I never doubted backbench loyalty - PM
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi says he has taken note of his backbenchers' concerns and criticism and mapped out an efficient way forward.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, the first since his decision to twin backbenchers with ministers, Dr Gonzi denies that any of his MPs are seeking personal glory and rejects claims that his government was unstable.
While urging critics to judge him through his actions and not words, he says: "I think the whole group, even when they expressed their concerns publicly, were doing so in the public's interest."
He insists that the small Cabinet formula has worked, saying his decision to appoint parliamentary assistants would guarantee more efficiency, while ensuring ministries remained in touch with the grassroots.
The Prime Minister also discusses the Valletta project and pledges to deliver it by the end of this legislature, despite the controversy.
"This project will be signed by Renzo Piano and nobody else," he says.
Watch excerpts of his interview with Herman Grech above. Read the entire interview in today's edition of The Sunday Times.
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Peter Sullivan
Mar 15th 2010, 10:45
I agree with Joe Fenech:
QUOTE:
The only thing one needed to do was knock down the arcades and the council flats, rebuilt the opera and modernise it inside (then use it as an exclusive café or shops), built a nice lightweight bridge and a nice city gate. We would have had a majestic pjazza rather than more cluttering and a parliament 'in the face' and in a city entrance (reminiscent of the likes of Ciacescu !).
UNQUOTE
Dr. Gonzi is not listening to the majority of the people who are all out against the building of a new parliament instead of a pjazza. If you really need a new parliament, use one of the old unused palaces in Valletta. I am sure there is one available, or use Fort St. Elmo.
J Muscat
Mar 15th 2010, 09:26
UNDER ONE ROOF ... pun intended?
J Brincat
Mar 15th 2010, 09:04
Our PM must be engulfed in a world of his own!
Anthony Pace Gouder
Mar 15th 2010, 02:29
The Hon. Prime Minister periodically repeats the phrase '' JUDGE ME ON MY ACTION AND NOT ON WHAT I SAY "
Therefore, some of the things he talked about in this interview may be just TALK if not substantiated by Deed , Action and Tangible Results .
Some statements are contradictory !
I.Esposito
Mar 14th 2010, 20:25
I think that the Prime Minister is starting to believe his own propaganda. Every broken electoral promise is paid for by us...the tax payers!
One thing he's right about...Judge me by my actions and not my words. I can see his great success with MEPA.
The reduction in taxation.
Transparent appointments in government run entities.
The brilliant respect of Nationalist, Labourite and other citizens who have sincere reservations with the Renzo Piano project.
The thousands that protested peacefully against the electricity & water tariffs.
Playing around with statistics to suit the moment.
The merry go round with the same chairpersons who consistently fail in their posts and are then given a new one.
The hidden debts that are occassionally sprung on us.
The same few people dipping their fingers in the pie.
Honourable Prime Minister may I suggest that you do the honourable thing and call an early election. You are draining this country of the will to achieve its potential. You have burdened our children with a national debt that is unsustainable. Enough playing around with words. Go now so that the people can make a choice that is inevitable.
Anthony Pace Gouder
Mar 14th 2010, 20:16
Taking into account the 2009 last quarter provisional statistics Gross Domestic Product 0.5% increase when all the other 3 were negative is not realistic, as the Economy had declined by 1.9%.
Dottor Gonzi ," una rondine non fa Primavera ! " That is "a SINGLE swallow those not herald Springtime !
Which reminds me ! Are the W&E TARIFF INCREASES part of the REBBIEGHA GDIDA that was promised to the Maltese & Gozitan Citizens ?
Charles J. Buttigieg
Mar 14th 2010, 20:00
@ Joe Vella
Spin Doctors like Doctors of Medicine are ethically, morally and legally bound to protect the confidentiality of their clients. If you are satisfied with the Government’s official denial and the spin doctor’s good luck to you. Austin Sammut, a prominent PN apologists and OPM insiders seem to have a different story to tell. Official denials fail miserably to impress me in as much as you do not get impressed when the PL issues official plausible denials. I tend to rely more on common sense than on denials made by people after getting caught red handed.
Joe Vella
Mar 14th 2010, 16:12
@ Charles J. Buttigieg
You want to hear it from the Horses mouth? Here is the link, enjoy: http://charlescrawford.biz/blog/archive/2010/3
JOe VELLa
Mar 14th 2010, 15:25
@jbusuttil
suggested if we would be interested to ask those who were going to lose their jobs and found the government their help.
How nice!
Relatives close to mine lost their jobs and still are registering, they did not find the government to help!
I would rephrase your question. If we are so well off how may from the EU countries you mentioned are coming here because it is better?
As you well know most stations have the government agenda close to their heart. Do not believe all that you hear.
C.camilleri
Mar 14th 2010, 14:10
@ Joe Vella
You are right. No one should quote from Kullhadd. I suggest they quote from IL-MUMENT and the PN media. Remember when they said that Alfred Sant got drunk and had a car accident involving three cars? Now that's what I call a reliable source:)
Halluna man.
Anthony Pace Gouder
Mar 14th 2010, 13:20
Stop bluffing Dr.Gonzi ! Come down to earth and face REALITY .
Joe Fenech
Mar 14th 2010, 13:08
The problem with the Piano project is that although Piano is the architect, he still has to work to a brief, in this case set by you Mr Gonzi!
The way the project money has been managed is laughable. The only thing one needed to do was know down are the arcades and the council flats, rebuilt the opera and modernise it inside (then use it as an exclusive café or shops), built a nice lightweight bridge and a nice city gate. We would have had a majestic pjazza rather than more cluttering and a parliament 'in the face' and in a city entrance (reminiscent of the likes of Ciacescu !).
Unfortunately Malta is living in pre-enlightenment time where the king (alias in this case PM) is god and he has absolute power and say. That's VERY SAD Gonz!
Muscat Pat
Mar 14th 2010, 13:07
So," we are out of recession" says Dr Gonzi. Who is going to believe him if not he PN apologists? And who is going to believe that Charles Crawford is not PN's spin-doctor?
Charles Crawford conservatism is already clear in the way GonziPN is treating pensioners and other vulnerabe people. Facts speak louder than denials! But , as the saying goes " il lupo cambia il velo ma non il vizzio" We are getting the real Gonzi now.
manuel lia
Mar 14th 2010, 12:48
keep up the good work...onorevoli prim ministru ta malta......qed taghti risposta lill kullhadd..flakbar ricessjoni li qatt rat id dinja ahna hawn malta bqajna addejjin grazzi ghall par idejn sodi tieghek.......grazzi ta kollox and keep up the good work....malta tafda fik ax kullhadd jaf li int ragel ta vera...GONZI MEANS ACTION.....MHUX PAROLI FIL VOJT SUR CHARLES J.BUTTIGIEG.........IGRI TASAL 2013.........
Joseph Borg
Mar 14th 2010, 12:41
Gonzi's body language is really evident. This man has lost control of the country and of his own party.
salvu calleja
Mar 14th 2010, 12:22
To all PN Apologists...
The GonziPN never doubted backbench loyalty??!!!........hmmmm......So why he did not gave them a free vote???....if he is so sure........Mhur ifhem.....could it be this is an advice from this new spin doctor I ask??........Boqqq
P. Schembri
Mar 14th 2010, 12:21
And who in his right mind would say the truth about the consultant? You are really so gullible PN apologists. And now how about paying your backbenchers to keep quiet the princely sum of Euro 240,000 from your pockets? I would thank you for it.
Joe Vella
Mar 14th 2010, 12:06
@ Charles J. Butigieg
One cannot go so low to post something from the Il-Kulhadd and pass it as factual. Mr Charles J. Buttigieg, if the il-Kulhadd is your source, Oh well what else can one say. Poor Guy.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Mar 14th 2010, 13:13
@ Jesmond Abela
The government denies and you believe. In due course you will get more facts.
@ D.Dalli
The source is PN insiders.
@ Joe Vella
Poor guy indeed, question is who is the guy?
Charles J. Buttigieg
Mar 14th 2010, 13:46
@ Joe Vella.
Excerpt from an article by Austin Sammut in The Times. Dan mhux lejburist.
“He seems (and I stress "seems") to have rallied his troops. He seems to have placated his backbenchers by offering some sort of pairing with ministers. Mind you, it has been reported that some ministers, at least, are not terribly pleased with this proposed arrangement ... Yet, I for one, am not totally convinced with Dr Gonzi's strategy (and it would be interesting to know who has advised him - we have heard of a foreigner; totally unnecessary in my opinion).”
@ D. Dalli
Dan ukoll mazzun?
Mario Bonnici
Mar 14th 2010, 11:39
"Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi says he has taken note of his backbenchers' concerns and criticism and mapped out an efficient way forward."
A 'way forward' which, according to a local newspaper, will cost 240,000 Euros a year.
D.Dalli
Mar 14th 2010, 11:39
Charles J. Buttigieg
If you insist on reading il-Kullhadd, ser tibqa mazzun u tibla kollox. On the other hand you can believe the story of the consultant brought over (from the US) in Sant's time to win the elections of 96 (only to fall hard 18 months later).
Jesmond Abela
Mar 14th 2010, 11:23
Malta it-tieni fl-Unjoni Ewropea
It-tbassir għall-ispinta ekonomika tas-27 pajjiż tal-UE fl-2010
keep the good work Mr Prim minister - in Malta thats all we need, not people talking non sense or sitting pretty, gallarija........bla bla bla
@Mr Charles Bittigieg - incase you missed it -
The government this morning denied that a former British diplomat had been in Malta to advise the Prime Minister on the appointment of parliamentary assistants.
It said Charles Crawford, former British ambassador to Poland, was in Malta to train civil servants in diplomacy.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Mar 14th 2010, 13:20
@ Jesmond Abela.
Some plausible denials!
First we had the Prime Minister denying that there’s not going to be any extra remuneration for the ministerial apprentices, this was repeated by the Deputy PM then Dr. Chris Said, the Gozo Ministerial aspirant, declared that they would be getting a little extra. They’ll find a way out of this, no worries; they’re good at it big time.
Muscat Pat
Mar 14th 2010, 10:48
Now that we know that Gonzi has chosen a conservative UK political consultant, it is not a surprise why the burden of GonziPN financial mess is being shifted on the pensioners, workers and self employed through the evil sky high electrcity water and sewage tariffs. Besides living with a Dr Gonzi that has lost his compass, we are being burdened with a English conservative whose "hero" is none other than Margerate Thacher ! It is no wonder that Engish speaking media recently attacked the Unions and the "rabble"; we can see clearly now that it is part of a design from GonziPN to shift Malta's politics to the Conservative right; against Malta's vulnerable citizens.
John Tabone
Mar 14th 2010, 10:44
We want state of the art roads and less tax burden, not a Communist Monument signed by Renzo Piano that more than 80% of the population rejected as shown in the recent Times of Malta Online survey.
Joe Vella
Mar 14th 2010, 10:36
@ Joseph Camilleri
The debt of Enemalta is there to make up for the shortfall of passat PL Governments in their neglect to invest in Electrical and Water infrastructure and to insure for the future that you and I will have a secure supply of electricity.
JOe VELLa
Mar 14th 2010, 10:19
Dear Mr. Prim Minister,
Twice bitten, don't trust the third chance!
You can trust your your new found back benchers.
You can trust your luck that in opposition you have Joseph.
But the people have their final vote and the people are saying we are hurt with all this financial burden you are imposing on us.
jbusuttil
Mar 14th 2010, 11:15
It would be interesting to ask those who were going to lose their job and found the government their to help their places of work and even invest for their future. Ask them and they will tell you better paying a water and electricity bill than without a job Ask them. Why not go and live say in Greece, Spain, Portugal or even the UK..
Anthony Mizzi
Mar 14th 2010, 10:03
The people are now DOUBTING the Nationalist Party backbench loyalty, especially where their interests, rights, environment , the future, and LOYALTY to the electorate is concerned.
R Spiteri
Mar 14th 2010, 09:33
@ Sur Charles J Buttigieg
Are you sure? Are you really sure?
Make sure you are sure....the track record of Labour on such stories might help you to make sure that what you wrote is the truth.
laurence schembri
Mar 14th 2010, 09:15
The results Mr. Prime Minister is coming out of the taxpayers pockets, let no say any different.
E. Vassallo
Mar 14th 2010, 09:12
@Charles Buttigieg
Red red red wine.......Ahjar tiehu hsieb it-tahwid li qed ihawwad il-kap tieghek. Hemm xi ikla Sur Joseph Muscat ghax nixtieq inkellmek!!!!Lil min irid inkellem????
Joseph Zammit
Mar 14th 2010, 09:09
I definately agree Dr Gonzi. "The reults speak for themselves". They speak very loud in our letterboxes every 2 or 3months..... This "goverment" is against subsidising! BUT!!!! he makes people, directly subsidising his inefficiency. And whats worst, makes it looking like people are expecting to consume but not to pay!
So the energy saving light bulbs sceam was more a scam. For MRI, it makes no sense conuming less because they have no switches to turn OFF when consunption is low. Households now have to pay a higher bill because they consumed less and MRI obviously was reduced!!! Tajjeb hafna, min xi darba qghal "pajjiz tal Mickey Mouse" vera profeta!!!
g.c.Forte
Mar 14th 2010, 09:08
Dear Gonzi............Mr. Piano is going to sign the project, but we the citizens are going to pay for it . And we are going to sacrifice ourselves to pay it, thanks to your hard headed principles. You are going to be remembered, that while the world was passing through a rough financial period, you ignored 70% of your citizens, and wasted more than 100 million euro, in a stupid project, that for the time being can wait. I wish you all the luck, anyway you are using my money, so do not be proud of yourself.
Joseph Camilleri
Mar 14th 2010, 08:58
Dear Prime Minister you should have mentioned the debt the enemalta corporation has and justify why the Delimara Power station has not been paid after more than 10 years.. By the way the opposition did not fail at all but the citizines will suffer
rhuber
Mar 14th 2010, 08:52
That is what’s wrong with you Mr. Prime Minister, you think you know it all and nobody else does. Most of the people of this country do not consent the project as proposed by this Renzo Piano of yours. You are making a farce of our country and yet, even though you know it, you just keep putting your head in the sand. Borg Olivier before ruined the entrance of City Gate way back in the sixties and you are just making an extension to it.
Valletta belongs to us all and you are just a Prime Minister and definitely not a King and so you govern the peoples' wish and not act as a ruler. What you are doing today will be labelled to you personally as a landmark of Monarchy of the PN.
After all let’s face it Dr Gonzi, who needs a new parliament when the PN has turned it into a mockery!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Mar 14th 2010, 08:41
The news that a ‘spin-doctor’ would be helping Gonzi fix the turmoil within the PN has shocked many PN officials not only in the party itself but also within the OPM.
The news was a shock due to the fact that only a few people knew about the matter, so much so that a high official in the PN contacted Gonzi’s office to inquire about it.
An English PR Consultant came to Malta during the same week the PN Parliamentary group met twice. This was not a coincidence.
The first recommendation given to Gonzi before the ‘spin-doctor’ arrived was to his MPs individually and make sure that the local press knew about it. Another recommendation given to Gonzi was to offer his disgruntled backbenchers apprenticeships within various ministries in order to know exactly what they were up to.
This information leak from Castille shocked Gonzi and the few people in the know, as it confirms the leakages at Gonzipn. The PN’s troubles however are not simply private, as many PN members have recently confirmed that there is much disgruntlement in the party, which is leading to serious leakages of information.