Genuine mistakes and dirty tricks (1)
Recent events in Parliament makes one realise how important the seat of power is for those holding it. I was not one of those who stayed up all night to listen to the radio to witness how Thursday week's vote would go.
Ultimately it was not a vote of no confidence in the current Administration. So I just followed the story, like everyone else, through TV news and newspapers. What struck me most is not the allegedly mistaken vote of MP Mario Galea. Everyone makes genuine mistakes. If he should be allowed to correct it is another story. I know of no warden who lets me correct my genuine mistakes.
What really and genuinely shocks me is how Nationalist MP Tonio Borg managed to twist facts about Justyne Caruana so coolly. The lack of any Nationalist emotions right after she voted is assurance enough that there wasn't any doubt about how her vote went. But the cold bloodedness of the blatant twisting of facts that happened afterwards brings only awe to most of us.
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G.Schembri
May 14th 2010, 22:36
Unlike you I stayed late to listen to the vote, since the power station issue i nterest me, and I was following the UK general election as well. My family and I were commenting how unclear some of the MPs were. Then Justyne Caruana practically shouted "Iva" I actually commented (not very favourably) about how loud the girl from Gozo was.
Imagine my surprise when Tonio Borg said that she had voted "No", I said that's stupid if he wanted to lie he should have picked on someone else not on the person who was nearly the clearest on record. I was sure Mr Speaker was going to find it easy to say this was a downright lie. To add insult to injury the next day I heard Dolores Christina (who until that day I respected) saying the same thing.
Live Justyne was much clearer that the recording we are hearing now, it's a pity I was not recording it, since I was going to keep a recording for when the MPs start asking us for our votes.
Godfrey Gatt
May 14th 2010, 17:04
Well said, Ms Falzon. The arrogance and intransingence of this government in or outside Parliament is evident on a regular basis. And this with just a majority of 1643 votes translated in a mere extra seat in Parliament. They think they are always right, treat the opposition with disdain and take the rest of the population for granted. Just imagine what they would do if this government had a ten seat majority. Well, the answer comes easily. They would BULLDOZE everybody!
Marcel Dingli
May 14th 2010, 21:22
1643 more votes than labour. not a majority of 1643 votes please.
Eric Psaila
May 14th 2010, 12:18
@Marija Falzon
Don't worry Ms Falzon. This incident only exposed even more what the PN face really is. I am sure that come election time they will be voted out. They are lucky to be still there. What PN fails to understand is that their majority is so slim that it would only takes a few more of these incidents to make the undecided voter of the last election to vote labour.
Lina Caruana
May 14th 2010, 12:08
To be fair what appeared as cold blooded was a combination of events presented by one Deputy leader in a rational manner, even if it had to be verified.I meant to be up all night to listen but unfortunately after a long day I dozed off. I was woken up by the commotion and it was very hard to hear clearly each and everyone's answer especially as they were made by alphabetical order. The loudest and clearest was the yes of the Hon Galea but further on it was a confusion of commotion. Why not say this was a storm in a teacup and a deplorable way to carry out proceedings in Parliament. The most important fact remains that trying to clutch at everything for power is not what the people want irrespective of partisan politics. Sadly partisan politics is obliterating rational and effective proceedings with consequences.
G.Schembri
May 14th 2010, 22:43
Unlike you I stayed late to listen to the vote, since the power station issue interest me, Justyn's "Yes" came much earlier than Mario Galea. It was a very loud and clear "IVA"
The worst part of all this is the downright lies said by people who are supposed to know better.
Carmen Saliba
May 14th 2010, 11:54
As usual the media in this country manipulate the facts in favor of the present govt, that’s why the opposition always takes the main trust of criticism.
The irony is those same chores of people are brain washed and they evaluate with their political point and their own interest. They don’t view what real concern our society in daily life such as health, accountability, and democracy
anthony Bugeja
May 14th 2010, 11:31
I take it you were there Ms Falzon to speak so confidently on what actually happened.
laurence schembri
May 14th 2010, 11:14
Do they know any better?
d.attard
May 14th 2010, 10:20
Indeed. The least that we expected from Government was commitment to address the long list of apparent irregularities that led to a poor decision that seems to impact negatively on our health.
Instead, we obtained a feeling that government was itself the lead defender of all that went on that ended in a solution that rather than producing a tried and tested one as originally and sensibly requested, through a series of mindboggling twists and turns we ended up with a prototype.
As if this were not enough egg on the face, Goverment went out of its way to defend an irrelevant vote in parliament through what appeared to be disloyal means.
It is now time to insist on a commitment to solid determined corrective measures.
The first signs are not good. The usual chorus of voices have come out to create one big smoke screen through the usual attacks on opposition (it is amazing, i know of no country where the main trust of critisism is actually addressed at opposition and not at the ruling Goverment).
This is a time where we need to rise well above our usual pitches in the long-term interests of us all.
Please choose the reason of your report below: