Yves Cali, Sliema
Shaking off past misdeeds (2)
Dr Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici claims that as part of the constitutional amendments agreed to between the MLP (now PL) and the PN, Dom Mintoff was to be appointed President. In his autobiography former President Guido de Marco denies that any concession of this kind was ever made.
The amendment in the main stated that 'Where a party at the first count obtains more than 50 per cent of the votes cast it will be guaranteed a one-seat majority in Parliament'.
If what Dr Mifsud Bonnici states is correct, could it be that Mr Mintoff was, reluctantly or otherwise, thinking of the Presidency for himself when he agreed to amend our Constitution? Could it be that he was not shamed by the gerrymandering that occurred in the 1981 election after all and which led his party to govern against the will of the majority?
What Dr Mifsud Bonnici claims undeniably adds a further grave blot on a past Labour administration.
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GiovDeMartino
Feb 2nd 2009, 16:42
IGalea is wrong when he says that the same thing happened in 1971. In 1971 labour won the district by seven votes AND DID GOVERN. In 1982 PN obtained the majority of votes BUT DID NOT GOVERN. No, history cannot be changed, except by KMB who told us that the PN was the violent party in the 70/80's
lgalea
Feb 2nd 2009, 08:58
There was no gerrymandering in the 1981 election.
The result was according to the Constitution and Labour had a right to govern.
The same situation happened 10 years before and the PN called for several counts of the 5th electoral district because Labour had won the seat by some 7 votes.
The gerrymandering was carried out by the PN government by changing the representation of different districts so that some districts where the majority of voters were pn supporters could elect more MP's than others in an effort to remain in power notwithstanding that the majority wanted the PN OUT.
Notwithstanding that the PN had a minority of votes, had it got that seat it would have governed because it would have had a majority of seats. No denial by pn apologists can change history Yves.
That is the real gerrymandering Yves Cali.
GiovDeMartino
Feb 2nd 2009, 08:14
Labour's past can hardly be blottted further!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!