Mario Galea blames lapsus on tiredness

Frank Portelli 2BFRANK

May 8th 2010, 17:55

Should the Speaker allow a member of the house to correct his vote ?

Mario Galea was not the first - nor will he be the last MP to cast a vote in error

When this error is brought to the speakers attention the practice is for the Speaker of the House to allow a member of parliament to correct the

Earlier this year highly experienced Speaker Michael Peter Milliken (Canadian Parliament) allowed a number of corrections on the votes on a pro life bill

Motions in Parliament should be decided on the members true intentions not on votes cast in error.






Dr Frank Portelli

Joe Fenech

May 8th 2010, 16:11

The politicians' vote should be anonymous so there will be total freedom and none of this pressure they have to work under. THAT is TRUE democracy! This Big Brother system is in place so that the party leader ensures that his team mates vote in the way that is dictated by him.

MALTA UNDER GONZI IS NOT A DEMOCRACY ANYMORE. He's slumped us back to the Middle ages!

Joe Fenech

May 8th 2010, 16:07

Politicians have to fall in such depths of ridicule and make excuses in order to comply to the leader's wishes!

Colin Micallef

May 8th 2010, 15:21

I get tired too...Can I have my money back that that the IRD stole from me when I so needed to sleep!?

Mariella Galea

May 8th 2010, 09:18

IBKI JA PATRIA!... ghax dawk li jkantaw "SBEJHA PATRIA ULIEDEK AHNA", qed izebilhu lilek, lil uliedek u lil ulied uliedek. IBKU PATRIJOTTI U EROJ MALTIN - ghax dak kollu li iggilidtu ghalieh gie mkisser u mzeblah. ISTHU MALTIN LI TAPPOGJAW LIL MIN HU KAPACI JZEBBLAH L-INTELIGENZA TAGHKOM U TIBQGHU ICCAPCPU

Tyrone Camilleri

May 8th 2010, 09:10

Democracy at its Best! Keep voting and re-voting until the motion turns in your favor!

Ivan Attard

May 8th 2010, 08:57

@ Ingrid Brownrigg

Milli jidher inti ma tiftakarx is-snin sebghin u tmenin meta membri tal-Oppozizzjoni Nazzjonalista kienu jitilghu f'pajjizi Ewropej minn fejn kien ikun gej l-investiment fi Gvern Laburista u kienu jghidu lill-investituri biex ma jigux jinvestu f'pajjizna... Dik responsabbilita'. Nahseb li inti lanqas tiftakar kif fi zmien il-Gvern Laburista tas-sebghinijiet, il-Partit Nazzjonalista fl-Oppozizzjoni kien offra somma kbira ta' flus lid-Deputat Laburista Ghawdxi Anglu Camilleri (min-Nadur) biex jaqsam il-kamra fi zmien meta l-Gvern kellu maggoranza ta' siggu wiehed- haga li Camilleri m'ghamilx! Nahseb li ma tiftakarx lanqas kif fl-1998, in-Nazzjonalisti ghamlu minn kollox u immanipulaw lill-Perit Dom Mintoff biex jivvota kontra l-Gvern ghax qalulu li vot kontra fir-rizoluzzjoni tal-Kottonera ma kienx ser iwaqqa' l-Gvern. Dawn l-affarijiet insejthom Sinjura Brownrigg? Jekk inti dizgustata bil-mod kif qed imexxi l-PL, jien imxebba' ghall-ahhar bil-mod kif qed imexxi l-PN li vot car favur il-mozzjoni ta' Joseph Muscat iddawwar f'vot favur... xi hadd ta xi garanzija bil-miktub li Mario Galea ried jivvota mal-Gvern? Xi hadd halef li ma saritx manipulazzjoni waqt il-hin li l-Ispeaker kien qed jisma' r-recording biex eventwalment, fit-tieni votazzjoni, Galea jivvota man-naha tal-Gvern? Dizgustanti ghall-ahhar... Il-PN ghandu jersaq quddiem l-elettorat ghall-verdett tieghu!!

D. Scerri

May 8th 2010, 07:49

Mario Galea comes from the Zejtun area, a stone's throw away from the proposed power station extention. Maybe the lapsus was due to the fact that subconsciously he wanted to vote yes but had to vote no in line with his party's policy.

Anthony Mizzi

May 8th 2010, 07:14

Maybe Mario Galea is not the only one that is "tired".

Maybe one can also blame "tiredness” on the way Dr Gonzi and his government voted to go ahead with the building of the power station extension, irrespective of the health and future of the tax-paying Maltese.

The Maltese are also getting "tired" of the goings on in the Gonzipn circles and the Gonzipn arrogance acting as if they are the anointed and not the appointed.

norbert spagnol

May 7th 2010, 23:08

could such a delicate vote and all other important votes be taken at an earlier time of the day.

Stella Calleja

May 7th 2010, 21:28

much ado about nothing.

Charles Zammit

May 7th 2010, 21:12

The issues at stake are;
a) the tender process and the risk that the power station extension poses to the inhabitants and
b) the voting taken in parliament in relation to the issue at (a).

Attention should be made not to mix the 2 issues; however related they are. Shifting focus would weaken the case the opposition has been ably putting up against the BWSC power station extension.
There is no doubt that the granting of the BWSC contract is pregnant with shameful aberrations. This however has nothing to do with the voting in parliament as there is no doubt about the voting intentions of the two deputies involved.

Anthony Mizzi

May 7th 2010, 19:47

Lapsus on tiredness or the possibility of a fruedian slip accidentally revealing the truth... a wake up call for Dr. Gonzi?

A person performs a freudian slip to cause a reaction that will ensure a subconciously desired destiny.

P.Pace

May 7th 2010, 18:55

The Leader of the Opposition is keeping the tradition of opposing major projects.

Do readers remember the fuss created by the MLP when the power station was going to be built at Marsaxlokk? Marsaxlokk was doomed!

Readers are asked to go to Marsaxlokk today and see for themselves whether Marsaxlokk is dying or flourishing. Veru inqered?

jscerri

May 7th 2010, 17:47

if you are answering with a yes/no vote you have 1/2 probability of getting it wrong (for whatever reason). This 'lapsus' issue can be solved by offering the voter more answers or choices and not just a yes/no one. For example they might be presented with 10 statements in which 2 of them are the 'yes' i.e. in favour and the 'no' i.e. not in favour and the other 8 statements are 'out of point' statements. Using such a method the 'sleepy' voter has 1/9 probability of choosing the wrong answer. If he chooses an 'out of point' statement he is given the chance to make a correct one. speaker and co. please note...

Ingrid Brownrigg

May 7th 2010, 16:30

Qed jidher dejjem aktar bic-car il-mod ta' kif il-PL ghandu strategija li johloq krizi/instabilita politika fil-pajjiz! Jekk dan hu l-kaz, il-PL qed juri kemm hu partit irresponsabli. F'mumenti ta' diffikultajiet ekonomici u finanzjarji mad-dinja kollha, KULL politiku jekk IHOBB lill-pajjizu ghandu d-dover li jaghmel hiltu sabiex izomm 'il boghod krizi fil-pajjiz. Ghaliex? krizi=instabbilita=anqas investiment=anqas xoghol=anqas flus fl-idejn!!! Ghalhekk KULL politku ghandu r-responsabilta' li jara biex dan ma jsehx.
Jiddispjacini nghid ghal mod irresponsabli u infantili li qed igib ruhu l-PL. Jidher bic-car li kollox hu orkestrat biex igib l-instabilita. F'Malta l-affarijiet huma ferm ahjar minn pajjizi ohra, izda Malta ukoll qed tbati l-konsegwenzi tal-krizi internazzjonali u allura l-PL ghandu JGHIN u mhux itellef f'din is-sitwazzjoni ghal gid tal-pajjiz. Izda b'dizapunt kbir nghid li l-affarijiet mhuxmiex hekk. Jiena ma nistax nifhem dan: hemm problema ta' energija f'Malta u jinqata' d-dawl xi drabi. Tridu ssovuha din il-problema??? Hemm bzonn b'urgenza l-estensjoni tal-PS u allura jiena ma nistax nifhem "l-argument" tal-PL, ghaliex hu kontra?
Li tiehu vot f'xi 1.30am mhux uman! mhux ovja li wiehed ikun ghajjien il-probablita' li jiehu zball ikun akbar! Il-PL qed jaghmel dram minnu dan u m'hemmx ghalfejn! Bhala Maltija inhossni ddisgustata ghall-agir irresponsabli tal-PL!

G Gatt

May 7th 2010, 16:27

Membru tal-Kamra tad-Deputati, li jkollu interess
professjonali, inklu\i konsulenza dwar interessi ta’
xog]ol, tmexxija jew kull g]amla ta’ konnessjoni, sew
finanzjarja jew mod ie]or, ma’ persuni, gruppi jew
kumpanniji li g]andhom interess dirett f’xi
le[islazzjoni li 1-Kamra jkollha quddiemha, g]andu
jiddikjara 1-interess tieg]u fil-Kamra, ma’ l-ewwel
opportunità, qabel ma jittie]ed vot fit-Tieni Qari ta’ 1-
Abbozz;

W. Azzopardi

May 7th 2010, 16:20

@Rodick Mizzi
Jekk fl-elezzjoni generali tinduna li hadt zball tista tirranga l-izball kemm trid billi terga tivvota.

Joe Genovese

May 7th 2010, 15:13

We've had MEP's, on both sides on various occasions, fluffing their votes.

Now this.

Looks like we'll soon be having a Parliament and a Theatre cheek-by-jowl.

On the stage, actors prone to fluffing their lines, have placards in the wings helping them with their lines.

When it comes to voting time, perhaps our M(E)P's should have something....along these lines.

The aids preventing the actor from stumbling through his lines are known as......."Idiot Cards".

When the chips are down in Politics, it never fails to find succour in the World Of Theatre.

Lina Caruana

May 7th 2010, 14:43

If this is so obviously a genuine mistake which resulted fro a genuine feeling of tiredness I have reasons to believe, then it is shameful on the part of parliamentarians not to forgive a very understandable human mistake from a person who is feeling tired at 1.30 in the morning after a full heavy workload during the day. I sincerely believe this was a genuine human mistake, apart from the pressure of a tragedy which hit Mr. Galea in a personal way . Why the fuss about correction if the PL are so sure that they won the vote? Democracy means taking things in Parliament reasonably not passionately for what was after all an expected result. Cool down a bit and remember that with heavy handedness the public will turn once again against you . Mr. Galea is no villian to his party. Do not exagerate.

E Gatt

May 7th 2010, 14:10

The long and healthy debate in this democratic country of ours is finally over. The power station extension is going ahead.


A cancellation of the contract would have resulted in more power cuts – and much more justified grumbling. More grumbling would suit Labour fine as they would capitalise from the higher costs, payment of EU penalties, loss of business and general discomfort.


It looks like the lights are not going out. What shall we start grumbling about now?

joseph mifsud

May 7th 2010, 14:02

ma nafx ghalfejn in nazzjonalisti qed jihduha bil kbira li membri tal l-oppozizjoni hargu il barra mil parlament mela insew fi zmien ta fenech adami kienu amlu zmien ma jidhlux il parlament.iva hekk hemm bzonn jaghmlu l-oppozizjoni ma jidhlux il parlament.ghax li kieku il gvern ta free vote kif il membri tieghu jivvotaw ibqa fi cert li din il mozzjoni ma tghadix.imma go dan il pajjiz ghana bniedem li mhux qed iharres lejn is sahha ta nies imma qed jara biex jibqa mwahhal mal poter.

Muscat Pat

May 7th 2010, 13:50

was he tired with the reponsibility of having to endure the protests of his constituents, when Dr Gonzi.s dirty power station starts beching the noxious dust on Zejtun and environs?

S.Grixti

May 7th 2010, 13:46

Joseph Muscat qabad u telaq il barra mill-parlament qalilna li l-powerstation ta' Delimara hazina imma qatt ma spjegalna li kieku hu x'kien jaghmel. Isemmi hafna pjannijiet u hafna diskors tqil imma qatt ma spjega kif se jorhsu il-kontijiet tad-dawl. Avolja bidlu l-isem minn MLP ghal PL imma fuq il-passi ta' Alfred Sant qed jimxi.

C.camilleri

May 7th 2010, 12:47

Lapsus or not the fact remains that we are burdened with a power plant which is going to be run on heavy fuel oil and showering us with toxic waste.
Regarding the auditor's report, I will only start siding with the government when he demand that all those who did not co-operate with the auditor do so. If not then this government is satisfied with half truths and people suffering from dimensia.
The government shamelessly chose the running costs instead of our health.
Thanks

maria curmi

May 7th 2010, 12:46

why not boycott parliament like eddie did ?

Joseph Arpa

May 7th 2010, 12:43

@ Carmen Bezzina

You have a selective memory...because it is not just Labour who have walked out in the past, come try and remember!!!

john williams

May 7th 2010, 12:42

@ Carmen Bezzina - Where exactly do you live??? would you love this heavy fuel oil power station near your home??? If yes, I totally agree with you!!! I imagine that you agree with the goverment to introduce a power station which within 15 years has to be changed??? As Toniop Fenech said Enemalta choose the cheapest offer.... IMBASTAAAA during the election SAHHA u Edukazzjoni Lewwel u qabel Kollox.

@ Anthony Debono

ismani siehbi, dawn mux tfal ta dawn nies li tellajnihom ahna fil gvern! Plus hekk qed najdu mela dan il gvern jista jirrevedi il vot, u se nzied xihaga... Jien meta kelli exams tijaj kelli lapsus, imma ma stajtx nerga namlu!! mux listess haga tigi. u kien zball wara li amlu ma nafx kemm il sija jiddiskutu!!! come on!! issa jew dal gvern ma rridx jisma min xejn ax jin ekk nohoda li Mario Galea lanqas ta kas bix kellu lapsus ta kif ivvota!!!!

@ Anthony Dimech - jekk oppozizjoni immufata, ha nistaqsik xihaga tahseb il power station heavy fuel oil hija idea tajba?? jek hija idea tajba ala fin 90 azlu power station b Diesel u mux bil heavy fuel oil???? grazzi

Ramon Casha

May 7th 2010, 12:41

Gonzi should publish the names of these five Nationalist MPs. Voters have a right to know who not to vote for.

Mistakes do happen, but this wasn't some mundane vote in which a person might not be attentive. This was a critical vote. When everybody on the seats around you are voting "no" and you're the only one voting "yes", that's not a lapsus. That's a vote condemning the government in the way it handled the Delimara extension contract.

The motion passed.

Maria Grech

May 7th 2010, 12:35

Ma nafx ghalfejn dan il-fuss kollhu fuq zball ta' Mario Galea. Fl-ahhar mill-ahhar hu stess qal li kien zball dak il-hin stess.

Possibli Joseph Muscat huwa daqsekk ghatxan ghal poter li lest jiggranfa anke zball genwin !

Ahjar toffri l-alternattivi milli dawn il-kummidji jekk tixtieq tkun Prim Ministru ta' 39 !!

Alfred Vella

May 7th 2010, 12:32

normally i resist in commenting on political articles but yesterday's accidents in parliament must be condemned.

Joseph Muscat tries to convince is us that he is better than Lawrence Gonzi by shouting, swearing and walking out of parliament.

I invite everyone to listen to yesterday’s debate which can be obtained from Parliament’s website.

Labour MPs should be ashamed of themselves !

T.Cauchi

May 7th 2010, 12:25

Din hija gurnat ta' dieqa ghal pajjiz, tara lill parlamentari jaqghu ghaz-zufjett u l-pajjiz ikompli jitlef l-integrita tieghu quddiem id-dinja!! Nemmen li din m'hijiex loghoba futbol li tista tintrebah b' awtogowl, jekk sar zball irid jigi trangat bi dritt, ma kienx hmm lok ta pudina! Ma tistax tissuppervja, tqum u titlaq. Hija umiljanti ghal MP li ghandu ftit ta' dinjita! Imma f'giegh Alla, in-nazzjonalisti kollha qablu li din il mossa hija mossa tajba ghal pajjiz? Kollha jemmnu li ma nistghux naghmlu akkwist ahjar? kollha jemmnu li l-oppozizzjoni qeghda tparla fil vojt? kollha tkellmu ghall-interess tal poplu, bhal ma weghdu meta inaghataw il kariga taghhom, jew inkella ivvutaw hekk ghaliex ivvutaw bil biza' (jew ghax komdu is-siggu)? il vot tilef is sahha tieghu fil pajjiz? U ta' l-ahhar, huwa sew li kumpanija li ser tithallas bi flus il- poplu ma taghtix permess lil Prim Ministru jippublika il kuntratt li sar mahha ghal beneficju tad dubju, li tant qajjem polemika u li kull min jaqbillu qieghed jichad? ISTHI MALTA B'ULIEDEK, ISTHI U IBKI! P.S. Grazzi PN talli uzajtu il vot tieghi b'mod genwin u bil-ghaqal!!

John Debattista

May 7th 2010, 12:24

@ Carmel Bezzina,

Mela insejt meta tal PN Hargu mill Parlament u Damu mar regaw DAHLU.
Dik Demokrazija li Hawn fil Pajjiz Sur Bezzina........
Il bierah Oxxenita Kbira saret fuq id Demokrazija Tal dan Il Pajjiz MISKIN !!!!!!!!

R. Caruana

May 7th 2010, 12:23

Dr Muscat conveniently forgets that his MEPs have more than once made a 'mistake' during ciritical votes for Malta in the European Parliament. All his MEPs have, at one time or another, corrected their vote when all hell was raised locally due to the way they voted, most of the time against Malta's interests.

Roberta Fenech

May 7th 2010, 12:20

I'm feeling utterly disgusted reading your comments. We should be shameful, because we have a dictatorship., governing our country. This was an issue of national interest our health is in the middle of this debate.

If Dr. Galea, was so tired he should have left. Aren't you all ashamed of yourselfs, weren't the other MP's tired. But only one took this silly mistake. Be bold be brave say the truth for once in your lives

C Barbara

May 7th 2010, 12:20

You know who are the thugs? The thugs are those who want to throw more rubbish in the south of Malta. We are citizens with equal rights as much of those in the rest of the island. Our children have a right to breathe fresh air, inasmuch as anybody else.

Why don't you build the power station in the middle of Sliema if you are so sure it is so clean?
Why doesn't the PN call an election now? - "halli mbaghad naraw kemm fadlilna naqdfu siehbi!"

g. scerri

May 7th 2010, 12:19

In this case of conflict of interest (and we know how that works locally) perhaps the question to ask is this: Should Parliamentary Assistants, who on top of their salary as MPs now also enjoy some extra remuneration, be eligible for employment in the private sector? After all they are privy to a lot that goes on in the Ministry to which they have been assigned.

Joseph Aquilina

May 7th 2010, 12:19

Personally I do not give a dam how Mario Galea voted. We have a very childish type of democracy and therefore I was never expecting anyone from PN to vote against the Government (unless ... ).

That said, if I was a PN supporter (which admittedly tend to be) I would stop short from crying out victory. The people (including me) still feel that the contract is bad. As much as I remember Gonzi in the last election promised a future for me and my children. I can not see how a power station which generates so much waste is any good for my children. It is true that we need electric power to keep the country going forward. However we elect people with brains to theoretically take good decisions for us rather then just take "the cheapest solution by far". If the government had 60 million (if not more) for a stupid project such as the city gate project then I expect such a government to also find money for what really effects us all (and not just the very few of us).

Roderick Mizzi

May 7th 2010, 12:17

Igifieri jekk jkun hawn xi elezzjoni generali u tintrebah b'vot wiehed biss u niddikjara li hadt zball fil-vot tieghi ghax inkun ivvutajt wara gurnata xoghol u inkun ghajjien, ittuni dritt li nibdel l-vot? Heq jekk ma thallunix nibdlu tkunu qed tiehu vantagg minn zball genwin li nkun hadt peress li kont ghajjien hux :)

Miriam Borg Galea

May 7th 2010, 12:09

@ Carmen Bezzina
I prefer MP's who, as you say, behave like thugs rather than MP's who don't have the guts to vote against the Power Station contract that is shameful, riddled with opportunities for corruption and ABOVE ALL ELSE will result in a harmful environment - to me, you and all out children. Shame on all blinkered PN die-hards like you who just cannot see the light.

joanna farrugia

May 7th 2010, 12:06

lil dawk kollha nazzjonalisti li qed iddawwaru l qassatat taghhom fuq il pl.ghala ma tmorrux sal pjazza tal vatikan timlewha zgur bil qdusija.gejjin biz zmienijiet il koroh.passat biss issemmu az prezent vojt.daqs lil kieku ma ghamel xejn fil passat il pn.mela nsejtu issemmu zmien is 60.ara dak ma t'ghiduhx.issa taf xi jmiss issir il kontijiet tas sahha nibghatu lilkom umbghad naraw minn zbalja.u halluna u tkellmu fuq t'issa pls

J Brincat

May 7th 2010, 12:04

Yesterday shows that we now have a new meaning to the phrase 'conflict of interest' - the Maltese way of course!

So all the ramblings and foot stamping by some backbenchers on Government's side were done to attract some attention. It is very evident that it had the desired effect as they got what they wanted.

P. Schembri

May 7th 2010, 12:02

All those PN apologists who're doing their utmost to point their fingers on the opposition, should think again. For every finger pointing at the opposition, there are 3 pointing back. Are you all suffering from amnesia? Have you forgotten the farcical parliament of the 80's when the PN boycotted, and marched more than once out of Parliament? Who made mockery of Parliament then? You call Dom Mintoff a dictator. It was through his will that the PN were co-opted back in Parliament. He didn't want to govern without an opposition. Now history is repeating itself. The PN is making a mockery of our institution. The PL did right to march out of Parliament. Once the vote was taken, that's it, lapsus or no lapsus! Or you have conveniently forget Dr. Francis' Agius lapsus too? It was clear that Mario Galea say YES and no use arguing that Justyne saId NO. She clearly can be heard saying YES!

Lawrence Attard

May 7th 2010, 12:01

I was listening the parlament debate.

There is no way MP JustyneCaruana could have been misinterpreted! She cast her vote before MP Mario Galea, there was no commotion going on, so the recording must be clear. I was astonished by the promptness NP MPs manipulated the highest insitituition in the country.

Calling a recast of votes is a way of manipulating evidence. how come they did not think that this was a boomerang on them? In all this story, the speaker is the person who lost most. He was just a card in the hands of his ex-mates. I don't think that Dr.Galea would have accepted interference from the NP....Then maybe it explains why he is no longer in Malta....(again, manipulation)....

I can understand that an MP can make a mistake, but the reaction from his fellow MPs instigated him to change the vote....Especially after he knew his vote would surely not count as by the time all LP MPs were gone.

If politically, PN can get out of this, or better still, put a heavy shadow on LP through their media linkages as they are doing, then i understand how come the nationalists have been 22 years in office.

Olina Tretyak

May 7th 2010, 12:01

I can understand the Labour reaction.

What if an accused or his lawyer in Criminal Court would admit the crime by saying YES and after heavy sentence would announce that it was a geniune mistake, he actually meant to say NO...
Would Magistrate say that actually he did not hear well...?

Labours took it that deal is sealed.

On the other hand, being MP is a stressful task and one needs to have good health and sharp concentration, to avoid genuine mistakes.

Please, all MP, take some vitamins, make sure that you say what you mean, and who gets tired get retired!

simon galea

May 7th 2010, 11:57

Can Mr.Mario Galea and Mr.Charlo Bonnici speak for themselves? Instead of hearing it from the horse's mouth, the Prime Minister took the initiative to speak on behalf of Mr.Galea let alone how free are MPs (on both sides) to vote according to their conscious!

Joseph Borg

May 7th 2010, 11:55

Id-demokrazzija f'Malta... RIP 6 ta' Mejju 2010.

Mela ivvota l-onorveli...taqbel mal-mozzjoni li tikkundana l-gvern?:

MP: "IVA!"

SPK: IVA?!!? zgur? imma certa? ahsiba daqsxejn ohra.....imma tridx niehdu votazzjoni ohra?! 1,2,3 ..ghalqu il-bieb...issa kulhadd jaqbel...yepee ghaddiet taghna! phewww....nistghu nikkonkludu.....

Anthony Farrugia

May 7th 2010, 11:49

Nahseb l-iktar wiehed illi ghandu japprezza li deputat jista jiehu zball u jikkoregi l-izball tieghu huwa Joseph Muscat li jiftahar tant bil-parlament ewropew.

Fil-Parlament Ewropew, deputat jista jibdel il-vot tieghu u jirregistra li ha zball....ma jkunx hemm dan it-tijatrin ta' Kap tal-Oppozizzjoni li jqum u jghieghel lil Membri tal-Oppozizzjoni jitilqu l-barra fost ghajjat u kliem baxx..

Marc Sant

May 7th 2010, 11:48

poor fellow he was tired....mur gibu jahdem fil gebel lis sur galea!!!!!! u hallina!!!!!!

J Spiteri

May 7th 2010, 11:47

The "YES" was not caused by tiredness but it was an instinctively reasoned "YES" as, coming from the south, Mario Galea knows exactly that the opposition is right on this issue!!

@Byron Camilleri
Good point raised!!! If Mario Galea himslef knows EXACTLYand confirmed that he said "YES", why was there the need to hear any recordings?????

For the PN to go aginst the Auditor General's report is anothe nail in its coffin ....

Nathalie Gilford

May 7th 2010, 11:47

I ask, what would have been the PN reaction if the voting motion was the other way round? Would the PN not do the same? If not, we would very much like to know how they would have tackled the situation.

Carmen Bezzina

May 7th 2010, 11:43

What happened yesterday it's shameful. We elect MPs to represent us in parliament not to walk out and behave like thugs which makes you remember of the past.

Yesterday's shouting and swearing is typical of labour which we were made to believe that has changed.

Vince Tonna

May 7th 2010, 11:41

Mhux ahjar li kieku kull seduta parlamentari tkun murija lilna c-cittadini fuq it-televizjoni biex inkunu nafu min huma dawk il-membri parlamentari li verament qed jattendu s-sezzjonijiet tal-parlament u jaghtu kontribut siewi lil pajjiz milli jibqghu d-dar jew jaghmlu xoghol iehor?

m azzopardi

May 7th 2010, 11:37

I agree that we urgently need a power station but I definitely don't agree that it should work with Heavy Fuel oil !!!

This is a national issue not a poltical issue becuase our health is involved!!

Anthony Debono

May 7th 2010, 11:36

Joseph Muscat juza lil kulhadd kif jaqbillu din mhux l-ewwel darba...ghamel l-istess bhal dan iz-zmien sena b'louis refalo t'ghawdex li approfitta minn cirkustanzi ta' sahha ghal vantagg tieghu.

Il-bierah Joseph Muscat ghamel l-istess, approfitta minn Mario Galea li kien ghajjien u ghamel zball genwin.

Anthony Dimech

May 7th 2010, 11:31

il-veru ghandna sahta kbira f'dal-pajjiz. M'ghandniex opposizzjoni denja li ghada pitghada tmexxi l-pajjiz. It-tir tal-oppozizzjoni ma kienx li ma jinbeniex il-power station imma li tirrikatta lill-Membri Parlamentari tal-Gvern biex ma jivvuttawx mal-Gvern taghhom stess. Dan huwa tradiment kemm tal-MLP kif ukoll tal-GWU li vot fil-parlament qed jittraducuh bhala fiducja jew sfiducja f'xi awtorita' skond lil min tmiss. Partit tal-Oppozizzjoni ghajjien immuffat u bla ideat moderni u progressivi. Biex indahhlu l-lifgha f'kommitna bhad-divorzju u drittijiet ghal-innaturali tajbin ghal xejn iktar. Ma niskantax jew tkissrux xi bankijiet tal-onorevoli membri laburisti bhalma kien gara fi zmien KMB.

Gianninu Saliba

May 7th 2010, 11:25

1956 - Mintoff claims that Labour won the Integration referendum and that Integration was in the bag. 1964 - Mintoff claims that the PN lost the Independence referendum. 2003 - Sant claims that the PN lost the EU membership referendum and that "Zvizzera fil-Mediterran rebhet". 2008 - Labour claimed that they won the general elections. 2010 - Muscat claims that Labour won the the Parliamentary vote on their motion regarding the power station extension. 2013 - Joseph Muscat will claim tht they won the general elections and all they will do is regain their seats in the Opposition benches. They deserve nothing better.

MAry Abela

May 7th 2010, 11:23

Nixtieq nuri s-simpatija tieghi ma Mario Galea ghal dak li gara l-bierah. Kien ovju li hu zball genwin.

Kieku Mario Galea ried jivvota mal-oppozizzjoni kien jaghmel dikjarazzjoni tal-vot u jghid ghaliex qed jivvota hekk. Tant hu hekk li hekk kif ivvota u nduna li ghamel zball mill-ewwel talab li jikkoregi l-vot tieghu.

J.Borg

May 7th 2010, 11:21

It's useless hiding behind the bush regards conflict of interests.

Yes for me Charlo Bonnici has a conflict of interest........the statement that Caremalta isn't mentioned in the report doesn't hold....since his superiors are Mr.Tranter and Mr.Vassallo and both are involved.

Also dear Dr.Gonzi..... if as you say Mr.Galdes has a conflict of interest with regards MEPA why hasn't this brought forward and it is only now that mention it.

Byron Camilleri

May 7th 2010, 11:19

So one hand Dr. Gonzi is saying that Mario Galea actually voted yes, and on the other hand the speaker claiming that he didn't hear him... while the recording wasn't clear.

Who should we believe?

Carmela Borg

May 7th 2010, 11:19

What happened yersterday in parliament made me confirm that Labour never changes.

Spinning a genuine mistake in vote in favour of the motion was a desperate move Dr. Muscat !

Olina Tretyak

May 7th 2010, 11:17

To be MP one must be physically fit and have umbrella with him in case of flying eggs.

mario gellel

May 7th 2010, 11:13

AA DAY OF SHAME TO REMEMBER. A GOVERMENT THAT IS GIVING SIGN OF A DICTATOR.
IN OTHER WORDS, A MALTESE MUGABE
THE LP SHOULD RAISE HIS VOICE IN THE EU PARLAMENT,AND BOYCOTT OUR PARLAMENT.

"That the Opposition is insisting it won a vote because of somebody's genuine mistake is ridiculous and unheard of," Dr Gonzi said.
"When the sitting resumed, the Speaker said the recording was not clear and in terms of standing orders, since doubts still existed, he was calling a re-vote."
WHO TO BELEAVE OR TRUST?? SHAME AND DISGUSTING.

Alex Camilleri

May 7th 2010, 11:06

Nahseb kulhadd jirrikonoxxi li hekk bniedem jaghmel zball ghandu kull dritt jikkoregih. Jekk anke dan mhux possibli kieku jien Joseph Muscat qas irrid li mozzjoni tieghi tghaddi minhabba zball genwin.

Kieku Joseph Muscat ma kien naive fil-politika kien iqum, jitlob hu li jerga jittiehed il-vot u mhux jitlaq il-barra.

Joseph Muscat it-triq tidher li twila u baqalek x'taqdef...il-bierah urejt kemm l-interess tieghek mhux il-powerstation imma s-superficjalita...issa iktar qed nifhem ghaliex xtaqt illi tkun imxandra fuq it-Television !!!

Russell Fenech

May 7th 2010, 11:04

Dr Gonzi said no conflict of interest existed (sic)



You said it all in your article. Any other comments would be superfluous.

Joseph Cassar

May 7th 2010, 11:02

Il-bierah kont qed insegwi d-didattitu minn fuq ir-radju u t-televizjoni u kont skandalizzat mill-mod kif agixxa Joseph Muscat.

Meta smajt l-istorbju li kien hemm fil-kamra l-bierah ftakart fi zminijiet tant koroh li ghadda minnhom pajjizna. Tara l-filmati ta' Joseph Muscat hiereg mill-Parlament kien jixhed illi dawn in-nies ghadhom l-istess...mhux biss l-ucuh li hemm fil-Grupp Parlamentari Laburista imma l-mod kif jagixxu...

Pajjizna ma jixraqlux hekk

A Buhagiar

May 7th 2010, 10:55

Huwa tal-misthija kif il-Partit Laburista qed idawwar zball genwin ta' Mario Galea b'dan il-mod.

Kieku Mario Galea ried jivvota favur il-mozzjoni kien jaghmel hekk anke t-tieni darba !!

U biex ikompli juri kemm hu mohhu biss fit-teatrin telaq il-barra u gieghel lil membri kollha tal-Labour johorgu...flok qaghad jistenna r-ruling tal-ispeaker. Dr. Muscat ma jirripettax l-istituzzjonijiet ahseb u ara kemm jirrispetta lilna...

Shame on you !

Joseph Cauchi

May 7th 2010, 10:55

When is this puerile system of voting in parliament going to be done over with and replaced by a more logical system by writing one’s vote on a ballot paper; like we all do during elections?

When we vote in elections, we can always change and rectify our vote if we have any doubt of any error in our voting; therefore why not in our highest institution?

Thus all misunderstandings, interpretations and all the ‘LAPSUSES” would be avoided once and for all.

It is a disgrace for our highest institution, i.e. Parliament to be denigrated in such a manner as was witnessed yesterday.

I am utterly ashamed by the disgusting behaviour of some of our Honourable Gentlemen (sic)!

We the People deserve better!

JC.

John Ebejer

May 7th 2010, 10:54

I happen to know Mario personally and can vouch that he has been in better health than he is now.