PM agrees with Tedesco Triccas

cecil herbert jones

Jul 21st 2009, 23:45

I'm sorry but in my last post I meant to say classism not classicism.

Cecil Herbert Jones

Jul 21st 2009, 21:42

Well said everyone. I think that all of you have a point. Its like the way Human Rights work - I have a right for something and someone has a right not to give it to me. This means I'm no better off if I don't have the necessary kudos to put up a decent fight, for my right after all.

Be aware if not beware that if the law on 'fair-play' will be amended into a law of 'free-play', this will mean that any candidate can invest unlimited amounts into his/her campaign. Fair enough (pun intended), for this means that more cash will be circulated during election campaigns. However the downside will be (as we are seeing) that only the rich can contest an election, and powermongering will increase. Democracy will crash like an ill-fated airliner unfortunately does, and classicism will step in like no tomorrow.

Furthermore the media will increase its arrogance towards the independent voice and nobody will be able to break through that barrier, that unfortunately already exists, for as we know the Broadcasting Authority is busy broadcasting its authority where it should be broadcasting democracy instead. This is a real threat!

Tony Caruana

Jul 20th 2009, 21:22

@ Charles Sammut
No that's not deception, its a law that has a loophole therefore a law that does not define all the necessary parameters.

Charles Sammut

Jul 20th 2009, 19:27

@ Tony Caruana Then, to apply your logic, this is the same sort of "intelligence" people should use with the Inland Revenue, VAT Dept, MEPA, Social Services and so on. That's not intelligence, that's deception.

Tony Caruana

Jul 20th 2009, 19:19

Besides agreeing with Dr Metsola Tedesco Triccas, Dr Gonzi should ask all the elected MEPs to publish their accounts. This is the kind of political transparency that this country deserves !!! A lot of people criticized this smart move from Dr Metsola Tedesco Triccas, but in my opinion this is the kind of intelligent politics that any politician should adopt both in the European and national parliament. If people cannot understand this than i can understand why some of the Maltese MEPs and members of parliament are of such a low standard.

Charles Sammut

Jul 20th 2009, 19:19

@ Marjolene Grimaud I wouldn't go as far as predicting civil unrest. Come next election time, the sheep will flock back to their respective pens. And the PLPN knows it. They roll in the same hay.

John fenech

Jul 20th 2009, 18:49

The escape clause is the crucial difference between the Letter of the Law and The Spirit of the Law. And it distinguishes between integrity and political opportunism! This has nothing to do with partisan politics since both leaders of the main political parties have worked hand in hand to the Select Committee on this issue!

Marjolene Grimaud

Jul 20th 2009, 18:29

A stupid move by the Prime Minister to save his Government from further embarrassment. There is now clearly a split in the ranks of both PN and PL, and this is marked by the fact that those partisan candidates who did not break the law are further victimised by the PM's move, concorded no doubt by the leader of the opposition.

I hate to say this but we are about to see civil unrest shortly, and this will not die down so easily. Fear not honest citizens of Malta. The moment of truth shall arrive sooner than one thinks.

The World is watching!

Jesmond Falzon

Jul 20th 2009, 18:19

Where is the escape clause? It is just the law and its interpretation. I interpret it in one way, and another person interprets it in another. That is everyday life!! Gonzi could have disagreed with Roberta Tedesco Triccas in the same way he has agreed. I cannot understand all this fuss on this issue. @ P. Cassar - The election is in four years time. LIVE WITH IT!!

Patrick Gatt

Jul 20th 2009, 18:16

Thumbs up for PM Gonzi. He is 100% in stating that the law has been interpreted in such a way for the past 25 years. No one ever questioned the law itself and no one ever said anything about expenses made by individual candidates on a district basis.

Ludwig Bonello

Jul 20th 2009, 16:03

How can a decent person condone the exploitation of a technicality or loophole in any law by intentionally ignoring the spirit or intent of the law itself? I almost sympathized with the young and inexperienced Triccas when she came out with this banality, because after all the loophole (or ambiguous language) would absolve her of any illegality. But to then hear the Maltese head of government (and a seasoned lawyer to boot) condone such unethical reasoning - is, well, unbelievable.

P.Cassar

Jul 20th 2009, 13:32

You know what beats me in all this............WHY ARE WE CONCENTRATING ON THE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS?
WHAT ABOUT THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS A YEAR AGO. CAN WE HAVE NATIONAL ELECTIONS AGAIN PLEASE?

r ferriggi

Jul 20th 2009, 12:34

as time passes,,, the population is being given the impression that for a sector of the public or politicians or authorities,,, the law is applied differently or there is a different law.

naghlqu ghajn wahda ( close one eye) ,,,,, in maltese language.

this does nothing but encouraging the public to do the same where they can,,,, to try to get away with it.

''if they do it.... and go unpunished,,,, why should i not try to get away with it??'' mentality.

we are unfortunately getting alot of bad examples in these last months from the politicians themselves!!

john fenech

Jul 20th 2009, 12:14

Well no one expected Dr. Gonzi to contradict the good Doctor’s fortunate escape clause! What’s done is done but for crying out loud do have the common decency to call a spade by its name! Quote, “Cannot have suddenly become wrong". Does it mean it is not wrong or had been warped from inception? Or the escape clause inserted 25 years ago is today a glaring challenge to the politician’s integrity?

The law was intended to afford the most possible level field of play to all contestants but those contesting under the party’s ticket or had deep pockets or with access to extra funds were already in pole position!

But that is not enough because extra funds if wisely invested over longer period of time will give the candidate an advantageous exposure! And this is the crux of the problem those who have overshoot the budget stipulated by the law, are calling the same law an ass, for letting them get away with it! But on the other hand refuse to contemplate the spirit of the same law, which intended to extend the possibility that each candidate will be on equal footing!

stephen farrugia

Jul 20th 2009, 11:14

It did not suddenly become wrong but this time they broke the law. Is this another story of illegal becoming irregulare, like the immigrants ?
Before we believed them and this time we don't. Its that simple ! Unless you want to have another general election also. Ifhem !

Charles Sammut

Jul 20th 2009, 11:08

Does the Prime Minister really think that everybody is an imbecile?

Once a person starts spending money on adverts, flyers, gifts and receptions, it is obvious that s/he is a candidate. The intent is there. Dr Gonzi is simply trying to save his bacon, well what little there's left of it.

The less he says, the less he contradicts himself. All 5 elected candidates have sworn that they managed to get elected while spending less than EUR 18,000, so it is clearly sufficient to get their message across. It will not be up to Dr Gonzi to decide on this issue, he can only try to influence those who will ultimately decide.

This affair clearly brings out the difference in culture between Nordic and Mediterranean countries. In any Nordic country, there would have been resignations. In Malta everybody, from the PM down is trying to find loopholes to hold on to his/her cushy seat.

Vincent Bugeja

Jul 20th 2009, 10:28

I agee with Dr Gonzi and Dr Metsola Tedesco Triccas that the law needs to be amended. Laws are not always perfect and in this case the law should be amended to reflect todays exigencies.

Stephen Farrugia

Jul 20th 2009, 10:24

Dr Sapiano said he told him before the 2008 election, so the arguement of 25 years does not hold any water. Its all in writing, last week.

Le,le....another election !

joe fortini

Jul 20th 2009, 10:08

When only two out of 15 candidates or so exceeded the 18,000 euro limit, then why this urgent need to amend the law?