An open-minded political party

Robert Callus

Jan 24th 2009, 05:38

@Paul Caruana
In 2003 AD said 'it-2 jgodd ukoll' (2 counts too). The implications are obvious. I for one was and still am an AD supported but in 2003 gave no1 to the PN since Alfred Sant decided to ignore the result of the referendum for EU
It was the PN that at the 11th hour asked for a block vote, resulting in having Arnold Cassola lose his seat for MLP's Louis Grech (Since Grech inherited the votes of other Labourites)
Had the PN not talked about block votes, probably Cassola would have inherited some PN votes and joined the Greens in the EU

D Zammit

Jan 23rd 2009, 22:41

@ O Cassar

Of course it had every right, but one can promote his ideal or scare people of his opponents to win. The PN chose to scare people of AD (like last elections as well). I find it very undemocratic. Well getting used to it now by the PN. Once you say something the PN wants to hear, than well and good. Say something once which goes against PN and you've had it!! They use you till the last drop. Ask Jeffery Pullicino Orlando!!

Oscar Cassar

Jan 23rd 2009, 19:24

I clearly remember Dr Harry Vassallo and James (ex-Xarabank / ex Graffiti) on a radio station in the last minutes on the campaign before the 2003 general election and it was never mentioned that the AD was encouraging voters to vote for PN on first count, and give only subsequent preferences to AD. It was only an elegy by James to Dr Vassallo as the greatest statistician of our nation.

Oscar Cassar

Jan 23rd 2009, 19:08

@D Zammit

It was Dr Herry Vassallo, then leader of the AD who did not even attended the Press Conference at Castille by the Prime Minister together with all the entities of the Moviment IVA. Such Press Conference was called to announce the Victory of the Moviment IVA and as in that same time MLP supporters were also celebrating at Marsa (near OneTV) an election was called at that very instances to clear all doubts. That meant the end of the Moviment IVA and from that moment in time it was an open campaine in the run for the General election in which the PN had every right to do to defend the interest of all those who were in favor of accession in the EU. If Dr Vassallo that was the leader of AD (not Dr Cassola) had attended that press conference and done an LIVE appeal on TVM for unity between the Moviment IVA to defend and strengthen the result achieved in the referendum, maybe things happened differently in the following weeks ecc

D Zammit

Jan 23rd 2009, 18:34

@ O Cassar

Maybe you don't know the whole history. AD was not given the chance to talk during the celebrations and that was the start of the PN's strategy to scare off people from AD

Oscar Cassar

Jan 23rd 2009, 17:40

Immediately after the results of the referendum all political parties started campaigning their own campaign for the General Election of 2003 because both main political parties on both sides clamed victory (PN by the majority of voters and the MLP with a majority of NO + the non-voters including the terminally ill and dead persons on the voters list) Therefore the situation had to be followed by an immediate general election called immediately after the issuing of the referendum results. In fact if you remember well, Dr Herry Vassallo, then leader of the AD did not even attended the Press Conference at Castille by the Prime Minister together with all the entities of the Moviment IVA (unions ecc) although he was excused during the LIVE transmission on TVM by the PM. Maybe that was a fact were Dr Vassallo missed the boat. Pls do not rewrite history to your convenience.

D Zammit

Jan 23rd 2009, 15:52

The PN has a tradition of using someone and throwing him away. IT did the same to AD after the EU referendum. Ask Mr Cassala when the PN were celebrating the referendum result, they didn't allow him to make a speech!! If it is not true point a finger.!! PN should be ashamed of such tactics. It should concentrate on how to attract voters not create fear of AD

Paul Caruana

Jan 23rd 2009, 15:36

"during the 2003 election AD ... asked its supporters to vote for PN on first count, and give only subsequent preferences to AD, in order to ensure that the Maltese and Gozitans got into Europe."

Not quite. AD had asked its supporters to vote AD, not PN. It had asked those who normally vote PN to give their second preference rather than their first to AD, which is hardly the same thing. AD still managed to garner a significant 1,929 first preference votes in that election, putting Malta at risk of missing out on EU membership.

Oscar Cassar

Jan 23rd 2009, 14:07

Excuse me if I am wrong but the only political party that have asked voters for their second preference after giving the No 1 to a candidate from the greater parties was the PDM in 1987. If AD made such statements in 2003 and asked its supporters to vote for PN on first count, it was not given publicity at the time. Infect if you remember well Dr Fenech Adami, PN leader at that time, urged voters that it was no time for experimentation. That was a clear indication to certain ‘traditionally’ PN voters that sympathised with AD at the time after AD had been part of the Moviment IVA

J. Borg

Jan 23rd 2009, 12:52

So, is this going to be the PN stratagists' - those 'kind and honest' individuals who meet at tal-Pieta sacrificing their interests for the benefit of all of us ungrateful citizens - slogan to try and yet undermine AD the Green party?

Keep it up......you cannot push away voters from assigning any preference to PN canditates, any better!