'I did not vote for MLP in 2003' - Lino Spiteri

V Fenech

Sep 25th 2008, 19:08

@ Joe Vella

The same goes for me; I have seen lots of changes since the PN started to transform Malta into an infernal pit. Gone are the days when tourists visited Malta to enjoy peaceful and beautiful surroundings. In the 1981, the pn was already committed to destroy this serenity and dissect the population. As a labourite myself I recognised that there needed change myself but I preferred Mintoff days' rather than the cheap governance by Eddie.

If you're living in the same Malta at the moment you will know better how one would feel living in a debted country where each and every burden is shifted onto those without a voice, where one's privacy is normally threatened and where one cannot exercise his right to sound his beliefs. You should feel what it means to live in a country who owns nothing and which has lost all that was struggled for by our ancestors.

I don't feel what ONE tv has to do in such argument. By the way, it is the TV station of the year. I know you're going to refer to the 80's again. Try to grow up man pls!

Joe Vella

Sep 23rd 2008, 23:58

@ the other Joe Vella

I have seen Malta transforming itself over the years but watching ONE TV, I guess one wouldn't notice. Talking of curruption; I didn't know that one still have to pay a bribe to get a phone line installed at home. I guess back then having a phone at home was a luxury

V Fenech

Sep 23rd 2008, 23:53

@ Joe Vella

It is very improper to discuss corruptive performances on such a commentary. It is not prudent, but to start with you should have mentioned the plural voting supported by the PN or pn's image of women as "tajbin ghall-kcina u ghas-sodda". The first signs of political violence in Malta are contributed to the times when Nationalists' forces tried to stop Mintoff from gaining Independence. You should be responsible enough to comment about the Bristish empire waiting for Borg Olivier to be pm to grant us an "Indipendenza farsa."

It was PN in the early 80's who divided the population. Fenech Adami and Co. should have accepted the Constitution from the very beginning and needed not to oppose everything from ID cards to foreign investments. The PN should have served as an example to all its supporters especially when he encouraged youths to protest against everything on order to discourage Mintoff. Those who lived those times knows very much that pn in government did nothing to punish those responsible for torture and who have nothing to do with the labour party.

Obviously that you agree with Borg Olivier. Not surprising at all!! Try this man:

http://www.timesofmalta.com./articles/view/20080922/local/zsf

Joe Vella

Sep 23rd 2008, 23:27

@ the other Joe Vella in the room

Thanks for the welcome back bit.

It is ironic to mention the roads. The only investments that the MLP govenrment made infrastructure in road building were the St.Paul's Bay by Pass and the stretch between Tarxien and Zejtun. Both had to be redone prematurely.

Joe Vella

Sep 23rd 2008, 22:00

Dear Mr.Vella

First of all welcome back home. It's always good to be home after such a long time living abroad. It must have been a shock coming back and seeing that not much has changed in having corrupt governments or the poor state in which our roads are.

In terms of physical violence you are right, thank god we form part of the EU so that this black patch in our history will never repeat itself however I would add the 60's also in your Human Rights issue. Saying you're a liberal a proponent of free speech with selective memory doesn't hold water.

Joe Vella

Sep 23rd 2008, 17:28

@ philip pace

Regarding Lino Spiteri not voting in the 2003 election I have one question for you. If you, Philil Pace, had booked your vacation, made all your arrangments and paid for it, you would forfeit the money and cancel your holiday to stay in Malta and vote? I suggest that before you comment.

In regards to my politics I am neither blue nor red. I consider my self to be a liberal and a proponent of free speach and sharing of ideas. Having said so, how can I endorsee Joseph Muscat and the MLP after having imposed a 15,000.00 Euros fine on anyone of their MEP if they do not tow the party line.

My views on the current political situation in Malta are based on my observation since I came back to Malta recently after 30 years living abroad.

Joe Vella

Sep 23rd 2008, 17:14

@ V. Fenech

I totally agree with Paul Borg Olivier. Idiology should not play any part in todays times. If an idea is good - implement it. It is the MLP that is stuck in the past and not the PN. One would think that the MLP would learn from the British Labour Party. Todays' world dictate that any entity whether political, social, etc, must change and adopt to survive.

Democratic and humans rights struggled for by the MLP? Please be honest with oneself. Granting the right to women to vote what it is worth if she is beaten in exercising that right or expressing her political beliefs. We all knew who championed Democratic and Human rights in Malta by deeds and not just words

Besides the direct economic benefits to Malta in joining the EU the other moving force to join was to ensure that the Democracy and basic human rights would not be trampered on like they where in the 70's and 80's.

V Fenech

Sep 23rd 2008, 10:53

@ Joe Vella.
To be a leftwing means to work continuously for the benefit of others as conscience and morality dictates. Very different from those who like to watch things happen without daring to do something while showing themselves as "the up-to-date" ones!! Last weeks speech by Paul Borg Olivier further confirmed that the PN has no political ideology. He himself stated that the time of political ideologies is gone!!

Before charging any more insults to the Labour party you should change a little bit the explanation provided. It's because for the Nationalists first comes money and power, then the party with its leader and then if there remains something, the country.

PN's history proves me right. Analysing briefly the national debt, completely attributed to money-no-problem politics, one would recognise immediately that PN's politics has unweaved what was built by Socialists' governments in the past. Nowadays it would be better to pray that the nationalists' would not also demolish the democratic and human rights struggled for by the Labour party since its early beginnings.

philip pace

Sep 22nd 2008, 22:33

To Mr.Bezzina,

If I am to be a non voter, I would still go to the polling booth and invalidate my voting ballot.
I would do that if I am in Malta during the Election day.

If I believe in the running of the country, I would plan my holiday ahead while taking extreme caution on which days that are most tentative as when the general election is to be held.

I simply do not agree with what Lino Spiteri said.

It still remains to be prooved contrary that A NON VOTER IS NOT INTERESTED IN VOTING FOR NEITHER PARTY, THEREFORE HE IS NOT INTERESTED ON WHO SHALL REPRESENT HIM IN PARLIAMENT.

NON VOTERS ARE NON VOTERS AS SIMPLE AS THAT. They are neither a pressure or a protest group. They are voters who don't give a toss about the general election and are simply NOT INTERESTED AT ALL. There is no other way on how one can see them.

philip pace

Sep 22nd 2008, 22:18

To Mr. Joe Vella

Whenever I write I always try to see another view of the topic. I call it the nuetral point of view where I am never drawn into village style negative political talk.
So according to you the neutral point of view doesn't exist, here in Malta?
According to you one has to be a true blue or a complete red to express his opinion in the media?
I do hope that you don't have the very negative and fundamental thought inscribed in your brain that states that "IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ME , THEN YOU ARE AGAINST ME!

Have a nice blue/red day

philip pace

Sep 22nd 2008, 22:10

To Mr. Graham Cocker,
Your words:- "No wonder, politicians are always lying, Lino comes out with the truth and we get people making fun of him.

Do you sincerely call what Lino Spiteri said was the truth? For me and probably others it looked more than half truths just like a plain cake with no taste at all!

It looked like a half baked revelations that appear in the News Of The World, a lot of words and half substances, clues and innuendos.

Joe Vella

Sep 22nd 2008, 20:36

@ I.M. Dingli

You a floater; and I am an angel.

I. M. Dingli

Sep 22nd 2008, 18:25

@ Joe Vella

You forgot an option of which I form part, namely the floaters area, following your same example..... Country comes first and foremost.... the rest are just faces.

Alfred Grima

Sep 22nd 2008, 18:23

Well said Mr Portelli.
I believe the EU issue has nothing to do with the way Lino Spiteri had voted in 2003. It seems that he could not accept the fact that Dr Alfred Sant was elected DEMOCRATICELY as the LEADER of the MLP.

eric saliba

Sep 22nd 2008, 18:00

@ joe vella. pardon my being ignorant but can you pls explain to me how, by voting for JPO, nationalist supporters were putting the country first ??
@ wayne hewitt. so lino spiteri is the best politician labour ever had ? maybe you shud read the spiteful attacks on lino in the PN press of 20-25 years ago.
unfortunately lino is losing the little bit of credibility he had left by continuing to bear grudges against labour in general and alfred sant in particular.

JoeVella

Sep 22nd 2008, 16:21

@ I.M. Dingli

In regards to JPO I alwyas stated lets ALL the facts to come out then judge. I do not follow no one's drums; Unlike most MLP supporters.

MLP supporters Loyality first is towards the Leader, then Party and then Country. Wheras PN supporteres loyalty is first Country, then Party, then Leader. My friend that is the real big difference between the two.

I. M. Dingli

Sep 22nd 2008, 15:24

@ Joe Vella

Now I can understand why PN supporters like you do not see anything wrong in the JPO case.

J. Portelli

Sep 22nd 2008, 12:32

Lino Spiteri says he is out of politics, but he speaks politics all the time. This does not make him out of politics. A post of a president is on the way, no matter how much he keeps insisting that he's not interested.

The fact that he didn't vote Labour for two consecutive times (I would say 3) does not make him a Labourite. His principles have changed. He has become too stuck up, surrounded by different "klikek" with bottomless wallets. He has made enough money now and is too comfortable licking the present government. Attacking Alfred Sant has become a way of life.

I only respect a politician if he is coherent in his beliefs. I know a different Lino and I hope he reads this. If you're too comfortable living in your big villa remember there are MANY people suffering, working like dogs, so maybe one day they can afford to buy the smallest of properties (literally a cage). This is not fair.

V Fenech

Sep 22nd 2008, 12:32

@ EBB

If the deserved government you're mentioning fulfills all its rightist duties, we could then forget all social services, pensions, fee health services, etc. The only thing which makes the fellowship of Gonzi behave in a leftist way is votes. The nationalists' party should be considered as a coward, afraid to present its true politics in fear of losing votes.

Shame on you to criticise the left wing when your party crave to be there!!!

Silvan Mifsud

Sep 22nd 2008, 11:50

Seeing from the comments, it surely seems that people are so much used to politicians who hide the truth from them, that when a mature politican like Lino speaks the truth and puts his heart out in public, people just cannot handle it! "It is the sign of consistency to change one's mind in the face of changing circumstances" - Samuel Brittan

Joe Vella

Sep 22nd 2008, 11:30

@ Philip Pace

You are as neutral as the colour White. You are also a fool for taking us all as one.

@ ALL

Who said the MLP have changed. Look at all the comments from the MLP lackies they are taking it out on one of thier own. Can anyone imagine waht they would do if it was someone independent or from the other side.

Joseph Ellul

Sep 22nd 2008, 10:13

Mr L.Spiteri has always tried to be in the right but as a politician he was not allowed by the party. For the last couple of years he seems to be looking for forgiveness and acceptance. Maybe now is the time to come out with a new political party as Canado did 50 years ago.
But be careful from the big wolves. They will cut you up the same way as they did to Pellegrini,Canado and Strickland, other wise go and do what you do best: Good accountancy. At the moment the world needs people like you.

Wayne Hewitt

Sep 22nd 2008, 10:05

Lino Spiteri is the best politician the MLP ever had

James Formosa

Sep 22nd 2008, 08:54

@ EBB - What left and right are u on about? In Malta there is only Left and Further Left- No Right. In this country there isn't much choice!! You choose EU or NOT- You choose VAT or CET!! You choose BLUE or RED. It's all the same or is it?

V Fenech

Sep 22nd 2008, 00:33

@ Edwin Formosa

Amazing how certain individuals like you dare to set their target onto the MLP when we have a government that can't keep a single promise.

Graham Crocker

Sep 22nd 2008, 00:06

No wonder, politicians are always lying, Lino comes out with the truth and we get people making fun of him.

Phillip Pace, you don't like bananas anymore? Just welcome to the circus?

Neville Bezzina

Sep 21st 2008, 23:02

Mr Pace, I disagree with your idea that "non voters are privilaged people who ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE POLITICAL RUNNING OF THE COUNTRY as they have got nothing to lose as they are QUITE COMFORTABLE whether party a or b gets elected:." Perhaps these people are the opposite: they very interested in the political running of this country but think it is heading in the wrong direction,they are disillusioned by the current political polarization in Malta that is sustaining a lot of "thinking within the estabilished frameworks" and preventing true progress.Perhaps they are making a point, by not voting, that both parties aren't good enough. They refused to conform to these restrictions and because there is no better alternative, they refuse to support people who they deem unworthy to be in power, believing that both choices are equally evil. As long as the electoral system remains the same and the small parties remain at an unfair advantage, I fear that there will always be people, in my opinion a woefully small number, who have the guts to say "I'm not red, I'm not blue, I'm not green, I'm not any colour until this country gets what it deserves"

r spiteri

Sep 21st 2008, 21:25

Why does he need to be sincere about whom he voted? Was it supposed to be something personal dear lino ?what`s your aim behind this? perhaps you`ll have the admiration of more nationalists.Why all this Lino? "Li kieku l -kliem kien gawhar,is skiet isbah minnhu

Mario Bonnici

Sep 21st 2008, 19:52

I can't understand why all these attacks towards Lino Spiteri. What happened in the PAST is history. What I found interesting were the positive remarks regarding Joseph Muscat. And here we're talking about trhe PRESENT Labour leader.

E.borg Bonello

Sep 21st 2008, 18:41

the more I read your comments the more I understand that, that is why we got the govt that we deserve huh........if a leftist says the truth you crusify him, if he doesnt answer you call him a coward if he abstains he has no right to talk, if he hits you right at the centre that's history, "oqbra mbajjda.".............................. thennnnnnnnn if a rightist says more or less the same thing then this rightist man is just right ...right is always right mhux hekk ............ oqbra mbajjda.......

philip pace

Sep 21st 2008, 18:18

Welcome to the circus,

I read and heard what Lino had to say.

I am writing this as a neutral person.

Lino said nothing new and perhaps he shouldn't have said that he was out of the country when there was the recent election as that shows that he didn't vote. No matter what he says that his holiday was planned AGES BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GENERAL ELECTION DATE, people shall judge him as a non voter in the 2008 General Election.

Non voters are privilaged people who ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE POLITICAL RUNNING OF THE COUNTRY as they have got nothing to lose as they are QUITE COMFORTABLE whether party a or b gets elected therefore whatever they say after an election which they voluntarily decided to opt out of are just empty words with no substance.

A law should be passed to fine people who don''t vote as they do in Belgium-"home of Mount Olympus".

With what Lino said I can call him many names as he failed to name the bullying minister, but due to certain reasons he didn't.

Shame on you Lino!

Joseph Vella

Sep 21st 2008, 18:03

You have lost all my confidence, and you can vote for whoever you like. I would only like to remind you that I do not pay VAT on labour charges.

J Abela

Sep 21st 2008, 17:54

As much as I like Lino Spiteri as a writer, columnist, economist and a moderate politician I have to raise my hand and admit that he's lost his bottle on a couple of occasions: he felt uncomfortable in the 1980s and remained there just as he did when he disagreed with Sant in 1994.

He only plucked enough coverage once the MLP was in government and CET was a right shambles.

Joe Vella

Sep 21st 2008, 15:54

@ Antonio Piscopo

Can the truth hurt that much, that one cannot take it to hear it once more.

effie carbonaro

Sep 21st 2008, 15:52

@amy tonna
yes you are right :poor lino the lonely man

P.Scicluna

Sep 21st 2008, 14:49

Lino Spiteri still cannot understand that what ever happened Alfred Sant was Prim Minister of Malta .What he is saying we read it many times, it became stale. I cannot understand how the Sunday Times gives much important to stale news. What Lino is saying is all soar grape.We all deserve some better reading.

Rita Spiteri

Sep 21st 2008, 14:29

Is this a news item? who cares Anyway about these things.

J. Cassar

Sep 21st 2008, 14:17

As Lino Spiteri rightly mentioned, the PN was behind the propoganda against him and possibly sent anonymous leaflets to the delegates. It had all the interests for him not to become opposition leader back then. Alfred Sant was a commidity for the Nationalists. I was only a kid back then, and was utterly disappointed when I heard the news. The Pawlu story came later in the second election and I still cannot make out who was behind it, defenitely not Alfred himself. Sant was politically incorrect (VAT and EU) but not corrupt. I respect him as a human being more than anyone.

We also saw this kind of propoganda in the latest MLP leader election, Abela vs. Muscat. PN was backing Abela hands down. It obviously had no interest for Muscat to become leader. Thanks God the delegates did not make the same mistake this time around.

Edwin Formosa

Sep 21st 2008, 12:33

Some people are to be admired. Yet it is surprising how much they might endure inside the party they have chosen. It seems 'klikek warefare' is still going on inside MLP, with the victims always the respectable ones, in spite of 'New Labour', 'Bidu Gdid', 'Stagun Politiku Gdid'...

jpace

Sep 21st 2008, 12:22

I believe the country was the worse to suffer from Lino Spiteri losing his title race to Alfred Sant than Lino Spiteri himself.
We did not have a serious opposition for years, and possibly a better alternative governmenet, because of some jerry mendering within the MLP.
Lino Spiteri needs no forgiveness from anyone!

Charles Zammit

Sep 21st 2008, 12:17

i came to know about Lino Spiteri when i was a 9 year old way back in the early sixties listening to corner meetings in the Zebbug locality, on make-shift platforms usually a truck in company of labour stalwarts Dr Guze Abela, Dr Albert Hyzler and Dr Philip Muscat. While the first two have passed away Dr Muscat still militates in the labour movement. That is where Mr Spiteri should be. Let hatchets be buried once and for all and let those who consider themselves of the maverick type rejoin the labour fold.

victor sant

Sep 21st 2008, 11:59

Like all of us Lino Spiteri has made his mistakes, but he is honest enough to admit them and show regret. Although I did not agree with his political views at the time he was a minister, and manifestly did so bluntly, yet he was manly enough not to fall on me like a ton of bricks as was the norm then in those dreadful days. Let us move forward, accept that all of us need forgiveness and search for that which is beautiful and enriches us.

Michael Vella

Sep 21st 2008, 11:48

If only all people in Malta voted for what they believed was right rather than vote for a particular party simply because they are die hard fanatics of that party and have been so ever since they were born. Well done Mr. Spiteri for taking that corageous decision to use your vote in 2003 to back what you strongly believed in, it must have been a tough decision. If more people were like you we would have a much more open political debate in Malta and not the stagnant politics we have seen over the past 15 years.

Hopefully with Joseph Muscat and Lawrence Gonzi at the helm of the 2 main parties, we will see a difference in the attitudes of all politicians on the island who will finally realise that they represent us Maltese citizens every day of the year, and not only in the final 2 months leading up to an election.

Amy Tonna

Sep 21st 2008, 11:37

Poor Lino!

J. Mifsud

Sep 21st 2008, 11:08

Mr Lino Spiteri is still politically bitter. Whatever he writes, it is as seen, rightfully, from the lens he is wearing. On the other hand, I believe what I want to believe. I agree with him that he would not have made a good leader. His ad nauseum story does not make headlines today. Well, if I remember well, his budgets were not so brilliant either.

Still, I wish him a happy birthday and many more healthy years, as he rightly deserves. Mr Spiteri is a good novelist and a good writer, maybe not so good of a politician.

Mario Bonnici

Sep 21st 2008, 10:25

Immagine if in the last election Labour had lost for just one vote. It would heve been Lino Spiteri's fault!! : )

J Chircop

Sep 21st 2008, 10:21

I would not call Lino Spiteri an examplary politician just because he didnt agree with A.Sant or because he is a frequent contributor to the times. I think you all should rember that in the 80's reign of terror he was a top minister and if he really wanted to resign he should have done so then not in 1994.

E.Galea

Sep 21st 2008, 10:18

Its a pity other politicians are not as sincere as Lino Spiteri. Most of them are too afraid to open their mouths in case they lose their cushy jobs!

effie carbonaro

Sep 21st 2008, 10:16

lino:a lonely man

K Camilleri

Sep 21st 2008, 10:04

Mr Lino Spiteri is an examplary politician that all others should take a bit of his virtues. He talks his mind, without corners but very courteously and that makes him very sincere. In his interview everyone can notice that he doesn't shy away from one single question no matter how personal or revealing it is. There is no politikspeak, just plain straight forward answers.

Everyone politician misktakes one time or other. It depends how deep one digs in defence of his own mistake that determines how difficult, dirty and heavy the exit would be.

Lino's sincereity pulled him out in a way that became an icon of rightful politics, that of Politics not at all costs.

antonio piscopo

Sep 21st 2008, 10:01

Does this guy have anything NEW tell us ? how many times have we heard this story?
and why today? again? who cares now? bye!

Enzo Cachia

Sep 21st 2008, 10:01

What Lino Spiteri said in the interview has already been written in his memoirs which was published some 18 months ago.

Besides being a politician and a banker Lino is a novel writer. In his autobiography, he broke off from the traditional autobiographists and told the story of almost each and every relationship he had had with different persons from the beginning till the end. A character is described in a different chapter.

In his writings he has pictured various people but there is only one person whom Lino made me admire, his own mother. Despite of his physical disadvantage he was born with, and later the early demise of her husband (Lino`s father) she had always pushed forward her son to make sure he would have a better future than hers. One has to keep in mind that this great lady brought up her son in the post-war years.

Franco Farrugia

Sep 21st 2008, 09:41

A handful of people???? Dr Spiteri?
Is it possible that there was only a handful of people who were behind the wrong-doing?????

Hallina.