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Sunday, January 23, 2011, 09:23

Backbencher didn’t force U-turn – PM

Backbencher Jean Pierre Farrugia did not force the reversal of a controversial salary increase given to MPs, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi tells The Sunday Times in an interview today.

“It had nothing to do with any condition set by Jean Pierre. I came to the decision logically, fairly and responsibly,” Dr Gonzi says.

The interview was carried out last Thursday, a day after he ordered ministers to refund about 19,000 euros each and postponed any raises to MPs until further discussion.

In a wide-ranging interview with Herman Grech, the Prime Minister acknowledges his government needed to explain more to the public to get its message across, citing the primary health care reform as an example.

Speaking about divorce, Dr Gonzi says it was his wish that a referendum would seal the issue before the end of the year. But despite making his objections to the introduction of divorce clear, he insists he would leave the Nationalist Party’s executive free to take its decision.

“After 23 years in politics I have a track record of distinguishing between my faith, which I treasure, and my responsibility as a person contributing to politics,” he says.

Watch excerpts of the interview by clicking the link above. Read the entire interview in today’s edition of The Sunday Times.

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Peter Korsten

Jan 24th 2011, 22:17

If the Maltese government is to be an example for the rest of Europe, first thing I'll do is move back to the Netherlands, get a cushy job with the Dutch government, and from the proceeds buy a nice little place in Madliena.

A. Micallef

Jan 24th 2011, 07:52

Experts like the ones:
* Who bought the Avro planes for Air Malta.
* Those who drove Air Malta into bankruptcy.
* Those who sold the country s assets for peanuts.
* Mepa who issued and approved illegal permits and
ruined the environment in Malta so the friends of
friends became millioners in a short time.
AND SO MANY MORE MISTAKES BY THESE SO CALLED EXPERTS
AND CONSULTANTS WHO RECEIVED EXHORBITANT SALARIES
AND BENEFITS FOR MAKING THIS MESS AT THE COST OF THE TAXPAYER.

May I ask who the real experts are ?????????????? Il-popolin ghandhu mohh wkoll
u jaf ikejjel sewwa u bil-qies ghaliex finalment huwa qighed ihallas.




David Caruana

Jan 23rd 2011, 19:47

Le, la għandi commission, la jien ittesserat, la qatt kont event tagħhom u qatt qabel ma vvutajt AD.

Imma la semmejt il-commission, kxift x'tip ta' bniedem int. Kun af li mhux kulħadd jaġixxi biss għall-interessi personali tiegħu.

Nerġa nirrepeti - għandi fiduċja fil-koalizzjoni iktar milli għandi fil-partit tal-AD. Inzerta biss li l-AD huma l-uniku partit li jixraqlu dak il-post.

Xbajt nara lill-partit hekk imsejjħa "kbar" jilgħabu bil-poplu Malti, u minflok, il-poplu joħroġ ixejjer il-bandiera tal-maduma jew tat-torċa.

Le m'hemm l-ebda commission li ġġegħelni nitkellem hekk, iżda biss xewqa li nara lil pajjiżi jimxi l-quddiem.

David Caruana

Jan 23rd 2011, 19:58

Couldn't have said it in better words!

john vella

Jan 24th 2011, 12:27

@Paul Xuereb
... ... ... u xhandu xjaqsam! man.
Obama is an excellent orator and having all odds against him, managed with his oratory ability to became President. STOP
While the other one was hand picked by EFA so he became president and we ended with a kanna.

james grech

Jan 23rd 2011, 16:56

I think that at this stage Mr Pace, there is no need of being offensive just because you cannot come up with further excuses to justify your PM's behaviour. What you call the "kid from the fields" is a respected, consistent, integral member of parliament, something which your PM lacks. So unless you have further sensible comments pls refrain from commenting further. You're not doing a good PR service for your party either.

Mike Magri

Jan 24th 2011, 17:02

@...Frank Pace.. First of all, you accused me of being `feeble`(!!!) and having an `Ego`(!!!) in my contribution...Haaa.Haaa.. But i am sure that when you wrote this comment, you must have been looking at a mirror right...!! Secondly, you must be Extremely Ashamed of yourself, for trying to, (unsuccessfuly i say), `undermine` Dr. Joseph Muscat abilities for being a farmer`s son..!! Yes Frank, on the contrary.. That`s why Joseph is such a Good and Honest Young Leader, becuase like almost ALL of us, he comes from the lower / middle part of the `Social Ladder`.. Thus he not only knows and feels the hardships of the pensioners / working class etc.., but also can stand hard protecting them through social justice. Do you see anything wrong there too Frank....!!??!!?? Conclusion: BE A MAN FRANK AND APOLOGISE TO DR. MUSCAT...

axuereb

Jan 23rd 2011, 14:51

Until then, Joe watch and learn!!!!!! pero mhux lil Wenzu ta, ghax ma titghallem xejn sew zgur!

james grech

Jan 23rd 2011, 14:01

Jghidu li "Il-hmar taqtalu denbu hmar jibqa", or something similar. Mr Pace, you are obviously free to choose to vote as you please. However, you should not take this issue lightly. Even though there is still time, cause this government's crave for power is immense and will never feel obliged to renounce to this, no matter what. The issue of casting a vote in favour of your party just because you've been voting like that for years on end, should not make you loose focus on what is at stake here. We have ALL become used to this Prime Minister's way of manipulating words and statements, depending on the situation. Once he was heard saying "tiggudikawniex fuq dak li nghidu, imma fuq dak li naghamlu". And what has he done? He has lost control over his own party and all decision making. He has no notion of what the words priority, transparency, integrity and accountability mean. We, have to learn to say NO to such politicians and to send a strong message. They have been chosen by us to represent us and to push our needs and those of the country forward. This is not the way to go.

Marisa Cachia

Jan 23rd 2011, 14:37

to err is human, to persist is diabolical

stephen barbaro sant

Jan 23rd 2011, 11:27

Jien niskanta kemm intom tal pn tinsew malajr, mela halli infakkrek ftit min wieghed "l-ilma jizfen u b`xejn", tiftakar il-weghda tat tabib b`xejn ghall kullhadd?, il-paga lill mara li toqghod id-dar? Pagi u beneficcji bhall dawk ta pajjizi ewropej hekk kif nidhlu fl-eu, kif ukoll prezzijiet irhas? L-ambjent ser jiffjorixxi qalulna bil-migja ta malta fl-eu u l-standards ser jgholew. L-Airmalta suppost kellha taghmel success kbir fl-eu permezz tal fifth freedom rights, qabel l-elezzjonji il-pm qalilna li l-airmalta issuperat il-problemi, illum falliet. L-isbah wahda imma hija it tnaqqis ta l-income tax fl-ewwel budget ta wara l-elezzjoni. Ilma jizfen u illuzjonijiet tal pn. Jekk tridni nibqa infakkrek nista nibqa nikteb il-gurnata kollha, u jekk trid infakkrek kif il-partit laburista hareg lill malta mill faqar fis sebghinijiet nista nibqa nikteb gimgha. Hemm il-kapacita meta twettaq hafna bi ftit flus, mhux tberbaq u tiddejjen bl-addocc biex tidher sabieh ma l-elettorat.

Manuel Micallef

Jan 23rd 2011, 11:29

@ j Galea

PL is not pormising free gas, thousands of jobs etc.... I never heard Joseph Muscat... it is you who is sayign this. What PL will not do though is promise to cut the income tax, and then don't do it, like Gonzi did. That was a specific promise,which he said would implment in his first year and he did not!!

David Caruana

Jan 23rd 2011, 11:43

Ma tivvotax? U taħli l-unika ċans li għandek sabiex tagħmel tassew bidla?

Apparti l-PNPL hemm alternattiva:

http://www.alternattiva.org.mt/page.asp?p=5882&l=1

David Gatt

Jan 23rd 2011, 11:49

int bis-serjeta? ghadek tippromwovi dil-propoganda rhisa tan net tv? mhux ovvja li ma jistax ikollna kollox b'xejn? pero jista jkollna gvern serju li ma jgaghlniex nhallsu aktar al inkompetenza tieghu, ma joqodx jghidlina li gejjin l kurrenti minn barra u li qed joghla z zejt umbad jaghti rigal ta mijiet ta euro lilu nnifsu fil gimgha. em bzonn bidlu minn dal-gvern bla idejat.

v mercieca

Jan 23rd 2011, 17:08

@jgalea
It is impossible to reason with people like yourself, irrespective of which party they support. In my opinion you have thick blinkers and whatever the party or any party official does, you accept it with blind eyes. Gonzi even admitted that the honoraria paid to himself and his cabinet was paid from “allowances” as he did not have the courage to declare it in the budget. That is pure cheating us the public and all the members of parliament (including PN members).

Ibellalek ir-ross bil-labra w tibqa temnu? Jekk iva, miskin int u nithasrek.

You suggested that I should not vote. Well if I will not vote, the mathematics would favour the PN for sure and I don’t intend to do that till Gonzi remains leader.
If you are a PN delegate, than I suggest that you won’t repeat the same mistake that the PL delegates did when they re-elected Dr Sant and lost the election. Go and vote for some new leader that has the support of the people (if there are any left in the party).

Matthew Grima

Jan 24th 2011, 09:46

I'm sorry... I don't find that funny at all.

G.Schembri

Jan 23rd 2011, 11:09

Your deciscion to vote or not depends on how strongly you feel about a change of government.
If you strongly believe that PN needs to be sent to the opposition, at least for the next 5 years, you should vote for PL, if you want PN to remain in power than vote PN. If you don't care one way or another, than stay at home or vote AD. If you stay at home you will only be letting others decide for you, others who might be living in other countries and only come to vote to get a cheap holiday to Malta, and who don't care who governs Malta as long as every five years they get that holiday.

David Caruana

Jan 23rd 2011, 11:56

@ G.Schembri

"If you don't care one way or another ... vote AD"

You can't even imagine how wrong you are.

In reality, if you don't care, then vote for the duopoly - vote PNPL

If you don't care to leave your comfort zone, your partisan upbringing, and start thinking for yourself, then vote for the status quo - vote PNPL

On the other hand, if you really want change, vote for the third party in parliament - vote AD

http://www.alternattiva.org.mt/page.asp?p=5882&l=1

gcForte

Jan 23rd 2011, 11:56

@ MARGARET RICHARDS......Sometimes your argument comes to my mind . I feel and wish that someday we the citizens should give a lesson to these politicians that 90 to 95 % voters who participate and vote at the general elections are NOT guaranteed. We came to a situation that the role of politician is not that to serve the country and its citizens, but to gain an excellent financial package( especially now ).I came to this conclusion because, and I ask... Why after the hard long years studying and go through hell to achieve the diplomas and qualifications from university and will become a Doctor, Lawyer, Notary, Architect, ect ect,then they throw away all this to become the " town politician ". For me it is hard to believe that they leave their offices and their family business to become a politician to serve just the country. I am referring to those who will be promoted to ministers. I always compare Malta like our lord Jusus.........HE was crucify between two thieves, one a good thief, and the other a bad thief. I leave it to you to chose, which is which.

G.Schembri

Jan 23rd 2011, 12:57

@ David Caruana - I'm afraid to say that with the present situation a vote for AD is nothing more than a protest vote. In the last election AD polled 3810 first votes - while the difference between PN and MLP was just 1580 votes. Had things been fair the extra MP should have gone to AD, but of course PN took it. This showed that voters who prefer AD to the other two parties were not considered. Had things been different and AD given the extra MP many injustices performed by the present government would not have passed through parliament. Things being as they are a vote for AD cannot be considered anything but a protest vote, and if things remain as in the last election only a vote for PL will give us what we deserve - A change in government!

David Caruana

Jan 23rd 2011, 13:37

@ G.Schembri:

I understand you perfectly, but what guarantee do you have that PL ruling by itself won't be more of the same? To be honest, more than AD, I support the idea of a coalition government - having a seat of a different colour on the government benches, which should keep the others in check. Can you imagine if Jean Pierre Farrugia or Franco Debono or JPO held no allegiance to GonziPN? Wouldn't they have been more outspoken and direct, hadn't they had to toe the party line?

I'd like to remind you that a hung parliament and a coalition government were quite unusual for Australia and the United Kingdom, but it did happen in their last elections. Malta wasn't that far either in the 2008 elections.

Remember that you can vote #1 AD and #2 to your next favourite party.

P.S. It will be my first time voting for AD as well. Read their proposals, follow what they say, then decide:

http://www.alternattiva.org.mt/page.asp?p=5882&l=1

G.Schembri

Jan 23rd 2011, 16:32

@ David Cauana giving 1 to AD would only be throwing your vote away- you must remember that to elect a government only no 1 votes count. The Costitution says that the party with the majority of No 1 votes rules. In the 2008 election MLP had more MPs than PN but since PN had more No 1 votes they added more MPs to end up governing.
I might decide to vote No 2 AD but if things remain as they are now my No 1 will definately go to PL anything is better than the arrogance of the present government.

David Caruana

Jan 23rd 2011, 19:55

Then I will gladly "throw it away". Both "big" parties do not deserve the effort of going to the ballot booth - if there weren't any other parties, I would simply not vote, just like I did numerous times in the past.

A. Mizzi

Jan 23rd 2011, 10:31

Especially with John Dalli round the corner.....

c. Borg

Jan 23rd 2011, 10:55

Yes Mr. Portelli, this great man should now do another important U-turn and realise that our wage increase is far,far away from the real increase in living costs which the great man himself has authorised. Please let's not hear any more stories blaming solely OPEC etc., for these price increases. 70% of this increase is in local taxes/excessive overheads, etc.

What's good for the goose, is good for the popolin and admit that € 1.16 increase was neither logical, nor fair, especially when the pensioners are only getting the two/thirds, that is 77cents extra per week, when in the last budget we were ''promised'' otherwise.

David Caruana

Jan 23rd 2011, 11:33

Joseph Muscat said clearly that he will ONLY allow a free vote on divorce - therefore seeing the like of Adrian Vassallo and the conservative section of PL, the divorce bill won't pass once again.

Really, didn't you realise that Joe is just trying to appease everyone? Moderates AND progressives! Anyone with a sound mind can realise how ridiculous that is.

I suggest that you reconsider AD again since this has been the only party which has been consistent about divorce since day one.

P.S. A vote for AD is still -1+1 [-1 for PN, +1 for AD]

A simple -1 would only mean that you did not go out to vote. In a democratic system, every vote counts and with a close call similar to the last election, AD can easily have a seat in Parliament, despite our disgusting electoral system which does not allow proportionate representation.

D. Scerri

Jan 23rd 2011, 11:52

We have the STV system here. You can vote #1 for AD and #2 for PL. Please use your vote wisely.

G.Schembri

Jan 23rd 2011, 16:44

@ David Cauana and D.Scerri giving your first preference to AD is aiding PN into government again.The only way to get them out of their is to vote PL and give them a majority. 3810 voters who reasoned like you in the last election were disappointed to see their votes being wasted and the PN in government with a majority of just 1580 votes. If you want to try to get AD in Parliament give your first preference to the mostt popular PL candidate, and your second preference to AD. The first count would see the extra votes of the PL candidate going to the second preference.

David Caruana

Jan 23rd 2011, 19:50

Neither PN nor PL deserve my #1.

Phil Pryce

Jan 23rd 2011, 15:24

Oh how terribly wrong you are. We didn't get 1.15 Euro cents... we got 1.16 Euro cents. So now we should all be grateful..... Noooootttt!!!

s.grima

Jan 23rd 2011, 10:04

saqsi li xufira tal linja,lil kacaturi u nasaba,lil hadima tat tarzna, saqsi lil dawk kolla li kienu se jibenefikaw mit tnaqis f income tax. dawn kolla gew inganati min dan il bniedem!!!

M Attard

Jan 23rd 2011, 10:14

what about the thousands in Valletta?

G Galea

Jan 23rd 2011, 10:37

L-eluf li nizlu bi hgarhom il-Belt huma l-vuci mugugha tal-poplu. U l-poplu lest jerga jinzel u jibqa' jinzel fit-toroq biex isemma' lehnu kull darba li jhoss li dal-gvern qed jittradih. Gvern ta' tradimenti u ta' weghdiet mhux imwettqa.

Il-weghda tal-Income Tax hija l-ikbar tradiment. Tista' ddahhalha fil-budget ta' qabel l-elezzjoni, imma t-tradiment ghamiltu.

Gvern giddieb li ma jhossx ghall-poplu.

Imma jekk int ma thossx ghall-poplu, il-poplu ser igaghlek thossu.

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