for a ride by PN, why do you not accept a democratic process?
Why is it that when someone that hammers PN, according to these 49%, that particular person is the wrong person for whatever job within the MLP?
Why do you all show that you try to DICTATE to others because you think you know best? Arrogance or what?
Is it not the case, that you hate persons within the MLP, that bring to light all the deceitful promises by PN?
Those 49% should try and concentrate and ask Gonzi why they are livid at PN's deceit and why they are already so subdued regarding the economic mess that the next budget will show?
A little bit less arrogance and less patronising from these poor desperate 49% will go a long way, cause without realising, they prove that they have been taken for a very expensive ride by PN.
Suggestions for the next Budget?
You have not accepted the 1981 election ( which was won according to the Constitution) and you keep doing it again when things do not go your way. Keep singing Mussolini's Camicie Nere and now join Mugabe's regime!
Voters will have to judge the MLP as a whole and not just by who the "mexxej" is. They will also have to judge on the basis of actions and not words. The election is a very long time away yet, so there will be ample time for all this.
This all goes to show that the MLP loves to reward those who struggle with all their might and power for their own personal interest and not those who do the same for the interest of the party. Let's face it who would want to go back planting flowers and discussing his green finger on national tv when now he can discuss (or rather mess up) other issues.
And yet another 10 years in government for the PN. Well done guys.
So do you really think that the MLP should waste its energy trying to balance itself