Tuesday, 6th January 2009 - 09:40CET
UPDATED - Muscat reacts to Sant comments
'The country is facing new challenges and the answers to these challenges cannot be the failed solutions of the past' - Muscat
Labour leader Joseph Muscat has reacted to comments by his predecessor, Alfred Sant, who earlier today criticised the party analysis of the March 8 general election defeat.
"I take note of any advice that comes my way, be it from former leaders or the media, and then I move ahead. Labour is embarking on a journey and its destination is success. The country is facing new challenges and the answers to these challenges cannot be the failed solutions of the past.
"The Labour Party we are building is the future," Dr Muscat said.
In his comments, made in a two-page article on l-orizzont, Dr Sant said that in the discussion and the reflections which the party needed to make about the future, there was no need to heed those who always wanted to weaken the left and the PL. The Sunday Times and those of the same ilk could not serve as a fount of useful advice.
“Unfortunately, neither can we follow the analysis and advice found in the report on last year’s electoral defeat commissioned by the Labour National Executive. It has too many mistakes of fact and appreciation to offer us a guiding light. It seems that those who wrote it have little clear knowledge of the personal and organisational environment of a political party. Therefore, the report gives major importance to trivial matters while what was really problematic in the Labour campaign hardly gets a mention.”
Dr Sant said he had purposely stayed clear of the subject until now to enable the new party leadership to settle in and his good intentioned reflections would not be given a twisted meaning.
In his feature, over two pages, Dr Sant, as he did in his resignation press conference, attributes the PL defeat “by the slimmest of margins” to the PN’s power of incumbency, saying that one would be starting on the wrong foot if the electoral defeat was viewed like it was a landslide in favour of gonzipn. That implied giving gonzipn a licence to act, as it was doing, like it had a strong mandate and could do what it liked.
Dr Sant alleges violations of the constitution during the election. He criticises how Air Malta brought Maltese from abroad to vote, the way public funds were squandered and jobs and contracts were awarded just to win votes. The Prime Minister, he says, made promises he knew he could not keep. A huge number of ‘illegal favours’ were given.
Dr Sant insists that for the future, the Labour Party should follow a centre-left social democratic policy that would moderate socialist measures so that they could become acceptable and attractive while maintaining continuity.
He says the party’s focus should be on eight sectors: Europe, the economy, education, the welfare state, illegal immigration, the environment, corruption and good governance.
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Comments
I Will Sure DO Buddy Sure !! But can you specify what Our Prime Minister , ( HE CHOOSE LABOUR ) ??? You must be nuts,
I Bet in the coming Elections, you will vote for the P.N too, ehh ?
Why don't you mention the immigration rate in Malta during Borg Olivier's era, that of 12 000 Maltese per year??
Did you forget that Mintoff managed to bring it down to zero and lots of immigrants started to come back to Malta??
Don't you remember Mintoff explaining the consequences if all the immigrants had to return simultaneously??
When considering the poverty between 1961-1970, one must give Dom Mintoff his due credit for restoring Malta's state after WW1 and building up a nation based on social justice and progress. The Nationalists' government of the sixties won by the help of Arcbishop Gonzi and his "babaw" tactics onto the ignorant Malta.
It was Mintoff who sown the seeds of education, health, tourism, industry and commerce in our islands. I agree, Mintoff wasn't perfect but surely not the devil you try to picture him!
Why Bill Millan and other immigrants won't return to Malta? Perhaps as Mintoff said if immigrants were to return, Malta would sink. So the immigrants, bless thier soul, are really thinking of you and I.
Or perhaps you would like to consider that once one settles in the adopted country and started a family it is not as an easy task to relocate again and uproot the family.
Innocence always calls mutely for protection,when we would be much wiser to guard ourselves against it: innocence is like a dumb leper who has lost his bell, wandering the world meaning no harm. Graham Greene :The Quiet American
Firstly, Dont be sorry ! it is the 70's / 80' s mlp, communist regime that should be not you!
And yes Agree never too late, especially in Life long Learning, That P.N in Gov't is providing
for all the Maltease Nation.
And as you stated. I too Voted for the P.N like You, and Man GOD will I will Always DO for the rest of my Life.
The Government, the P.N, is in Power to take the decisions.
Ix-xjaten huma dawk it-talin li hallew lill-laburisti mejtin jindifnu minghajr sagramenti dak iz-zmien li kienu jiggvernaw l-angli .
xjaten meta gvejnnijiet laburisti qerdu t-tallaba u l-foqra ghamlu social state. Bit-tajjeb u l-hazin taghhom ghollew il-livell tal-ghixien tal-poplu Malti u tahom id-drittijiet kollha li kellhom nies paxxuti bhalek.
At lease Mr. Demartino has come to admit that The PN, like all good things, has a hundred defects.
How does Mr Demartino measure evil ? He should take a course in the new political school his party will be opening, maybe they will have classes in ethics , good governance and incumbency.
People like Mintoff, KMB and others have to be forgotten. Completely.
Regarding my whole comment being in vain I beg to differ........look around you and talk to the people and you'll see exactly what the ppl are complaining about!! I don't care about the Laburisti complaining in the Kazin I care about the PN because it has formed the government and I voted for it and it is the PN that is taking the decisions!!
Even if this was the case, after 20 years of a PN Government, Labour was supposed to win with an overwhelming majority. Not a slim majority...not a close call. It Failed !
Labour lost too much time with the same leader. Dr. Sant should have resigned after the referdum fiasco. First he waved at us his uncast vote....then acknowledged Victory...worse still he took Labour supporters to the streets in celebration.
I am sorry if I offended ur family, never meant to. The point I was trying to make, and still am is, how come the PN is so glorious and ur not living here. Everyone knows that bush's administration, like Gordon Brown's are far from GLORIOUS.
So how come you don't move to live under out "GLORIOUS" Gonzipn administration. If I were you I'd ask those low to middle class class families what they think after they received their W&E Bills
hallina bill tridx?
The best and probably the only sensible comment to have appeared in this blog. I agree 100%
PL is governing in the interests of the people, and what matters to the them is the health service, education, housing, the water and electricity tariffs and so on. PL is working in the interest of the many and not the few to make education, health, education, the environment and housing better in Malta
Joseph Muscat is getting out into the country to listen to people's concerns and explain what the Opposition will be doing next. PL is not just criticising but giving suggestions and is giving credit to the Government were credit is due.
So PL`s leadership, administration, MPs and candidates are talking to businesses, talking to families and talking to people who are worried about making their ends meet at the end of the month. Furthermore it`s consulting a range of non governmental organisations and the civil society.
If the Government really wants to help people, then the Cabinet should consider and adopt PL`s proposals
Nowadays people are capable to make up their own mind!! Quoting you: "I have come across loads of people who voted PN last March but will be staying away from the polls". Those are people who cannot see any alternative just because they don't WANT to be aware of the alternative available!! When Dr Sant was leading the PL, I agree that we did not have any alternative whom we could trust. However, I could say publicly that I have nothing, NOTHING and absolutely nothing against Dr. Joseph Muscat, and I would gladly have him as Prime Minister to lead Malta in 4 years' time. Therefore, it goes without saying that my vote would DEFINITELY swing from PN to PL. And I have friends of mine who have always been PN followers and swear they not give PN another try.
Something I would like to point out is the fact that while Dr. Gonzi keeps moving on politically INCORRECT and arrogantly bulldozing us who trusted him prior election, Dr. Joseph Muscat is leading his party with the changes that he promised in a liberal and progressive way. His reply says it all!! Well done Dr. Muscat!
De Martino
You know that this time with Joseph you`ll have to play another Game now!!! Ha Ha
And while Wenzu Gatt is running the country and your secretary spying on us, and your JPO crying in a corner , Lonzu Gonzi can have a ride on the chu chu train he had inaugurated , remember??
I
You know what I remember of the 80's ? A friend of yours shouting out loudly that he knows who murdered Karen Grech and Raymond Caruana!
Of course sur bert, grammatically or not you did commented back to me, thing is that when I was still @ school when the mlp was in power, many like me had the most, SKOLA BLA SENS ! ahh but welldone to you language master.
any way you repeated your whole comment, in vain....
pppssssss, Mela ma tmurx gol kazini ha tisma il - krib tal lejburisti ?
rejgats tu yu mai fiend !
Dr Sant: Please keep your opinions to yourself. You lost 3 elections and made a fool of yourself on VAT and the EU. You are incompetent and lack credibility.
Dr J.Muscat: Good reply
PL Suuporters: Whether the PN won by 1 vote or 1000 votes, the PN won the election. Get over it. You lost yet again and will lose the next election as well. Why? because of the team (albatross) that JM has around his neck.
PN Supporters: Winning election after election is good but complacency and arrogance will eventually wear thin. Pity there is not a good opposition party in Malta offering real alternatives with credible leadership and a new team.
Are we here to debate/discuss ideas or someone's grammar and/or writing skills.
The reference about people being bought from overseas to vote must be clarified.
Air Malta did not start bringing people to vote just this past election. The practice started long time ago under an MLP administration. Also, those who are brought from oversees must also meet residential requirement to vote. Most of the people in question are individuals and their families working in Maltese Diplomatic Missions abroad. As for the rest, as I mentioned, they must meet the residential requirement.
The MLP didn't loose the election because of the this. There are more obvious and other valid reasons why the MLP lost the election.
If you feel it's only PL supporters who will not be voting than you are grossly mistaken for in my little world I have come across loads of people who voted PN last March but will be staying away from the polls (definitely in next June's elections at least!!) And the reasons vary from arrogance to a list of broken promises ranging from hunters/trappers to bus/mini bus drivers to lecturers to low income earners. From businessmen who are seeing their shops whittling away to workers facing the 4 day week from environmentalists who have seen nothing of the MEPA promise to those who feel cheated when Ministers gave themselves a grand pay rise.......
I can go on and on but it wouldn't make any difference to you or your hard-headed Party because in June after the MEP elections Gonzi will 're-appear" all sombre and sad and promise the gullible that the PN will learn and keep its ears to the ground......and then ppl like you will clap and cheer and write jibberish again!!
I will only say that your last comment attacking me personally deserves no comment except the fact that you are one uneducated person as they say in Maltese "minn ta wara l'muntanji". How dare you even mention my family when you know absolutely nothing about me.
Bill Millam
Los Angeles
WHO IS THE REAL PM I ONCE AGAIN ASK YOU??
- Lonzu Gonzi or Wenzu Gatt ??
I think deep down in your heart you know the real answer buddy so ssssshhhhhhh!!!!!!!
Agree, I think in the nxt election more people will choose not to vote. Wonder why!!!
But they will be mlp/pl fan's only !! and you dont have to Wonder Why, you feel it, see it all Day Long ! ..............
Leader No1, J.M and Leader no2, a sant why do you fel so bad about it Buddy ?
are you afraid that sant can overcome J.M ANYTIME ? This your Problem are you that Blind that again you are not aware of what sant is trying to ...... !! as for your comment , Dont forget that yes You have to live, some 4 and half years under The P.N In Gov't !!!
EMPTY VASES MAKES MORE SOUND .
http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=50028 , why did he fail to implement it when he was in power? What guarantee can his successor have that such views are better? What was problematic in the last Labour electoral defeat?
Dr. Sant does not have a monopoly about “the truth.” His perception of the “European legend”, as he calls it, for his failure in 2003, is a clear example of why he is in no position to speak about “the truth.” Is he referring to Dom Mintoff, George Abela and Lino Spiteri, and their “personal interests and agendas” for his failure after 1996? Who was right, and who was wrong?
During his leadership there was incompetence, bad governance, and “friends of friends.” Does he remember who was selected to lead the embassy in Washington, and whom the foreign minister of the time did not even know? Does he remember the injustices that were committed there when he was in power?
Is Dr. Sant contemplating running for one of the European Parliament seats after trying unsuccessfully to brainwash his own supporters against the European Union?
" Joe Vella: I think you don't understand English or the statement J. Muscat made. He clearly showed that he is not to follow but to lead the PL to a successful future. So please get over the twisting of words or inventing lies."
Can you tell me what leadership Joseph Muscat showed in the recent debate on the Electricity/water tariff debates. Or for that matter on the Rent Reform.
The Social Partners not only lead the fight on the electricity/water tariff debate but came up with proposals to the Government. Same thing on the Rent reform debate, the Social partners and the NGO have responded to the Government White Paper on Rent Reform. It was only reported this past week in the Times that the PL is now ready to discuss Rent Reform
Joe Galea, you tell who have been the real Opposition to the Government to-date? Also, what is Joseph Muscat/ PL stand on other important issues of the day, such as, Pension Reform, Public Transit Reform, Educational Reform and a host of other issues.
Wait, I get it, Joseph Muscat is only to lead the PL, and not the opposition to the Government.
I also emigrated in the e70's for less to nothing. So what is your point.
For your information the Department of Immigration was created in the mid 50's.
According to you immigration then could be justified because their was a band playing seeing the emigrants off to distant shores.
Immigrants left for economical reasons and nothing else.
For you information when the PN came to introduce dual citizenship to those who have lost it in the process of obtaining the Citizenship of the Country of adoption; Guess who spoke against it at the time - Dom Mintoff and no one else.
Immigrants obtain citizenship of the Country of adoption for one simple reason that is for economic reasons, the same reason they left Malta for in the first place. There were jobs in those instant countries that one could not hold unless they were citizens.
When emigrated each immigrant created TWO jobs, perhaps more then you ever created or contributed the the Maltese economy.
So What Joe... Under the Mintoff government of those days, people used to emigrate out of their own FREE WILL...
ON THE CONTRARY.... Under the nationalists regimes of the 50`s and 60`s, people used to emigrate, because of POLITICAL DESCRIMINATIONS on jobs etc.., (yours truly inclusive).
Also, those going by ship, used to have an organized band to `Accompany`.(!!) them boarding the ship and waving the LONG TERM of `Good Byes` to their loved ones.. Xeni ta hafna qsim il-qalb Joe, jekk forsi insejt...!!
Also Joe, they used to emigrate on the condition that they pay only 10 pounds for a one way ticket.. They have to stay for at least 2 years.. And if one decides to return before the 2 years, he has to pay back the cost of the difference of a full ticket when emigrating..
How nice hux Joe....!!!
When are we going to grow up politically and call a spade a spade and move on?
The only objective and fair judgement on Political parties and their leaders are elecotoral results.
MLP with Alfred Sant as leader lost 3 out of 4 elections and lost 1 out of 1 referendum.
PN with EFA won 4 out of 5 Elections and 1 Referendum and GonziPN won 1 out of 1 elections.
How can anyone say that Sant was a good leader for the MLP?
@James Borg: Yeah...keep on dreaming. Or else you need an eyesight test because JM is completely different from AS, with totally different thoughts and ideas. If you deny this, then it's a waste of time to argue with people like you. "Ignorants are those who don't want to learn not those who don't know".
Dr Sant was right in his accusation that the PN abused the constitution to win votes during the last election. i know friends that were promised plasma screens at 10pm on election evening to vote PN. and in an election were the result was so close, these tactics had their effect. however, Dr Sant need to admit that what he managed to do in 1996, that is gaining a swing of around 20,000 votes in less then 4 years, he failed this time around as people prefered to stay home rather then voting MLP, altough they wanted to get rid of PN in govt!
There is no need to enquire why the Labour movement continues to be mired on the opposition benches whilst prophesying an imminent to power that never materializes!
Dr.Sant has his own reasons. In my opinion he's left several major points out. This is the very first time for this man to speak and maybe he didn't know that he was going to resurrect certain PN ghosts even from Los Angeles and Canada.
For me, today's article has been turned into another balloon blasted into the face of the PN apologists. This is another confirmation that Joseph Muscat isn't the puppet the Nationalists' party wants him to be. He's shown again that his determination will not block the change needed in both levels of the party and the country. And when seeing such comments about PN being a glorious country, it becomes more and more clear that Muscat's vision to change the nation's mentality to a progressive one is urgently needed.
It's incredible how you who are still dreaming about a dissected Labour party while forgetting about what is going on in the Dar Centrali at the moment. So welcome on board, Dear Nationalists. Jesus once said that he hunts the sinners like a doctor pursue ill people. So eventually you are the ones who will benefit most with Joseph Muscat! Cheers mates...
Hope we can see this some day soon.
The so called "Partit Glorjuz" is actually cos It worked hand in hand with the curia, when dead labourites were thrown in the "MIZBLA" and also got married in the "Sagristija"
2 I am by no means interested why you're living in LA (ux like that you call it, BUDDY). Since you seem so bright I took it for granted that you'd read what I didn't write, but let me jot it down.
HOW COME YOU'RE HALF WAY AROUND THE GLOBE INSTEAD OF THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND, governed by the "GLORJUZ PARTIT NAZZ" , but then again I guess ur one of those (and this one I leave it u to you to guess) who gets a free flight , or 2, maybe the missus is also Maltese, to drop In a blue vote in the ballot box on E day.
And you know why I'm complaining, coz its coming out of my DARNED taxes. So why don't you go mind your Million Dollar, 2 year electoral campaign, and leave us ALONE mate!
My friend, it was Dom Mintoff and an MLP Government that created the Department of Immigration and started shipping Maltese to the distant shores; and not the PN.
Ironically, a certain gentleman named Cole, who was the Minister of Immigration at the time, was one of the very first to set sail to Australia.
@ all PL bloggers----Your new leader is trying to start a new leaf; full of energy and rearing to go, charismatic, media-savvy, approachable, Liberal, progressive and positive he promises to be what Dr.Sant and KMB never, ever were...........stop looking back......stop holding grudges...stop being the loosing generation........stop flagellating yourselves into a dark corner and start winning!! If you help Joseph Muscat the country prospers, the workers prosper and hopefully with a Labour victory the nationalists will benefit too as they will get a much needed drabbing which will remind them that cheating and bulldozing over us is no longer an option for European Malta!!!
Malta demands a choice, democracy demands an alternative!!!
"Sant" supporters do not be the ones to deny it!!!
Dr Sant, the people of Malta, or at least its 'relative' majority have stopped taking you seriously since they noticed just how bad at Mathematics you were. So please, leave it to the "elite" shall you? After all, it is the EU we are in now, and that is whether you like it or not!
Did you have a look at the present poll here?? Maybe it will give us all a reason why Sant has decided to surface. Joseph has proposed the name of the person leading the poll. Let Joseph move on his way and make PL a positive force.
Can you please be in line with what you say cause one day you say one thing and one way you say exactly the opposite
@Bill Millam
Oh come on be a sport dude !!!
Tell us why you live in Los Angeles and why dont you come and live in OUR country under your Partit Glorjuz Nazzjonalista
- Maybe you will find the band waiting for you on your arrival similar to all those immigrants who had to leave their country under your partit glorjuz nazzjonalista!!
@ J.Mangion
When you mention Leader No1 and Leader no2 you better think twice next time since at times we tend to forget who from Lonzu Gonzi or Wenzu Gatt is the REAL PM !!!
@ J.Mangion
When you mention Leader No1 and Leader no2 you better think twice next time since at times we tend to forget who from Lonzu Gonzi or Wenzu Gatt is the REAL PM !!!
About 5 years ago the then PN leader "resigned from Parliament and from every role he had in the Nationalist Party" because he knew that he was going to be President. It was a known fact months before he was officially made president.
Why don't you concern yourself with much more important matters within your 'glorious' party rather than waste your time on what you call a party with a leader with a puppet on a string.
The partit Glorjuz Nazzjonalista lis so GLORJUZ cuz the same Partit Nazzjonalista beat the MLP (Malta LOsers Party) where it matters most, at the polls, time and again.
What you guys now call PL is doomed to be the Party Of The Opposition till at last the year 2013. Dak kwazi kwart ta seklu li 'Partit Laburista qatta fl-oppozzizzjoni. I hope that is a good enough answer.
As to why I live in Los Angeles, it is NONE of your business buddy.
As I said before, Viva l-Partit Glorjuz Nazzjonalista.
Bill MIllam
Los Angeles
Way back in the 80’s there was a change in the leadership of the Labour Party but due to the fact that the old leader stayed in Parliament and active in the Party, the new leader was just a puppet on a string!
In the 90’s there was another change in the leadership of this Party, but because the old leader was still active in the party, a war was declared between these two leaders.
Yet again last year this party changed it’s leadership, and history is repeating it’s self with the old leader keeping his seat in Parliament, active in party and interfere with the new leader!
_________________________
About five years ago the Nationalist Party changed it’s leadership, but the old wise leader resigned from Parliament and from every role he had in the Nationalist Party, because in his great wisdom he knows that vapur b’zewg kaptani ma jimxix!
Thank God for such a leader!
Antoine Zammit
PN Secretary
St. Paul’s Bay
As regards to his analysis on the future of the Labour I agree that it should establish itself as a strong center-left/social democratic party. However I would personally like to see more and more progressive elements emanate from this party as opposed to policies that would 'moderate socialist measures so that they could become acceptable and attractive while maintaining continuity'. This is were I disagree with Sant and this, I think, is one of the reasons why Labour was not such a viable alternative in the past.
There is no need for anyone to discredit Joseph Muscat. Joseph Muscat is doing this slowly, slowly by himself.
He is doing it by making grand announcement like the one in regards to the operation of the Reverse Osmosis. Instead of getting rid of Jason Micallef period, has created another problem in appointing an Executive Officer just to sidesteps Jason Micallef. As has been reported in the media this is causing internal problems in the PL.
But most importantly, Joseph Muscat and the Pl have not been leading the opposition to the Government on the important issues of the day. The Social Partners lead the way on the electricity/water issue and have done the same with the NGO on Rent reform.
Sitting on the fence will not win you elections down the road. The Opposition role is not only to offering constructive criticism to the Government, but also must demonstrate that it is a Government in waiting by offering alternatives to the Government on issues of disagreements.
................................................???
Let us adore him!
Is this a joke or what? I thought that times when humans were turned into deity is over.
Wake up guys and gals, we're in the 21st century.
The Election was lost for the following reasons in my opinion.
1) The election Plan was badly executed. Some will even argue that there was no plan at all.
2) The Election Platform was badly drafted and included policies that shouldn't have made the final draft.
3) Instead going after the credibility of the Government and the PN, for reasons beyond me, the MLP choose to go after Gonzi instead. The fact the PN choose to run the campaign around Gonzi should have sounded some bells in the MLP camp. I bet that every time Sant or other Party officials made reference to GonziPN, Joe Saliba must have jumped 10 feet high with joy.
In my opinion the blame for the election lost is to be shared by all those involved in the MLP Campaign. It is true that Sant as party leader should shoulder the blame at the end. However, it is also true that does around him did Sant a great disservice to him in the process.
Unfortunately, Joseph is all well-meaning and what have you, but he lacks the experience and substance needed if Labour is to become not just a pretty face but an effective political force.
Joseph has no real vision except to agree with most fundamental reforms the government is doing so that he is not labelled 'negative' and to take on board the dinosaurs that have been castigating Labour for so long.
Joseph is presenting no real democratic socialist alternative except his stated ambition to become Prime Minister at 39 - which is only presumptuous humbug, not statesmanlike politics.
Presumptuousness is no virtue in politics - with his inexperience, Joseph might actually be flirting with being a footnote in Maltese history and not PM.
Welcome back, Dr Sant. Disregard your detractors and keep contributing to Labour's good.
If the "Partit Nazzjonalista" is so "Glorjuz" How come you're living in Los Angeles?
iddahakniex man trid?
Dr Sant should not have remained silent all these months. The present leadership has been very weak in its criticism of the government. Dr Sant's article today is a blow by blow account of why Labour lost - without the self-flagellation that was in the interest of the new leadership to promote. Dr Sant's political input has always been excellent and he is truly an intellectual, unfortunately unlike some in the present leadership that are only really all smile and little substance.
Therefore respect decisions taken by the majority and work with them and for the party you support. Doesn't mean that because you didn't see Joseph as a leader now you abandon the party. On the contrary work hard for success.
Did anyone believe that Labour's infighting has stopped?
Joseph Muscat fighting with Jason Micallef
(and Jason Micallef fully holding his own)
and now Alfred Sant returning to the fray telling us why (he thinks) he lost.
If this is the 'new' PL, it's a mirror image of the MLP!
(the name, after all, is actually the same anyway)
I wasn't happy with Alfred Sant and wanted to see change in the Labour party.
But I'm not disappointed with Joseph Muscat as leader. I am already seeing a breath of fresh air.
I know that there are some people in the party that are trying hard to halt this change but I have faith in Joseph.
ALFRED SANT IS BACK IN THE PARTY!
Did the Nationalists win perhaps
because Gonzi has been a good Prime Minister?
.
Is Dr Sant going to do the same to Dr Muscat? I expected better of him.
Instead of pitying me, you should actually pity those who fell for Alfred Sant's failed tactics and actually believed what he was saying.
If you really want to be intelligent, give us some beef and answer my questions in a factual manner with concrete and proven cases.
For your convenience I will repost my comment below:
''Still throwing mud?
What illegal favours? What contracts? What jobs...what funds???
Give us concrete evidence and cases...Alfred Sant lost all credibility because he thinks that he is addressing a bunch of stupid people....''
I'm not imposing anything. I did not impose our delegates to choose to go for an early election in 1998 either. I did not impose to our delegates to approve a manifesto without even bothering to read it thus giving a huge boost to the PN on the eve of the election. I did not impose to our delegates to re-elect Jason Micallef even though supposedly they read the election '08 defeat report. I did not impose the election of recycles from our Dark Ages in the highest positions within the party. I did not impose either the election of inexperienced Joseph Muscat as party leader, OK he wants change, he wants an earthquake but it seems to me he does not know from where to start, all we've seen till now was that he gave his closest friends jobs with huge salaries within our party.
Time will tell my friend who was right or who was wrong but as I see it now the next election will be won or lost by PN. All is in their hands, no one outside Labour will vote us because of our new leader but to punish the Nationalists.
The MAJORITY didn't want GonziPN in either !
and who are you to impose who should have been elected leader?
Joseph Muscat is a younger and more dynamic leader than most of his predecessors, and the Party is now Real Labour,New Labour.His modernising project is already improving the Party's electability. He is transferring his own set of values to Labour and thus provide an ideological and pragmatic platform for Labour in Government. Muscat is not only securing the support of his Party but also the one of the nation by offering a compromise between the old Left and the New Right. Indeed he is a winner.
Besides, even if it sounds sour grapes, I prefer a clean leader rather than one who has defended the like of JPO
Of course you sound the trumpets, you are not living here. You're the least who should talk.
"the MAJORITY of the MALTESE wanted you out!!!!"
Alas, my friend, the MAJORITY of the MALTESE didn't want Labour in either.
@ Michael Fenech
"you are as blind as most of the GonziPN apologists"
If GonziPN apologists are blind then so are PL apologists, no? Or what you're saying only applies to one political party and its set of supporters?
Joseph had to react but words come easy!
He was always in Sant's shadow and shall continue to be!
Poor Malta!
Can you at least not continue dmemonising this person and put a decent photo not you are still trying to portrait him as the devil PLS
It seem to me that you put your trust in GonziPN's hands.
WELL SIR I HAVE A NICE PIECE OF LAND FOR SALE IN IRAQ
I fully agree with you that every public figure is subject to critism but I was referreing to the respect that a Labour supporter should to an ex- Labour leader.
Viva l-Partit Glorjuz Nazzjonalista.
Bill Millam
Los Angeles
Iddahquniex...
This is not a matter of respect or not. Every public figure is subject to criticism.
I supported Dr.Sant even after he lost in 1998. But after 2003 he had to leave. Instead he stayed and we're still in opposition.
I hope he will not do the same thing that other ex MLP leaders did in the past: i.e interfere.
He was given the opportunity three times by our delegates and failed. It's time to give way and let history judge him.
That is why the PN did everything to discredit Dr Sant; he was too good a leader so they started with character assassination because they could not accuse him of any wrong doing.
But on the other hand I think that now is the time for Dr Sant to let Dr Muscat lead the LP his way, for good or for worse. After all Dr Sant himself knows how it feels to have a former LP leader in his way of leading the party (remember Mr Mintoff?). If he feels he can give advice to Dr Muscat, why not, give it to him, but if Dr Muscat does not sees it fit to follow his advice, he has to accept the fact that Dr Muscat is now the leader of the LP and he has to follow his way.
I would like to say thankyou to Dr Sant for his service as the LP leader.
Dr. Sant said of the report commissioned by the Party itself, "It seems that those who wrote it have little clear knowledge of the personal and organisational environment of a political party. Therefore, the report gives major importance to trivial matters while what was really problematic in the Labour campaign hardly gets a mention.”
It would be hard not to ask, what was 'really problematic in the Labour campaign'? Dr. Sant should know and not beat about the bush because, after all, these problems occurred under his watch!
Breaking the silence, after so many months after the election, continues the LP's trend of never getting over yet another defeat. Looking at the past is no way of paving the party's success in the future.
Dr. Sant should be able to make a self assessment and conclude once and for all that he made fatal policy mistakes which led to three elections and one referendum defeats. That was yesterday and harping on what would have been serves no purpose at this time.
He should make space for the new leadership and cut remaining strings!
Mr. Abela, I honestly pity the likes of you,because you are as blind as most of the GonziPN apologists. What i can't seem to understand is how grown up man now a days in 2009 can still look at politics as a game that must be won at all costs as stated by than PN General Secretary Joe Saliba.
And we wonder what's happening to our youth's and to the Maltese as a society, the arrogance ,the violence and the crime. IT ALL STARTS AT THE TOP.
The PN might have used the power of incumbency but then again haven't all the Parties done that in all the elections??? I have absolutely nothing against Dr.Sant but the reason the MLP lost lies squarely on his laps.....voters do not trust him, they do not see in him a national leader, they think he lacks vision and experience has shown himself to be an incompetent and divisive leader who left division and cliques take over the Party!!
Labourites might love Dr.Sant as much as they please, but IF this person has ulterior intentions and plans to make some kind of comeback then to hell with the W&E bills and to hell with Gatt's arrogance and to hell with the betrayals we are facing becuase we will vote GonziPN again and again!!!
I would have wholeheartedly given my vote to the Labour Party after being fed up with this government, but with ideas such as the reception class, the removal of the non-existent incinerator, the VAT fiasco still fresh in the memory, the removal of our stipends, who would ever risk his children's future being under this man?
So Dr. Sant, please stop the excuses and stay where you belong - out of politics and out of my children's future.
That GonziPN is not the best it has ever happened to us Maltese, is a true fact, but it is the best alternative that we have so far. For all those who still applaud Dr Sant, how can you not see that his ideas and pre-electoral promises were only vote catchers? As the team of incompetence for loosing the last election is still there with Mr Jason Micallef at the helm. The worst thing is that labour delegates voted for Jason Micallef again. This is the same mistake as keeping Dr Sant as the leader of the party in the 2003 election. There had to be a complete whitewash. So PL has now to face the music. 25 years in opposition and still they dont learn..
I only ask when, if ever.....
- someone's going round with a list of EP candidates, it seems.
Hope it's not a real reflection of what's going on in the LP
BUT
THEY BOTH SUPPORTED JOSEPH TO BECOME LEADER.
JOSEPH IS NOW IN A STRAIGHT JACKET!!!!!
Please show more respect towards the leader that iniatted the real change in the labour party. It was Dr Sant that changed the party to a more modern political organisation.
My advice to our new leader: The PL needs Dr Sant...
Dr.Sant you failed. Now please let our new leader work in peace. You are still saying the same things you used to say before.
So the EU is for the 'elite'. So I must say that in our party we've got many 'elite' because they all found good jobs in Brussels. And others are alraedy asking for our votes for the next MEP elections.
You keep saying that the PN "violated the constitution during the election. Air Malta brought Maltese from abroad to vote, the way public funds were squandered and jobs and contracts were awarded just to win votes".
But I ask you Dr.Sant, wasn't the MLP's duty to prevent all this from happening? Or maybe we were so sure of a Labour Victory that we didn't take care of these things.
And what about all those labour personalities and ex MP's that weren't given the opportunity to work in the party? Most of them have already come back thanks to Dr.Joseph Muscat's new approach.
@ A. Spiteri: I think it's better that you forget the GonziPN pre-electoral promises because up to now, Gonzi has broken each promise he made. He put this country into a burning hell and is taking it back to the middle ages. Your glass house is already shattered.
Labour lost the elections because they still hang to their past... and their past is scary. By the way, even immature Joseph is also "proud" of Labour's past and this augurs well for Prime Minister Gonzi'svision for 2015.
Prosit. I agree with you 100%. No further comments
ARROGANCE!!! - from our part ???
My God , you Nationalists never fail to AMAZE me !!!
Your Governance all this year was based on pure ARROGANCE .
NEVER forget P.AQUILINA that the MAJORITY of the MALTESE wanted you out!!!!
Sure,
So are we supposed to forget the PL's promises before the election?
Do you remember the EU re-negotiation chapter? The year 1 repeater classes? (not to mention the Lira devaluation) etc etc. Add all these to the global economic downturn and what do you get???
I guess you all know the answer.
Many of us are still blaming the PN for the election result but my I remind the general public that even PL supporters refused to vote for their own party in the last general election. And no, they are not staunch Net TV viewers are JPO’s constituents.
We have to face reality, and change……
Dottor Sant no one is universally right or wrong - Your score on the former is evidently and perpetually lower! In this respect the PN is as good as its opposition! Your problem is that you never accept that!
A bad copy of Don Quixote - I also have an idea who Sancho Panza may be!!!!
@ joseph camilleri
It is very sad to note that both of you, Labour Party supporters, just like Dr Sant have no regrets for Labour's third consecutive defeat!
The people spoke three times in a row and you prefer to bury your head in the sand!
When you are not capable of accepting successive defeats and admit that you have to do something about it that is called: ARROGANCE!!!
What illegal favours? What contracts? What jobs...what funds???
Give us concrete evidence and cases...Alfred Sant lost all credibility because he thinks that he is addressing a bunch of stupid people....
With regards to the comments you made on Joseph Muscat with regards to Alfred Sant
You really don`t know what your saying !!!!
When you mention persons from the PL side you better see your side first ,cos frankly there is nothing to choose and more than that from where to choose.
JPO and PBO and your cowboy GAtt are all your champions I guess eh!!?? - BIEX TISKONGRA TRID TKUN PUR !!!!
Halluna !!!!
I fully agree with Dr Sant's comments. Apart from the illegitimacy of the current government resulting from practices that one should seriously investigate in view of the ensuing wafer-thin victory (?) of the Gonzipn party. I, for one, do not have my mind at rest that the current administration is legitimate to be in office. Until such time as a proper investigation (especially with respect to the ex-pat vote, about which there are very specific rules which i doubt have been at all adhered to), confirms the legitimacy of the current govemment, I am totally justified to doubt it. Thus i fully concur with Dr Sant that the PL's approach should not be such as to transmit the feeling that "after all, it was the people's will". And such should be reminded to goverment reps, (read Minister Austin Gatt) every time they (he) adopt(s) an arrogant approach with respect to a myriad of issues. Not to mention too the fact that in any case, the current government was "elected" with less than 50% of the popular vote.
Sant lost three general elections in a row and yet he keeps insisting that it was 'the power of incumbency' which kept Labour out of Government.
In simple terms this is called ARROGANCE!
From this article it is evident that Sant's influence in Labour has not diminished, anzi..!
It is an open secret that Joseph is very close to Sant....today's article clearly does not augur well for Labour's future!
WIth the likes of :
Alfred Sant
Jason Micallef
Toni Abela
Anglu Farrugia
Alex Sciberras Trigona
Manuel Cuschieri
Charlon Gouder
Labour is now in dire straits more than ever!
When we all thought that Sant was out of the poltical scene he bounces back with a bang!
Clearly Joseph needs to establish himself as the only leader of the Labour Party but this is proving next to impossible....perhaps his inexperience doesn't help.
What surely doesn't help is the fact that he is far too obliged to Sant who supported him and annointed him as his successor!
How ironic, mela Joseph says that he will take note of Labour's election analysis report and his mentor Alfred Sant says that the report lacks credibility!
Good luck for the future.
It is thanks to him that this case surfaced and and we will continue to appreciate Mistra Bay in its natural state.