PN MEP candidate wants to make 'blue hat greener'

M. Micallef

Mar 10th 2009, 05:59

Alan Deidun's campaign is being conducted on limited resources since he does not have the backing of hordes of foot soldiers who write articles for him, maintain his website, print flyers for him, etc. His message is consistent and credible - he was asked to enter politics and not the other way round - I know him personally and he cherished his life as it was before he was dragged into politics. I sincerely hope he gets a chance by the electorate to change things.

A Tabone

Mar 9th 2009, 22:41

I thought that Joseph Muscat was going to make a difference in politics!

Look at what happened in MEPA. The Labour representative was the ONLY member who voted IN FAVOUR of the massive development in Balzan Urban Conservation Area... And you know who was the developer??? Guess what..... Polidano, c-Caqnu.

Kumbinazzjoni Joseph Muscat has opened a new pact with this developer.

And do you know what the development was about??? A massive 50 apartment block with underground parking in a private garden in the village core. I wonder why no one protested and asked this strange happening. BTW Roderick Galdes, the Labour represenative on MEPA board is supposed to be a planner. I wonder what planning standars did he use in this case.

I also wonder why the FAA did not utter a word in this case.... strange indeed... Silence is golden!

Is this a generazzjoni gdida?

J. Borg

Mar 9th 2009, 22:35

@ M. Catania
Pls be sincere in your comments regarding Arnold Cassola & his participation in the Italian parliament.
Do you think Malta's interests will be compromised or boosted if we had a capable Maltese national directly participating in feach ellow European state's parliament?
Arnold has been contesting local elections with AD for decades - however in view of the flawed electoral law - AD has been effectively precluded for getting areal chance to elect a represenetative.
On the other hand, when Arold was asked by Romano Prodi to participate in Italian elections (in view of his experience and popularity amongst European Greens), Arnold accepted, and during his term in the Italian parliament raised a number of issues that directly affected Malta and people living in Malta.
At this stage one hopes that the Maltese electorate has evolved and will not be nose-led to block-vote, but will express their true and diverse wishes about the best persons that can represent them.
Having possibly both Alan Deidun and Arnold Cassola as MEPs will surely raise the bar for the truely evironmental level that Malta would be induced to meet.

L..Galea

Mar 9th 2009, 20:54

Joseph Camilleri
The PL was the first party that started using recycled paper for its documents. It has shown that it is a green party, so there's no need to have a specific green MEP.

M. Catania

Mar 9th 2009, 20:27

@Alvin Grech I would have liked someone from AD to be elected in one way or another (being that we are on the verge of obtaining the sixth seat) but Arnold Cassola has let the Maltese voters down by standing in the Italian internal elections. If he gets elected this time round whose interests will he represet being this an EU wide parliament? I think there will be someone else contesting on behalf of the AD.

Joseph Camilleri

Mar 9th 2009, 19:18

Isn't it sweet? a party makes a move to be more environment-conscious by adding green candidates to it's fold, and people criticize it! Why aren't you criticizing the PL for not even attempting to include green expertise in it's line-up??

Muscat.Pat

Mar 9th 2009, 16:11

Only in Malta! Someone who says he is acting on behalf on the environment attacks the local Green Party, is a climate warming sceptic, and goes into politics on behalf of a Party who has isued more than 3200 permits outside the development zone since 2003! Incredible!

John Zarb

Mar 9th 2009, 14:45

@ Nathalie Zammit Louis Grech's performance in the last five years was not impressive. But I would also take him up for the sake of his experience and charisma. @ A Micallef It is true that MEPs should be all rounders. Yet we can do well with having a focused one on an important issue such as environment. I totally disagree with you re. Roberta MTT. She is ambitious and energetic. But her campaign is based on cheap political stunts - for example her expecting to get votes just because she happens to be a woman. (Now we will probably have RMTT's campaign team raiding this forum)

P.Cassar

Mar 9th 2009, 13:34

NEARLY ALL POLITICIANS ENTER THE FREY WITH VERY GOOD INTENSIONS UNTIL THEY ARE GRADUALLY MOULDED INTO SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING TODAY WILL BE QUITE DIFFERENT TO WHAT YOU WILL BE SAYING IN A FEW MONTHS TIME WHEN YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND EXCUSES FOR GOVT BAD ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS TIME WILL TELL

Alvin Grech

Mar 9th 2009, 13:13

Given that 2 candidates from each side are bound to be elected, Dr. Kirill Micallef Stafrace, Simon Busuttil, Edward Demicoli and Profs Scicluna would make an ideal foursome - still unsure about the fifth and eventually the sixth candidate

J.Farrugia

Mar 9th 2009, 12:51

D.Micallef Your comments go further into supporting Dr. Deidun being part of the Blues. If the Blues lack green credentials, and partly I agree with that, then Dr. Deidun and other greens joining the blues should add that balance that might not be there. It would be good to have similar candidates joining the Reds, I presume, don't you agree ? We can take many crass examples that the PL (previously MLP) did to the environment of Malta. We can start with the PAPB, the Ministers finger in granting permits, the agreement with the hunters in 1996 as a vote catching exercise, which I agree worked well for the MLP but not for us the Environmentalists etc.. Thus, you should push for having such candidates with the PL as well.

D. Micallef

Mar 9th 2009, 11:55

Mr. Deidun,

I have 3 questions:

1. How can a party be 'green' when just a couple of years ago, the same PM and Minister favoured the extension of the development zones?
2. How can a party in Government consider itself green with the thousands of ODZ permits approved per annum? what's the use of ODZ anyway...
3. How can a party or its leader be considered 'green' when in the midst of a general election campaign, the PM himself defended his MP JPO, when ample proof was available that he was guilty of putting pressure on MEPA officials to approve a project that would destroy a Natura 2000 site?

These are just 3 questions, not to mention the mess with the eco-taxes, which are not eco at all but just taxes, the disasters in areas like Birzebbuga, the proposed road in Ghadira, etc etc....

Nathalie Zammit

Mar 9th 2009, 11:18

@ John Zarb

I got to agree better regarding Simon Busuttil being an ideal candidate from the PN. However I would opt from Louis Grech and Dr. Kirill Micallef Stafrace from the LP because Louis offers continuity and experience like Simon and i belive that Dr. Micallef Stafrace can give innovative perspectives, especially in the health sector.

A Micallef

Mar 9th 2009, 10:42

@John Zarb - I totally disagree with you on the qualities a right MEP should have. An MEP will have to deal with all the topics which one could imagine. Therefore an MEP who is focused on only one issue is not the best option. MEPs should be all rounders and knowledgeable on the greatest amount of possible topics.

However, I agree that Alan Deidun is very well versed on environment and will give a good contribution to the debate. Nevertheless, I think that PN has better versed candidates which deserve more to be elected such as Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas.

J. Borg

Mar 9th 2009, 10:28

@ Mr. Mifsud Bonnici

why don't you simply contest the MEP elections yourself?
After all you imply that numerous people understand and support what you label as 'socio-cultural traditions'.
So go ahead....pluck up some courage.....defend your rights (sic)

@ Dr. Deidun
Wish you can really instigate change....however when you sense that the PN is simply after votes and environmental double-speak...then I hope you'll have the courage to speak up and find a 'home' that does not compromise environmental principles to power.

Anthony Formosa

Mar 9th 2009, 10:22

Another joke of the year, where was Dr Deidun in the past years when MEPA issued more than two thousand permits in the ODZ? or is it hunting the main concern for the so called environmentalists. This is sickening, everyone is using the environment as a vote catching.

John Zarb

Mar 9th 2009, 09:59

My first choice is Simon Busuttil. But Deidun is a good second option. The person is focused on one important issue, unlike the others who think they can make immigration, environment, jobs, this that and all their 'priority' and who will promise everything as long as they get there.

On the other side Edward Scicluna and Marlene Mizzi would complement them well. The rest of PN and MLP candidates are mediocrity.

The PN and MLP electorate should pick up the best their party offers as above. Lets send up a good team which does us honour not a bunch of clowns who want play MEP.

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Mar 9th 2009, 09:54

Mr. Deidun

You need not worry about your green ambitions. The PN allowed Edward Demicoli to contest, stating he was taking a stand against spring hunting. I am quite sure it will allow you too.

After all, The PN seems to be after votes it might have lost to the Green Party in the past. So even though it guarantees things to people in writing as it did to hunters, votes seem to matter more than its integrity.

So Mr Deidun start preparing your anti hunting agenda under the PN flag. Unfortunately what you presume to be able to do under your green hat will be a matter of having it accepted by the blue one. So do not put your hopes up too much since once your votes are counted, your contribution is over.

You said it yourself, you "would not be prevented from speaking out about the environment by expectations that he should toe the party line." So are you implying you too as Mr. Demicoli will not be towing the Part line.

Indeed what more could the PN accept in order to win votes!!!