Marija Falzon, Birkirkara
Contrasting messages from MEP line-ups
The line-up of candidates for the MEPs election as presented by the Malta Labour Party (PL) is a compelling one. All the 12 candidates, having a wide ranging and diverse background, accord with the policies set by the party they represent. It is this diverse experience blended into a coherent voice which shows the strength that lies within a newly invigorated PL.
It seems to be quite the opposite within the Nationalist Party, where we are already receiving different messages from its candidates and MPs. A case in point is that of Edward Demicoli who, whether one agrees with him or not, is basing his candidature on his opposition to spring hunting. Only a few days later, Nationalist MP Philip Mifsud defended the right to hunt in spring. What is the true direction of the PN in this case? Is it a confuse-all-and-please-all situation? Whatever it is, it simply isn't credible.
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c formosa
Jan 28th 2009, 10:15
I have been reading a lot of comments on this site. I cannot believe that there are people in this country who believe that we should all be in favour of whatever is put forward by our leaders and pretend we dont have a mind of our own. If we take the person that is mostly being discussed lately (Sharon Ellul Bonici) I cannot understand why some of you keep insisting she should not be a candidate for the european parliament with the LP simply because she had campaigned to inform the public that Malta was not ready to join the EU and that when joining we should fight to get the best deal possible. Now that the public chose to be part of this union she seems to be a democratic enough person to have excepted our views of being part of this union and is willing to be there to inform us what advantages we may benifit from and fight for our rights. I might not have agreed with her campaign before joining the EU but I will vote for people like her with knowledge and experience to inform me, fight for us and represent me.
laurence schembri
Jan 28th 2009, 00:48
Please stop rubbishing the candidates who want to be of service to the country, being Nationalist, Labour or Alternativa. The choice is simple, you don`t like him/her, don`t vote for them.
Alfred Camilleri
Jan 27th 2009, 19:23
Gerard Cassar. I prefer to call Malta's acquisition of independence as an achievement for Borg Olivier, the PN and Malta, rather than a U turn.
lgalea
Jan 27th 2009, 17:16
P.Schembri
All eu apologists and lackeys from whatever party shall get our answer on our vote.
Louis Gialanze
Jan 27th 2009, 15:30
Sharon Ellul Bonici warned us all ,well in advance of joining the EU, that we'll be inundated with immigrants. The same cannot be said of David Casa or Simon Busutill. The lady has a mind of her own. Towing the party line does not translate her into a yes(wo)man. Any further comments are superfluous.
P.Schembri
Jan 27th 2009, 14:54
@Adrian Cardona. Since Sharon Ellul Bonici and Glenn Bedingfield are candidates for the PL in the forthcoming elections, then it's the Party that has to acknowledge its mistake not the candidate. Joseph Muscat already admitted in his first days as Leader, that it was a mistake to campaign against the EU. Anyway, in a democratic country (which we are supposed to be democratic) there are always the for and against. So what's wrong with certain candidates being against the EU in the past? That's a healthy democracy. If everyone was to be a yes men, then we have become a dictatorship. And how can you get different opinions and ideas if all the candidates were to say yes to everything. I would call these puppets.
John Zarb
Jan 27th 2009, 14:33
@mbuhagiar
Mr Buhagiar you happen not to know my political credentials. I happen to be voting Greens this time round. I saw the PL list from an objective point of view and pointed out two good ones from the PL, being Edward Scicluna and Louis Grech and said that the rest are not suitable.
Once you mentioned PN you may also note Simon Busuttil as the best candidate.
As to Sharon Ellul Bonici, she is the worst candidate out of all. Now her campaign team, thinking we are stupid, are trying to launder her past by saying that she only opposed Malta's membership terms and not the EU per se and are also trying to market her as the women who is capable of saying NO to the bureaucrats. I suggest that they either go back to the drawing board with their campaign...or else just use their time to support another candidate.
frank cauchi
Jan 27th 2009, 12:55
@ Gerard Cassar
"Dr. A. Paris minister of education under Dr. G.Borg Olivier said in parliamnt :"Independence for Malta is an utopia!" Dr. Borg Olivier became the father of Malta independent!! "
Tell me Gerard, did Dr. Paris become prime minister? that really would have been a U turn.
M.Buhagiar
Jan 27th 2009, 12:35
@John Zarb
Can you kindly advise us who can we pick from your party???
David Casa by any chance???
Ha , Ha dont make us laugh ( or cry) !!!
Really and truly you have to admit it that there is no comparison from the PL candidates to the others that are being mentioned from the PN side .
Adrian Cardona
Jan 27th 2009, 12:33
@ P.Schembri
I never heard Sharon Ellul Bonici or Glen Bedingfield say they were wrong or mistaken! As for them being more than qualified.....
Gerard Cassar
Jan 27th 2009, 12:03
P.N.s to remind you. Your Dr. A. Paris minister of education under Dr. G.Borg Olivier said in parliamnt :"Independence for Malta is an utopia!" Dr. Borg Olivier becme the father of Malta independent!! This was not a colosal U.turn??
P.Schembri
Jan 27th 2009, 11:39
@All PN apologists for that's what you are! Would you rather have yes men in the European Parliament? Do you members who agree on everything proposed even if it's not good for our country? Why Sharon Ellul Bonici is the best of candidates. She's more than qualified to be a member of the European Parliament. Another thing,it's maturity when you or any other change your views and admit that you were wrong or mistaken. What is wrong with that? Now that the PL is wholeheartedly with the EU, what's the use of beating a dead horse? So please, if you can't find anything to criticise constructively don't!
frank grech
Jan 27th 2009, 10:52
Dear Marija Falzon, what cheek to make such a sweeping statement! who was all out against the EU? Next time: look before you leap!!!!!
joseph scicluna
Jan 27th 2009, 10:11
The Maltese Socialists, for the MEPs election, are very consistent in their beliefs. YESTERDAY NO, TO-DAY YES. I am confused.
John Zarb
Jan 27th 2009, 09:55
Of course Marija, PL's choice of Sharon Ellul Bonici has been the most compelling. Joseph Muscat should well know that there is no place for Eurosceptics within the European Socialists (PSE) as PSE is a strongly pro-European group.
Just as compelling is the choice of Glenn Bedingfield, who in his few months at the EP, could only come up with the grandoise issue of picking on PBS on our local media because according the him they are trying to "shut him up" - this is instead of him marking his territory in Parliament and doing his best to establish himself in international and European politics.
I could go on. Unfortunately from the twelve you can only pick up Edward Scicluna, Louis Grech and maybe Marlene Mizzi. The rest are very poor choice indeed and make this a very poor PL line up.
Adrian Cardona
Jan 27th 2009, 09:51
oh really Ms Falzon?!
I do recall seeing a certain Sharon Ellul Bonici in the PL's line-up, and I also do recall quite clearly her screaming opposition to EU membership some years back, a position she still believes in now (hidden under the risible 'I will make sure to protect Malta from the nasty EU' bla-blas).
I also notice a certain Glen Bedingfield, another LP ex-media personality who used to tell us every day that the EU was our doom, and, oh look!..he's actually there now doing his utmost to keep Malta's name afloat.
The pot can't call the kettle black, Ms Falzon, if it wants to retain it's dignity.