Call for fresh elections if vote-buying claims are confirmed

R. Camilleri

Oct 2nd 2008, 15:04

Heck, now why wasn't I offered any money to vote for MLP !!!! I would have voted for the devil!!!! but unfortunately no one approached me. I would have said yes yes yes I will vote for whoever you want, get the money, then do what I want !!!

L Buhagiar

Sep 29th 2008, 08:59

This is unbelievable. Where was Anglu Farrugia during the 70s elections when labour thugs including members of the police corp used to intimidate, bully and and even beat up people so that they would not vote. Where was Anglu Farrugia when during every Nationalist meeting thugs including the police corp especially the infamous SMU used to beat, shoot at people attending the meeting. If this was not corrupt practices I don't know what is.

David Meilak

Sep 28th 2008, 21:17

Comments about politics in Malta will always include the past due to the fact that the same people that try to lecture anybody about corruption, vote buying or any other shameful acts used to form part of political parties that in the past institutionalized these sort of malpractices, and still do so today. Until we come to a time when certain politicians learn to call a spade a spade, and accept the fact that a wrongdoing isn't only wrong when someone else is doing it, and is also wrong when they have the opportunity to do it to, the past will always come up in our discussions.

Joseph E Briffa

Sep 28th 2008, 20:34

Anglu is trying to clutch at straws as he can't stomach a third defeat in a row. Even if for argument's sake one can prove in court that some labourites tore their document, or sold it to the highest bidder or whatever, it shows that these supposed labourites couldn't give two hoots about their party. As for the attractive schemes that Anglu says were launched by PN. like free whitegoods, promotions at the last minute, issue of building permits etc these pale out into insignificance when one compares them to the 13 000 jobs 'created' by Labour on the eve of the 1987 elections, not to mention again that people in Zejtun and other hot spots were harassed in the queue and couldn't cast their vote in peace. There was no such funny business in March 2008; no opposition meetings were disrupted by the party thugs aided and abetted by some police officers who did their utmost to ensure that Labour would remain in power to save their skin. Anglu was in the Police Force at the time and is aware of the shameful behaviour of some Police Officers who were brought to justice after the change of government.

G.Hoare

Sep 28th 2008, 20:05

This statement is unbelievable who in the right mind would offer money for votes , it is common sensethat the other parties would be on their backs, watching out , i will await for future statements and the truth will come out,and on the other hand if so there was people have done this crime why should the Leader of that party be accused, ( so if my son goes out stealing should i go to jail ) it is the same if some nationalist done wrong why should
DR L Gonzi get the blame , im sure alot of wrong doings happened in the past.Me no 1 dont wish to go through another Election

Jeremy J Camilleri

Sep 28th 2008, 17:02

I don't really see what this has to do with mishaps in the past....
So do the people who are complaining of past injustices feel that now it is ok?

If someone suffered during the 80's, they should be even more worried about ANglu Farrugia's claims....

Of course, some of them might be of the opinion that its ok as long as these things are committed by the party they support!

Adrian Cardona

Sep 28th 2008, 13:51

If you're actually thinking that fresh elections will be called because 'certain individuals' have said what they said, dream on! Who can believe what these opportunists say? Who can prove that they actually voted for who they said they would? Who can prove that it is not other 'certain individuals' who are now bribing them to say that they were bought off in the election?
This is all rubbish, and Anglu Farrugia had better get down to some serious work re-organizing his party instead of alienating even more people than he already normally does.

David Meilak

Sep 28th 2008, 12:32

And what do you call engaging EIGHT THOUSAND (8,000) new workers with the public sector a couple of days prior to the 1987 general election by a labour government.............an election super discount supermarket? If one was a gentleman and would not stand by any political party that carried out these wrongdoings on such a large scale then Hon Farrugia should not be with the Labour party but should have helped create a new political party............. talk about buying votes...............

I Abela

Sep 28th 2008, 12:29

@ Joseph E Briffa - Yes Joseph, forget the hanky panky under the MLP. Stop living in the past. As I said before, two wrongs don't make one right. And continously remembering the past is not progressive. Just one question to you....If it were true that the PN bought votes to win the election......is it fine for you.....since MLP used the same tactics some time ago? If your answer is not a big NO, please don't bother to reply, as you will only ridicule yourself.

David Meilak

Sep 28th 2008, 12:29

And what do you call engaging

s.bugeja

Sep 28th 2008, 12:07

Dr. farrugia is claiming that mainly Labour-leaning voters were persuaded to abstain from going to the polls or worse, vote PN. Does that mean that the party couldn't even convince its own supporters with its message? No wonder it lost an election that appeared to everyone to be in the bag! An election is not lost in the last weeks of the campaign. It's not the labour voters who were bought that shifted the balance but the floating voters who do not receive any bribes or kickbacks. they jst sit and ponder then they decide

Joseph Cauchi

Sep 28th 2008, 11:41

According to Dr. Anglu Farrugia, we should have now as our Prime Minister, Dr. Alfred Sant ?

a.dalli

Sep 28th 2008, 11:40

@Joseph E Briffa. You may have unwittingly forgot to mention the Balavostri - Zebbug incident.
Also you are comparing with waht happened a few weeks back with that of donkeys years back.
If as all profess bad elements were eleminated from both parties why keep refering to the darker days. Lets all talk and argue today's politics where the scenario is totally different from then. One must add that both parties have got some skeltons taged away in once cupboard. Lets not open them as otherwise there will be too many returning to the streets.

Joe Galea

Sep 28th 2008, 11:38

@A. Vella: Do you remember when in the 60's if you supported or voted Labour you were interdicted and treated as a demon? So let's not look to the past because both parties had their skeletons in their closets. And also does the MLP past make the PN's present right? Grow up!!

Edward Zammit

Sep 28th 2008, 11:37

What we are really interested in, is to know the truth and nothing but the truth. The fresh elections issue comes at a later stage. The Maltese European electorate have the right to know who is democratic or not in this coountry, same goes to the European Union...This is a very very serious issue, that one normally would associate with a third world country, not a European member...it will be very interesting to know what GonziPN have to say about this. Perhaps we will get to know that GonziPN branched out into the white goods business...probably also branded LG appliances for Lawrence Gonzi? We only hope that time will tell and will not be another case of a forgotten issue. PL and all the other contesting parties in the last general election should make sure of this. This is not an issue to get fresh elections, but it is a serious threat to our democracy.

Joseph E Briffa

Sep 28th 2008, 11:09

I wouldn't be surprised that some of Anglu's claims are true, human nature being what it is. While I condemn the alleged practices I hasten to remind Anglu that much much worse was done in the 1970s and 1980s during pre-elections run-ups.. It's true that two wrongs don't make a right but let's not forget the hanky panky that went on at that time when the MLP laboured under the principle that anything was game once it helped Labour to remain in power. Lots of people question the legitimacy of the MLP victory of 1976; in 1981 the tactics used by Labour came out in the open. Gerrymandering was the game and it worked. We all know that in all democratic countries political parties do their utmost and resort to any kind of stratagem to win. It all depends on the nature and scale of the tactics to determine whether an election is rigged or not. There was no harassment of the opposition in the last elections; there were no Tal Barranis, nobody who attended opposition meetings was gassed or shot at or beaten by party thugs, or arrested and beaten up at the Police Depot.

Noel Cutajar

Sep 28th 2008, 10:48

When this made news some time ago, the usual sceptics came out on all fours crying that Dr. Farrugia is having a fit of sour grapes or worse...well he proved them wrong. It is quite easy just to criticize when you know nothing...Though, I am sure that the Government would not resign as there is a lot to lose...

Jo.Galea

Sep 28th 2008, 10:37

If a fresh election is called, surely the P.N. will be defeated.No question about it.

Michael Neville Cassar

Sep 28th 2008, 10:22

No matter how good an administration is good at running the country 20 years is a long time. Certain elements will be contaminated by greed and instead of the administration working for the people to improve the country requirements; the people will be the losers due to over stay in power. Many a time the man in charge is over shadowed and will not know what is going on by the others, hope fully that some of the small party will have a seat to balance extreme decisions.

Paul Micallef

Sep 28th 2008, 10:15

Mr Vella, two wrongs dont make one right, as the saying goes. The P.N has always won elections on the wave that there party got rid of certain bad apples in the MLP.
We all live in malta and we all know that the P.N won the Election using these corrupt practices.
So I say to you, if the Labour did these things in the past and you condone them, should you not do the same with these matters,or as I say two weights two measures.

I Abela

Sep 28th 2008, 10:15

@ A Vella - Why do people like you stick to living in the past? Since when do 2 wrongs make 1 right?

s.bugeja

Sep 28th 2008, 10:14

"At least one person has admitted that he voted PN because he was granted certain favours," Dr Farrugia said." So what else is new?! These things happen in every election.
Then it's up to the voter to do his thing when s/he's alone in the polling booth.
And anyway, isn't the politcal parties election manifesto full of promises to entice voters to vote for them? At least the people who got the white goods have a utility which they can use. What have we got so far of the promises made to us by the government before march 8? I'm certain the same would have happened with the MLP's promises had they been elected

joe muscat

Sep 28th 2008, 09:50

@ A.Vella

So what you want to say, that vote buying is good for you, I think both things are wrong, the one you mentioned and even this one.

A. Vella

Sep 28th 2008, 09:39

Does Mr Farrugia remember when he was in the police force? Those times when people use to beat others to vote for Labour.