Early election claim 'unfounded' - Office of the Prime Minister
Updated: - The Office of the Prime Minister said today that a claim that the Prime Minister planned to call an early general election if he lost last Saturday's vote in parliament, was "unfounded."
The office was questioned about a claim that the prime minister had threatened MPs that he would call an early general election if they voted for the Labour Party's motion on the ministerial raise.
Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando pointed to the possibility of an early election when writing on Facebook, when responding to those who said he should have voted in favour of the Labour Party's motion to reflect the people's will. (The motion, which was voted down, was a declaration that Cabinet's behaviour on the raises granted in May 2008 was "insensitive, arbitrary and non-transparent".)
"I will not let anyone use me as an excuse to call an early election. My sentiments were very clearly expressed," Dr Pullicino Orlando told his Facebook friends, who asked him why he disappointed them with a no vote.
In another comment, Dr Pullicino Orlando said he was not prepared to disappoint those who elected him by destabilising the government.
"I cannot disappoint those who voted for me by acting in a way that leads to an early general election," he wrote, in a third comment.
When contacted, Dr Pullicino Orlando refused to elaborate. But sources close to him say Dr Gonzi approached him on Saturday, just before the vote, and said that if he were to vote with the Labour Party, there would be an early general election.
In Parliament, Dr Pullicino Orlando had said he was planning to vote with the Labour Party's motion to reflect public opinion on the matter. However, he changed his mind in the last minute after listening to the Prime Minister's parliamentary speech.
In his speech, Dr Gonzi proposed a way forward on the matter by suggesting the revival of the Select Committee on the Strengthening of Democracy, which would start off by discussing politicians' salaries, modelled around the system of the British House of Commons.
When contacted, Nationalist MP Jesmond Mugliett, who also had serious reservations about voting with his government on this matter, said he did not speak to Dr Gonzi at any point and decided to vote against the motion on his own volition.
"But I knew that the way I voted would have a bearing on the stability of government," he added.
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Mr leo attard
Jun 15th 2011, 13:48
i think it's all a very simple matter --- JPO says PN members were pressurized, the PM says JPO is lying -- then why doesnt the PM simply take disciplinary action against his subordinate who, in all effect, is libelling the PM as a blackmailing autocrat! if i were to make such comments, what would the authorities do to me?
Ms D Galea
Jun 15th 2011, 11:39
Dr JPO should spend less time in front of media cameras and more in parlament where he was elected to serve the interests of the nationalist constituents in his districts.
Frank Portelli 2BFRANK
Jun 15th 2011, 10:21
Re Claim of Early Election
Quite honestly I found it difficult to believe - until it was officially denied.
Dr Frank Portelli
Paul Saliba
Jun 15th 2011, 08:38
JPO tahseb inti li min ivvutalek huwa favur il Euro500 zieda?? Hallina habib, din misthija, faccolizmu u fuq kollox disonesta. You made a big foul habib.
M. Aquilina
Jun 15th 2011, 06:58
DR LAWRENCE GONZI (austin gatt + JPO + tonio fenech)
Iddizzappuntajtu Poplu, kasbartu lil min hu nazzjonalist u ghollejtu biss lil min hu tas-sahha taghkom. Flimkien kollox possibbli m'ghadiex tinstema, par idejn sodi tfisser biss li l-gid tqassam bejnkom u zammejtu lil poplu fqir. Tibzghux hbieb, l-elezzjoni li jmiss mhux se tferrahkom, u j'Alla lanqas biss tkunu fl-oppozizzjoni. Morru komplu ghamlu l-attivitajiet taghkom, u la ma kontux maqtughin ghal politika warrbu u hallu lil min irid jahdem. Qaghad, tkeccijiet, divorzju, ecc ecc ecc..... Bongu
Henry S. Pace
Jun 14th 2011, 22:39
@ Dr Jos Brincat LLD
It would be interesting to know From this former Politician who during his Ministerial Office established the Salaries of Cabinet Ministers?
A sincere reply is highly solicited.. The public has a right to know the facts.
Mr Joseph Brincat
Jun 14th 2011, 21:47
@Giov DeMartino
To which country are you actually referring by 'a prosperous European democracy'?.
Prosperous are those who pocketed €500 a week - many others have become pauper by the exorbitant W & E bills.
(jb)
Giov DeMartino
Jun 15th 2011, 07:15
Just have a look around you and you'll see nothing but beggars and starving people sleeping on rhe ground
Mr Alexander Azzopardi
Jun 14th 2011, 21:24
This story is made to put Jpo under pressure not to do any wrong.
Henry S. Pace
Jun 14th 2011, 20:55
' In another comment, Dr Pullicino Orlando said he was not prepared to disappoint those who elected him by destabilising the government. '
You have already disapponted your voters and more so the voter at large
In another comment, Dr Pullicino Orlando said he was not prepared to disappoint those who elected him by destabilising the government
Yes , you did your best to destabilise the party in government. However, up to now this did not happen. But who knows what will happen when you wake up in the morning, God Willing.
Henry S. Pace
Jun 14th 2011, 20:47
In another comment, Dr Pullicino Orlando said he was not prepared to disappoint those who elected him by destabilising the government
You disaPPOINTED A
"I cannot disappoint those who voted for me by acting in a way that leads to an early general election," he wrote, in a third comment.
Mario Grima
Jun 14th 2011, 20:31
'Paroli si fatti no' Dr. Pullicino. You have again showed us what an opportunist and hypocrite politician you are. You were 100% against the cabinet's €500 weekly pay rise and the way it was kept under wraps and yet you voted against the PL's motion, even though it was changed to omit any reference to Dr. Muscat. If you were a gentleman and a man of your word you would have taken the only honourable avenue, but no, you prefer the power seat. Shame on you!
Giov DeMartino
Jun 14th 2011, 20:24
Since I have no power to predict the future, I cannot exclude the fact that sometime I may decide to abandon the PN. I may find out that the PN is made up of criminals who are no longer fit to govern.....and so decide to severe all my relations with them...BUT, BUT, BUT does that mean that I shall havbe to forget labour's couldn't be more atrocious past? Of course no. And does that mean that I shall have to forget the prosperity brought to us by successive nationalist administrations? How they changed Malta beyond recognition? From an impoverished police state to a prosperous European democracy? So what would i do? Abstain. Of course not. If I abstain I would be voting PL...so once again I shall have to vote PN...even if par idejn sodi ignores my telephone calls.
J Azzopardi
Jun 14th 2011, 20:40
Mr DeMartino...we are in 2011, we can't stick to the past. I wasn't born yet and thus I am living in state where the government is semi-dictatorial, altough it is suppose to be a democratic one.
People like you are keeping Malta in the Middle Ages...look what is happening to Malta thanks to you...Malta is being ruined and you keep supporting this Theocratic semi-dictatorial regime.
Thanks to you and your clique, we are paying an extra 500euros for every member of the Nationalist parliamentaries per week. Malta will not forget people like you...maybe Gieh ir-Repubblika will suits you. (sarcastic not offensive).
Mr Alfred Grech
Jun 14th 2011, 20:42
Once I predicted that you will switch to Labour, dear Giovanni. Looks like there are signs that my prophecy will be fulfilled :))
Paul Caruana
Jun 14th 2011, 20:44
Nies bhalek izommu lil Malta lura. Ibqa sejjer hekk!
John Attard
Jun 14th 2011, 20:46
ara ametta li par idejn sodi ignores him:):).
Be realistic please:)!. Remember that when writing comments that looks clear that are biased to a party or another they do more harm than good:):)
Mr John Cassar
Jun 14th 2011, 21:13
Take it from a Nationalist then.
At this point with the PN resembling more of the ultra conservative far right Tea Party in the USA, I prefer almost everything else. The statements made by our former leader Eddie in respect to MP's voting against the will of the people made me hold my head in shock and almost say 'come back Dom all is forgiven'
Please don't use the silly tactics used by the church that if one does not vote they are voting for the other side. It insults the intelligence of people with even an ounce of grey matter and as seen from the referendum yields the opposite result.
If the party wants votes it has to earn them not pretend they own them.
Mr Albert Gauci Cunningham
Jun 14th 2011, 21:21
Good! You think this way others think otherwise. period.
Mr leo attard
Jun 14th 2011, 21:30
Mr de Martino. why do you keep basing your present ideology on the past --- ignore the PN's past, ignore the PL's past ---- look at what's going on in the present! To put it simply, you are not going to satisfy your present hunger by talking about banquets you've had in the past! If a person treats me like crap today, that does not mean i should ignore it because he was my friend yesterday --- in fact, it would hurt more because you wouldnt expect it from him! Man, the rain is pouring on your head and you walk out without an umbrella because the forecast for last week was nice and sunny ---- m'intix tarahom is-shab iswed, gbin!
Mark Brincat
Jun 14th 2011, 21:42
Well you can consider an AD protest vote. Or Imperium Europa for that matter.
Mr Kevin Sciberras
Jun 14th 2011, 22:02
You're like a broken record. The US Democratic Party were pro slavemongers and were against Lincoln and the Republicans during the US Civil War. 100 years later we have a Democratic BLACK president running the USA.
If I didnt know you were an adult I'd tell you grow up and move on. Times change
Mr Victor Laiviera
Jun 14th 2011, 22:19
Mr DeMartino never fails to bring a smile to my face - he is so much in character.
I just love the way his memories loom darker and more sinister with every day that the events he harps on recede into the past.
Now it's "am impoverished police state". What next? Haiti-In-The-Med?
Looking forward to the next episode
Chris Borg
Jun 14th 2011, 22:38
Mr. John Cassar, "PN resembling more of the ultra conservative far right Tea Party in the USA"??
mela min qal li ghandna inhallu l-immigranti jerqghu, u qala l-proset ma normal lowell kif ha nidiskrivuh? Ir-realta' hi li m'ghandniex alternattiva...
Mr Keith Sammut
Jun 14th 2011, 23:41
Could you please, for pete's sake, stop voting on what happened 30 years ago?
Joe Fenech
Jun 15th 2011, 00:29
Where is the prosperous European democracy? Wait till the big EU funds stop.... We'll be worse off than Spain and Greece!
Mr leo attard
Jun 14th 2011, 20:19
awwww, mr orlando! But you were ready to rock the boat for the PM when you advanced the cause for divorce! No wonder Mickey Mouse's home is Orlando!
L GRECH
Jun 14th 2011, 20:12
@Ronald Mifsud u Philip Hili
Sinjur, ahfrielhom ghax ma jafhux x'inhuma jaghmlu..
jigifieri ahjar PM b'zieda ta E500 fil-gimgha u jien bil E1.16 milli gvern laburista !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sur editur, ghamilha opinion poll din, tritdx
Philip Hili
Jun 15th 2011, 00:42
@ L GRECH
Iva, ahjar PM b'zieda ta' 500€ fil-gimgha u jien b'€1.16 MILLI GVERN LABURISTA.
U ir-raguni hija din. Ghalkemm ic-cifri jidhru enormi pero' wara c-cifri hemm is-serenita' u kuntentizza ghalija u ghal familja tieghi u mhux taqtieh il-qalb hekk kif tgholli rasek minn fuq l-imhadda u ma tafx kif ser tispicca l-gurnata.
Jekk inti ta' eta' zghira u allura ma doqtx il-hakma laborista, nghadrek, imma jekk taf xi tfisser hakma socjalista, hekk ma nghadrikx.
Kun af li ghal kuntentizza u l-liberta' ma hemmx prezz.!!! Ma tistax tixtrihom mis-Supermarket.
ronald mifsud
Jun 15th 2011, 05:53
Int qatt ghixt taht il-labour habib jew kont wiehed minn dawk li tpappiha? Se nhallat E500 mas-swat, tkissir, promozzjonijiet oxxeni, korruzzjoni, s0spensjonijiet mix-xoghol ghax ma xxejjirx il-bandiera tal-partit, tkeccija mix-xoghol, lockouts, bombi, pulizija skwadristi bhal tal-Korea ta' fuq, bla ilma, bla dawl, telefon strowger li ma jinqeda bih hadd, importazzjoni ta' video recorders, televisions tal kulur, computers u kull xorta ta apparat elettroniku iehor ibbanjati, karozzi skoda tal-qamel biss, bla demokrazjija lanqas biss nistghu nuzaw il-kelma nazzjon f'kitba li trid u elf haga ohra! Kemm tinsew malajr hbieb!
Mr Albert Gauci Cunningham
Jun 14th 2011, 19:30
According to the usual suspects who spend their life thinking about the "kazin" which closed down and the colour the "bandiera tal-partit" has anyone who dares say anything against GonziPN is a mercenary, a loser and sb who needed something and didn't get it. Goes to show how badly we need to teach these people a lesson.
Mr Jimmy Magro
Jun 14th 2011, 18:41
The above only confirms that power is greater than the truth and of being with the side of the people. When it comes to divorce we respect the will of the people and when it comes to voting on an abuse of power we toe the line not to lose the seat of power.
Thank you gentleman for bringing out the true colours.
Philip Hili
Jun 14th 2011, 21:29
@ Jimmy Magro,
Gone are your praise to the promoter of the private member's bill!!! Maybe he realised that he was being manipulated by the PL. But now it's over and the damaged cannot be reversed!!!
Mr Adrian Cauchi
Jun 14th 2011, 18:39
Is mr Giov Demartino a PN legal council. Do you have nothing better to do, than defend the PN every minute and hour of the day? I mean good luck to you if you have that job but please discuss the real issue.
I am a nuteral voter and I am seeing hat the current government is having serious problems. I also do not wish to see an election now as it would ruin the last part of our poor economy but the government must do something as they are loosing time debating unimportant things when the real issues are how to make the economy stronger, how to create jobs and how to save the existing one's.
Ac
Mr J Busuttil
Jun 14th 2011, 20:30
A neutral voter would know that jobs are being created and the economy is growing stronger and those lost are finding new jobs. Now if you want a change in government that's another story.
Joseph Borg
Jun 14th 2011, 18:05
Nirringrazjaw l-Alla li siggu wiehed biss maggioranza! Jaqbadni l-bard nimmagina xi ksuhad u arroganza kien ikolna kieku kien hemm aktar siggijiet! Ex-PN voter!
Giov DeMartino
Jun 14th 2011, 18:24
:Xi tlabt u ma hadtx Sur Borg?
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jun 14th 2011, 18:30
Talbu ftit irgulija u onesta Giovan. Skarsat f'Gonzipn. Xotta daqs il frawli.
Mr leo attard
Jun 14th 2011, 21:31
@ giove de martino....u int xi tlabt u tawk? jien gustizzja tlabt!
Philip Hili
Jun 14th 2011, 21:38
@ Joseph Borg
Iddahhaqniex Guz!!
Jien ukoll naf naghamel "ex mintoffjan", jew "ex laborista". Meal in-nies hsibthom xi bciccen jew, ser jibilghu dak kollu li xi whud minnkom jiktbu!!
Philip Hili
Jun 14th 2011, 21:41
@ Charles Buttigieg
Ejja, almenu tammetti li "skarsa" li mhux il-kaz ta!!! Imma ghallinqas qieghed tirrikonoxxi li kien hemm "onesta" u "irgulijja", mhux bhal Joseph, jghid haga u jaghmel ohra. Jaqaw insejt Charl? Fil-kaz infakkrek ftit ta!!!
N. Aquilina
Jun 14th 2011, 22:22
De Martino & Hili
Tahsbu li xi hadd biex jaqleb il partit ghandu bzonn jitlob xi haga u ma johodiex? Jekk in-nies li hemm fil PN huma kollha hekk veru bla principju!
Tant inthom arroganti li tahsbu li hadd ma jista jaqleb min mal partit tghakom u jmur fuq ix xaqliba l ohra! Mela tahsbu li in-nies boloh, tahsbu li ghadna fuq zmien il brodu li in-nies izommu ma partit ghax in nanna u in nannu kienu jimmilitaw fil partit 50 sena ilu! Illum in-nies ghandhom mohh biex jahsbu u mhumiex pupazzi f idejn xi partit jew iehor!
Sur Hili rigward il kumment tieghek fuq Joseph li jghid haga u jghamel ohra veru ma tista tghid xejn ghax Joseph stess ammetta li gid taht il PN sar bhalma sar gid taht il PL imma jista ikun li in-NET m'uriehx dak il filmat ghall ragunijiet ovvji!
Philip Hili
Jun 15th 2011, 11:58
@ N Aquilina
Le sur Aquilina, hadd ma haseb hekk, u propju ghalhekk meta jghidu li xi laborist qaleb nibda nrodd is-slaleb u nghid, "imma kemm huma bciecen, jemmnu kollox!!!"
Kun af li dak li jaqleb il-partit ikun ghamel hekk ghax propju jkun BLA PRINCIPJU. Jekk tahseb hekk, li min jaqleb ghax ma ha xejn, veru lanqas ghandek idea xi tfisser il-kelma "PRINCIPJU"
"Tant inthom arroganti li tahsbu li hadd ma jista jaqleb min mal partit tghakom u jmur fuq ix xaqliba l ohra!" Il-Partit diga' kellu min kien zleajali u mar fuq in-naha l-ohra daqs xahar ilu. U zgur li ma nahsibx li in-nies boloh, jew li ghadna fi zmien il-brodu! Tant hu hekk, li lis-sur Joseph Borg, li qal il hu "Ex-PN voter" gbidtlu l-attenzjoni li b'daqshekk ma mmpresjona lil hadd.
Rigward il-kumment tieghek dawr Dr. Joseph Muscat - "Sur Hili rigward il kumment tieghek fuq Joseph li jghid haga u jghamel ohra veru ma tista tghid xejn"
Mela ha nghidlek kemm Dr Joseph Muscat hu bniedem bla principju u jghid dak li jaqbillu dak il-hin. Tiftakar daqs xahar ilu fil-kampanja tar-referendum jghid li l-kwisjoni tad-divorzju ma ghandiex tkun ballun politiku?
Tiftakar kemm il-darba qal li l-poplu ghandu juri fehemtu u ma ghandux idahhal din il-kwistjoni fil-politika?
"Paroli si ma fatti!!", Il-fatti juri mod iehor ghax fil-waqt li qal dan id-diskors li kulhadd qabel mieghu, Dr. Joseph Muscat KIEN L-EWWEL persuna li qabbez dan is-suggett fl-arena politika, u dan kien fl-1 ta' Mejju 2011, 27 gurnata qabel ir-referendum. U hallina Man!!!!
Giov DeMartino
Jun 15th 2011, 12:45
@ Mr Hili: Ifhimni sewwa sur Hili. Jien m'ghandi assolutament xejn kontra partitarji laburisti genwini. Jekk trid emmen u jekk ma tridx oqghod. Anqas se nistghageb li jkun hemm min jaqleb minn partit ghal iehor ghalkemm nitkaza u jdardruni dawk li p.e tismaghhom jheddu bil-vot ghal kul;l haga ta' xejn...ghax ma twahhlirx bozza, ghax ma trangatx triq, ghax dam ma nqeda l-isptar....haw hafna nies bla sinsla. Jien ma nistax ghal dawk, imma, li sa l-elezzjoni li ghaddiet, u wara li ghaddiet kienu jiktbu elogji shah ghall-PN u jmaqdru kemm jifilhu lill-MLP u anki jekk niftakar tajjen lil Joseph Muscat u issa, f'daqqa wahda, bidla kollox u qalbu kollox rasu 'l isfel. Il-PN sar oxxen hafna u l-MLP sar xempju ta' rgulija, onesta ecc....Dawk ma niflahhomx jien. Is-Sur A Gaucu Cunningham, nahseb, jista' jispjega xi haga.
Giov DeMartino
Jun 15th 2011, 17:37
Jien tlabt id-DEMOKRAZIJA....u tahieli.
Philip Hili
Jun 16th 2011, 01:44
@ Gioav DeMartino
Giovan, lanqas jien ma ghandi xi haga ghal partitarji Laboristi Genwini. Anzi, xi kultant lil dawn in-nies issibhom irgiel. Jien ikkummentajt hekk ghax hawn xi tnejn helwin li biex isawtu lil Partit Nazzjonalista jghidu li kienu "Nazzjonalist". Forsi tfixklu l-kelma ma "OPPORTUNISTI"
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jun 14th 2011, 17:49
Your very same arguments would be used by Gonzipn's band of brothers if we ask them for a pay rise.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jun 14th 2011, 17:43
@ Erik Psaila.
Erik, I suggest that each time you post a comment you remind readers that you are a reformed former PN strong activist who really believed in those principles. With your political background your good points will help so much more the sceptical Gonzipn followers see the light and help to save our land from harm’s way. Welcome to the club of moderates and progressives dear Erik.
Philip Hili
Jun 14th 2011, 21:45
Oh! Oh!
"Welcome to the club of moderates and progressives dear Erik."
What, "progressives"? Am I dreaming???
Charlie, look it up in a dictionary the word "progressive" please.
Mr John Said
Jun 14th 2011, 17:18
Poor guys who wish for an early election, as they dont now what a financial burden it is for the country, JPO and his "friends" have already spent 4 million out of our taxes for a referendum, not to mention the stability ratings of the Maltese economy.
As regards to DR.Gonzi, poor guy, the only fault he has is that of being too good. Those who argue against him should have a look at foreign news and not limit them selves to watch the ONE and only repetitive local news buletine, i can assure them that if they mis it once they can make up the day after as it always says the same few things! Then they can bring their arguments forward, if they have any left. Plus if they have a walk around shops or restaurants specialy on a saturday night they will realise that if they cannot make their ends meet its because they are doing something wrong themselves!!!!!!!!!!
As regards to the ministers pay, 60,000 is still to little compared to what others get, one can not compare it to some one who has no qualifications, you have to compare it with lawyers, architects medical doctors etc and see what they get, not what they declare to get.
Mr John Borg
Jun 14th 2011, 17:25
Add another €4 million MEPA decided to squander on created a 3D map of Malta.
Mr Adrian Cauchi
Jun 14th 2011, 18:48
Dear Mr Said,
I use to go out Fri, Sat and Sunday. My weekly treat was a fillet on Saturday, Now I only afford a pizza. So I am on a lower scale. So I do not think your reasoning is good. It is the quality of life you have to measure. Before you speak open a book of Kotler and Armstrong, or look up the current Permanent Secretary of Finance speachs when he was still head of the NSO and you will have a true and better picture.
I cannot understand your abbuse of figures and just take data from the side that you like.
As what regards news, I never see either ONE, NET, or TVM but I read TOM and loads foreign news papers.
You comparing MP's with other counterpart professions could only be done when MP's decide not to have any other employement other than MP's as if not they have to treat such as a part time job. Also to the 60,000 you must add perks and the value assigned to those perks. And ifyou know loads of people that earn over 120,000 pls give their names to the Income Tax dept as there are only around 2000 people that declared to earn over 30,0000. So you must be a real elite..................................................
Ms Rita Smith
Jun 14th 2011, 19:23
I agree with you Mr Said. some people listen only to News on Maltese stations and do not know what is happening around us. I think we are having it too good. We must thank Providence. In Italy the "media" salary is 1200 Euros. In Sardenia it is even less! This is what I call hardship. Most workers travel for hours sometimes to reach work destinations. Can anyone imagine the cost? University students have to go outside their towns and have to spend money on rent, plus everyday costs to survive. They speak about the English wages. I have English relatives in England. I have been hearing them grumbling for ages on end, because water and electricity are high. They cannot catch up with the heating espences, their mortgsages, council tax and if I go on there would not be enough space to write. This is the sacrosant truth. Why should I be telling lies. I am excusing no governments, only I am saying that we are better off than sosme European countries considering that we don't even have natural resources but only human resources. Why should we Maltese grumble about everything. We are always sulking about everything not because it is the fault of governments but because we like to moan a lot and are never satisfied or we want to get rich overnight.
Rita Smith
Mr Paul Abela
Jun 15th 2011, 07:47
Mr Adrian Cauchi
As what regards news, I never see either ONE, NET, or TVM but I read TOM and loads foreign news papers.
From the comments from people who write here the TOM has turned out to be a Labour newspaper.
Francis Attard
Jun 14th 2011, 16:54
IL-FARSA TKOMPLI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr Albert Gauci Cunningham
Jun 14th 2011, 16:29
Had there been an early election it would have given the PN the ultimate tool to destroy JPO forever and with a defeat at the polls for the beleaguered Party a tad more than simply certain the blame would have squarely fallen on JPO. Nice strategy! Good thing the MP didn't fall for it. For the "strong pair of hands on the rudder" I have only this to say ; Tardare si, scappare no!!
Giov DeMartino
Jun 14th 2011, 17:24
Mel'm'ghadekx iccempillu lil par idejn sodi Sur Cunningham? Jew qtajt qalbek ma jikkalkulakx?
Mr Joseph E Briffa
Jun 14th 2011, 18:14
Could Mr Gauci Cunningham enlighten us on what led him to go all out to denigrate anything done by the PN. What led to this volte face?.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jun 14th 2011, 18:24
Tkunx personali Giovan. Jekk trid turi niskata gherf irrispondi fuq il kumment ta Albert. Is Sur Gauci Cunningham ra id dawl kif rawh hafna ohra li kellek ma dwarek.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jun 14th 2011, 18:27
@ Joseph E Briffa, I think you might call it seeing the light. And he's not unique in that regard.
Mr Albert Gauci Cunningham
Jun 14th 2011, 19:21
You're right Giovanni!! I admit I used to phone Gonzi all day and all night. Infact I had a secret crush on him!! And he never reciprocated back. Not even a bunch of flowers for Valentine!! Happy now? Now you know all the story!!
Mr Albert Gauci Cunningham
Jun 14th 2011, 19:27
@J.Briffa--Read all the letters I've written since the last election and you'll know. Nothing to hide.
Mr Charles camilleri
Jun 14th 2011, 16:21
Why all this hurry? Have patience, after all you only have two yrs to wait. Then you will have the change to find all the remedies for all ills. As for Dr. Pullicino, he has made a fool of himself for a long time now. It is time not to let himself be used any more as his credibility is below zero.
Ms G Schembri
Jun 14th 2011, 17:38
At the rate Lawrence Gonzi and friends are taking money from our coffers, there will be nothing to save in 2 years time. Obviously the Ministers and friends who are being paid thousands of euro a month will have no financial problems. They take from the middle class to become millionaires for the years of services rendered to the nation.
Mario Vella
Jun 14th 2011, 16:15
As more drama will ensue, the more the boat will be rocked...........Gonzi's inevitable option would be then to jump off............it would not have been JPO & CO who would have thrown him off board!!!!! Have anyone never heard of brinkmanship?! The writing is on the wall!
George Cremona
Jun 14th 2011, 16:44
"Have anyone never heard of brinkmanship?" Of course, not only heard of it but also experienced it. Did you forget ALFRED SANT'S BRINKMANSHIP in 1998? How lacking is your memory!!!
Mario Vella
Jun 14th 2011, 17:16
No my friend! Gonzi will be the victim this time round!!!! History will repeat itself!!!!
anton cassar
Jun 14th 2011, 17:20
Mr Cremona ghalinqas Dr Sant kien ragel bizzejjed u ma halliex lil haddiehor jmexxi ..ara Gonzi lest jibqa pupazz f`idejn ponn deputati tieghu basta jibqa fil-poter
Ms G Schembri
Jun 14th 2011, 17:30
@ George Cremona, The present government is showing us that Alfred Sant was right to call a general election, when he found dissent in his government. Lawrence Gonzi and his power clinging friends, are costing the Maltese Nations thousands of Euro, to keep their present position and of course all the perks that come with it.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jun 14th 2011, 18:34
Mario,when the Titanic hit the iceberg the music men on board kept playing the music. And the rest is history which has a tendency to repeat itself.
H Agius
Jun 14th 2011, 20:04
Mr Cremona ...no one had the guts to say no to Mintoff , Only one men and that's Dr Alfred Sant ! Hemm xi tnejn li ghadhom jiktbu u jidru fuq il-media( Ex Ministri ) li wara hafna snien bdew jghidu li waqfulu... u jsemmu stejjer li qatt ma smajna bijhom ..biss crap! dawn kienu jaghmlu pipi tahthom dak iz-zmien Forsi xi darba Peppi ta WE jaghmel programme ta ezatt x'gara meta Dr Sant kien PM ..u jkun hawn hafna jkunu sorprizi !
Mr Joe Cardona
Jun 14th 2011, 16:10
It is better we wait until April 2013 for the election because by then Gonzi PN as we say in Maltese, "Jiehu Tkaxkira wahda nobiz" and so he will go down in the PN history books as the Leader who handed his party the BIGGEST DEFEAT so far in the General Elections.
Be patience my friends: God knows what he is doing.
Mr Joseph Calleja
Jun 14th 2011, 15:57
From a lot of comments I am seeing below, it seems like we are all arriving at the same conclusion. It seems that most politicians PN and PL are trying to take us citizens, for a bunch of fools. Somebody keeps stirring the pot and keeps adding fuel to the fire. How funny that when it came to their pay rises they all stuck together and voted for the pay raise? Are we that gullible to think otherwise? Something or somebody is adding two and two together and coming up with five. An early election by the PN right now would have disaster written all over it. Right now, Dr Gonzi has troubles, lots of troubles of his own, so why would he even think of having an early election and jeopardize his bid for re-election? Just wondering, what is going on with our political system? On the other hand you have to wonder why the Government was willing to spend 4 million euros of the Tax Payer's money on a consultative and unbinding referendum. Why was that? Is our government trying to cover up their inefficiencies by adding more inefficiency? All the referendum managed to do was create animosity among the citizens, politically and religiously. Something does not add up and the people have a right to know. Was the divorce referendum just a ploy to stir us away from the real problem which is the government itself? Why all the talk against the honoraria pay raise and the weekly pay raise and of all a sudden they are both voted in by the politicians. Why offer a 35euro round trip fare ticket to citizens living overseas on a defaulting Air Malta? Why did Minister Fenech come out and announce publicly that the Air Malta perks (Freebie Tickets) are going to stay. He very conveniently announced this just before the restructuring announcement? What is going on PN and PL leaders? This is what I think and I don't think I am the only one thinking that way. Transparency? Don’t think so. We have a year and a half to decide.
ronald mifsud
Jun 14th 2011, 15:44
be patient a little more! An early election - wishful thinking! At least 2 more years and with God's help anohter five years hten after! ahjar gvern nazzjonalista hazin milli gvern laborista tajjeb!
Mr Jeffrey Mallia
Jun 14th 2011, 15:51
Miskin.
Alfred Vassallo
Jun 14th 2011, 16:12
''And with God's help'' don't bring God into politics, He is much, much above that, and btw He didn't help you with the Divorce Referendum let alone how much He is going to help you with the Election. Eh.
Ms Xaxa Caruana
Jun 14th 2011, 16:14
@Ronald
ahjar gvern nazzjonalista hazin milli gvern laborista tajjeb!
Veramnet ghandek ragunamnet BAZWI !!! Jekk int kuntent li gonzipn qed jitnejjek bik, jien u hafna ohrajn le.... ikolli nghid li dak il hoss tal Hadd taf x kien ?? xi wallet ta xi ministru li kien had dingli u waqalu mil but bil pis ta 500.00 fil gimgha? il wallet tieghi ma kienx zgur!! u mind you ehhh , hemm minnhom jithlu il parlamnet u jifirmaw u jitilqu il barra, IPOKRITI U HALLELIN
Philip Hili
Jun 14th 2011, 16:41
@ ronald mifsud
"ahjar gvern nazzjonalista hazin milli gvern laborista tajjeb!"
Ma stajtx tikbet sentenza tajba milli ktibt.
Prosit.
Il-Hajja kollha tbatija. Min ighid li l-hajja ma hix tbatija qieghed jghix f'dinja ghaliek. Mhux ghax ser jinbidel il-gvern (jekk jinbidel) il-hajja ser tkun ward u zaghar!, u jkolna l-genna fl-art!!! L-ebda genna fl-art ma gab il-Labour Party meta kien fil-gvern!! Anzi, SWAT, GUH U GHAKS. Staqsu lil tal-Korpi, lil Kummercjanti, in-Negozjanti, u lill kull faxxa tas-socjeta' araw kienx hawn genna ta' l-art meta Malta kient immexxija minn Gvern Laborista!! Issa qieghed iwieghed dak kollu li tixieq, halli jahkem il-vot tieghek, imma meta mbaghad ikun fil-poter - nini nini jattwa dak li wieghed!! Imbaghad jibda' s-swat. Min hu ta' certa eta' jaf x'qieghed nighd.
Ghalhekk is-sentenza tieghek Ronald hija minjiera deheb! Kif inti taf, tajjeb jew hazin imma zgur li mhux ser tkun tajjeb jekk jahtaf il-poter il-Labour. Ghaddejna min dan il-perjodu.
Alfred Vassallo
Jun 14th 2011, 17:30
@Philip Hili
'L-ebda genna fl-art ma gab il-Labour Party meta kien fil-gvern!! ''
Daqs kemm gab il Gvern tieghjek il Genna fl-art tul dawn il 20-25 sena ghax lil Malta gaba zibel fil sens tal kelma . Il lum li Malta lanqas biss tarafa ghax kollox mibjuh ghana, Kollox!!. Dejn molla is-sema, Hajja infern, KORRUZJONI Galore ehh!!!, Nies qiesghom Zombies, jahdmu biss ghax hekk gibtuhom biex forsi illehqu mal Hajja sfrenata. Droggi bla razan, ara fil zmien il Labour bil kemm kont tisma bihom il Drogi, u mela tigi int u taqbel ma li qal dak... Nahseb li ridu tejdu il tnejn li intom huwa ''Ahjar laburist hazin milli Nazzjonalista wiehed tajjeb ghax ma tkunx taf x'qieghjad jawarlek min taht.
Morru stahbew jekk tafu.
Mr Philip Grech
Jun 14th 2011, 17:48
Philip Hili ghandu ragun igerger mill-Labour tas-70s. ghax hu jaf x'tilef fis-71. Pero min ghandu l-eta' jiftakar li fi triq shiha tilfet familja wahda u marru l-quddiem il-kumplament ta' l-ohrajn kollha.
Philip Hili
Jun 14th 2011, 22:12
@ Alfred Vassallo
Jekk ghadek ta' eta' zghira, nikkumpatik, bilfors ma tafx x'gab gvern Laborista. Pero' ha nghidlek jien x'gab.
1.) Dirghajn il-Maltin,
2.) Izra u Rabbi,
3.) Bahhar u sewwi,(Dawn kollha taht dixxiplina Militari u ma jistghux jissiehbu fi "Trade Union")
4.) Korejani biex isawtu lil Maltin,
5.) Tratta sigriet kontra Malta u l-Maltin mal-Korea Komunista ta' Kim Li Sung,
6.) Kalaxlokk,
7.) Swat lil kul min ma jaqbix mieghu - (mwiet - Pavia, Debono,Caruana)
8.) Bulk-buying,
9.) Bicca cikkulata iridu igibuielek min Catania,
10.) Tootpaste, min Catania wkoll,
trid izjed? Fil-kaz ghidli ghalli nghidlek.
Ara li kieku kellkom ftit zejt f'wicckom kieku ma hemmx bzonn inhaffru ghaz-zejt madwar Malta ghax taghkom kien ikun bizzejjed biex tfornu lil Malta bil-fuel!!!
Lilna qieghed tghid morru stahbew, mela inthom xi jmisskom taghmlu, torbut mazzra ma ghonqkom u tinxtettu l-bahra???
Fred, meta wiehed ikun midjun, sinjal tajjeb ghax juri li kulhadd ghandu fiducja fih ghax kieku ma jselfuhx!!
Ara meta johrog l-istocks (jekk taf x'huma) HADD MA JOHODHOM!!!
Semmejt il-korruzzjoni? Jekk taf b'xi korruzzjoni u ma tirrapurtax, inti hati daqs dak li hu korrot Fred. Irraporta jekk hu veru. Ara siehbek Joseph, ilu jghajjat bil-korruzzjoni, imma qatt ma ippruvaha.
Ejja man!! toqghodx tparla fil-vojt. Jekk ghandek il-fatti, gibhom quddiem il-gustizzja, l-bqijja, paroli fil-vojt.
Philip Hili
Jun 15th 2011, 00:47
@ Philip Grech
Sur Grech, ma nistax nifhem xi trid tirreferi. Inkun izjed grad jekk ticcara l-argument tieghek halli jekk ikun il-kaz inkun nista' nirrispondik.
Tony Dalli
Jun 14th 2011, 15:21
At least for now Dr. JPO could not risk losing his Honoraria. Will he be returned to parliament on a PN ticket? I have my doubts. The PN has mysterious strategies how to ostracize people.
Philip Hili
Jun 14th 2011, 16:21
Why should the PN go for mysterious strategies in order to bar the promoter of the private member's bill from contesting the next general election on his ticket?
In my opinion, based on facts and nobody can deny them - those of cheating the electorate, stabbing the Nationalist Party when the private member's bill was presented to the Prime Minister behind his back and also behind the party's back, voting with the opposition thus against the government, hugging an opposition member of parliament when he should have sided with the government, the PN executive council MUST inform the promoter of the private member's bill that he IS NOT ACCEPTED to contest the next election on the PN ticket. Just an outright NO.
Now, if the PN executive council prefers the candidature of people who are not loyal to the Party to the opinion of the electorate, especially the electorate of the eleventh district, then it's his pigeon but the Party through its Executive Council will have to bear the responsibility and face the consequences.
Victor Rodenas
Jun 14th 2011, 15:18
If Gonzi tells his team that if the yes vote on the divorce issue passes he will call early elections,....how will JPO vote?
Carmel Xuereb
Jun 14th 2011, 15:53
Can't you see he will vote yes because it was he that paved the way for the divorce issue but maybe some lapsus will happen during the voting, yes. Besides early election or not the PN shoud organise itself for a big funeral because many of their present MP's woun't be elected for sure.
Ms Manquareiel de Caveden
Jun 14th 2011, 15:16
Pity, Pullicino Orlando would have won some credit if he had contributed to revealing that the parliamentary majority enjoyed by the P.N. is just a sham now... based on corruption, back-scratching, threats and holy exhortations. Yet again, it is being made all the more clearer that votes have to go elsewhere come next election.
Mark Piscopo
Jun 14th 2011, 15:10
Xinhi id differenza bejn Lawrence Gonzi u Joseph Muscat hbieb?
Joseph Muscat tilef €60,000 fis- sena biex telaq mill parlament Ewropew u gie jghati servizz xieraq lil Poplu Malti fil-parlament Malti u iz –zieda li kien ha jtih il Prim ministru kien ha jtija li lfoqra.
Lawrence Gonzi ta zieda lilu nnifsu u lil Ministri tieghu ta €500 fil-gimgha blura mit 2008. jigifieri l- Prim u lministri ha jiehdu €104,000 sa l-elezzjoni u li lpoplu tah €1.16 li tammonta ghal €60.32 sal l-elezzjoni generali.
Philip Hili
Jun 14th 2011, 16:57
@ Mark Piscopo
Sur Piscopo, taf li l-poplu Malti ma kienx jaf x'hini d-differenza bejn Dr. Lawrence Gonzi u Dr. Joseph Muscat!!
Id-differenza hija din li gejja ara:-
The Hon Joseph Muscat MP Co-Opted to the seat vacated by Joseph Cuschieri on 1 October 2008
The Hon. Dr. Lawrence Gonzi was ELECTED in parliament.
Mr Melvin Caruana
Jun 14th 2011, 18:29
@ Philip hili ragunament bazwi ghax Joseph Muscat jew xi hadd iehor xorta ridt ikun hemm leader li jmexxi il partit u delegati ghazlu lil joseph issa 2013 ghas sodisfazzjon tieghek ha johrog ghal elelzjoni u jekk ikun ellet ikun elet mil poplu
Philip Hili
Jun 15th 2011, 01:01
@ Melvin Caruana
Sewwa mela inti qieghed tghid li dawk il-kandidati li kkontestaw ghal post tal-leader li DIGA' KIENU FIL-PARLAMENT U ALLURA MA KIENX IKUN HEMM BZONN LI XI HADD F'DAN IL-KAZ jOSEPH CUSCHIERI JISSAGRIFIKA POSTU ma kienux tajbin. Prosit. Joseph biss kien tajjeb, la Dr. George Abela ma kien tajjeb, la Marie Louise Coleiro Preca ma kienet tajba, izjed!!!
Nahseb aqta kemm jiehdu jpacir bik jekk jaqraw il-kumment tieghek dawn l-onorevoli membri li semmejt!!
Ms Marija Falzon
Jun 14th 2011, 15:08
So Dr. Pullicino Orlando had the chance to be a national hero, but he just blew it away. Greatness is not where you stand, but where you move things.
Mr Jo Camm
Jun 14th 2011, 15:22
Ms Falzon - They say 'Beauty (here read greatness) is in the eyes of the beholder'.
Mr Joseph Brincat
Jun 14th 2011, 15:06
Please discount the idea of a possible early elections.
These will be held when due, I would say April 2013.
(jb)
Mr Joseph Brincat
Jun 14th 2011, 15:21
But then you must have a very short memory indeed!
(jb)
Mr Alfred Grech
Jun 14th 2011, 20:35
... and the next election NP won't be under the leadership of Dr Gonzi because they know they'll lose it. They will choose a new leader to try to blind us since we are cocentrating on the huge mess the NP government has created. I do not think we'll have to wait till 2013 for the election, it would be earlier than that - maybe mid 2012?????
Mr Jo Camm
Jun 14th 2011, 15:00
Fuq poster ta' gazzetta xellugija rajt miktub, b'ittri kbar (bħassoltu) IGGRANFAT MAL POTER. Ir-risposta tiegħi kienet GĦANDHOM KILBA GĦAL POTER.
Ħlief rizenji (kelma ġdida din, qatt ma kont smajtha qabel) u elezzjoni bikrija ma naqrawx. "Min jgħix bit-tama jmut bil-piena".
Giov DeMartino
Jun 14th 2011, 15:38
Iggranfati mal-Poter...Mela fl-1981 HUMA x'kienu. Ara veru milli jkollha ttik!
Andrew Cumbo
Jun 14th 2011, 16:50
Int u min hu bhalek ma tafux tisthu Sur De Martino. 1981 semmejt dak iz-zmien, il- gvern seta jibqa jmexxi skont il- kostituzjoni. Ghax ma semejtx 1998 l-irgulija li mexa biha Dr. Alfred Sant meta, komplejtu xewxu min taht biex tergaw tigranfaw mal- poter. Tahseb li kieku ried b'xi mod jew iehor ma kienx jibqa fil- Gvern dak in-nhar. Izda dak in-nhar Dr. Sant wera bil fatti xi tfisser demokrazija, mhux bhalkhom illum il-parlament gibtuh qiesu skuzi paljazza.
Philip Hili
Jun 14th 2011, 17:17
@ Giovann DeMartino
Giovann, ara ma tiehux ghalieh ta dak li kiteb is-Sur Andrew Cumbo!! Ahna ma nafux nisthu!!! Ommi Ma!! X'mentalita'! Sa fejn naf jien, dak iz-zmien li qieghed issemmi sa l-ahhar mexmixha l-gvern laborista.
U fejn hi l-irgulija (politika) ta' dr. Alfred Sant? Irgulija billi tmur ix-xatt tal-Birgu u tghajjar lil predecessur tieghek "traditur". Jaf kemm ghamel hasra ghalieh innifsu?
Sur Cumbo, ghandek ftit memorja qasira ta!! ghax Dr. George Abela,(illum President ta' Malta) tah parir biex ma jaghmilx ta' rasu. Izda Dr. Sant ried li tghaddi tieghu u mhux ghax kien jemmen fid-demokrazija bhal ma ghidt int.
Giov DeMartino
Jun 14th 2011, 17:23
Fil-98 ghaddejniekom b'izjed minn 13-il elf vot..X'ippretendejtu?
Alfred Gatt
Jun 14th 2011, 14:57
Both Parties should make it clear before elections that members elected should always vote in favour of their party as it would be unfair for the electors who elected them as representatives of the particular party unless there is really something which goes totally against basic human values, such as the right to life.
Ms G Schembri
Jun 14th 2011, 17:48
What if their party was voting for somthing that goes against their costituency? I would expect my representative to vote for me and not for My Party (or rather the party I voted for).
Victor Rodenas
Jun 14th 2011, 14:56
Someone is blatently lying,...what a good example we are giving to youngsters. Morals and conscience vanish when it suits us.....christian values........my foot.
Brian Gatt
Jun 14th 2011, 14:55
What a shame, When i thought that JPO had the attributes to stand up to this dictatorship by which we are currently governed he comes up with a lame excuse and then decided to go with the flow (bhan-naghag ta' Bendu).
JPO you just showed everyone your true colours!!
Philip Hili
Jun 14th 2011, 17:40
@ Brian Gatt
Mela spiccaw l-elogji issa ghal dan il-bniedem??. Xbajtu tinqdew bih? X'bajtu timlew raskom li ser ikun hawn elezjoni bikrija? Kemm kien hawn qarrejja ta' din il-pagna li likieku setghu kienu jibbeatifikawh u l-ghanda jaghmluh qaddis???
Sewwa kont ktibt jien li b'dak li qieghed jaghmel ser jitlef il-krettu ma kulhadd. U hekk gara. L-ewwel tilef kull rispett mil-partitarji Nazzjonalist li dejjem habbewh u zammuh fuq l-idejn, avolja xi kultant kien jizgarra, issa tilef il-krettu min maghkom ukoll.....u spicca, ma jafdah hadd.
Mr Anthony Pace Gouder
Jun 14th 2011, 14:51
StopPing Short this disorderly ,turbulant ,'errors' stricken 'LEGISLATURA' is actually the only solution, way out, for Dr, Gonzi to postpone the DIVORCE LAW and avoid him and other NP MPs' the embarresment of voting YES .
He himself declared that the 'will of the people has to be respected' Thus they cannot DIVORCE THEMSELVES from the 'YES' Vote .
.
George Lewis
Jun 14th 2011, 14:42
So JPO is apart from doing his job,has also become the spokesman or p.r.o. for the nationalist party.I propose a monument to be built in some prominent place 'Here lies J:P:O: dentist,politician,entrepreneur,conscientious objector,and oscar winning actor.'He really enjoys being in the limelight.
Ms D Galea
Jun 14th 2011, 15:36
You forgot to add that he is also an ex-green politician of the year as well.
:)
Tony Borg
Jun 14th 2011, 14:41
Whose lying?
Mr Tonio Micallef
Jun 14th 2011, 14:41
The GonziPN Administration is in complete disarray! The OPM obliged to deny a Facebook Post by one of the party's backbench!! Hilarious if not reflecting the sorry state that this administration is in. The real truth is that there was no way how this administration could have survived in power if it lost the vote on Saturday. It would have meant that the government had to refund and reverse the increase in ministers' salaries and the honoraria. Last Saturday's vote is just a short break of this administration's dangers. The day of reckoning is moving closer as the divorce debate looms in Parliament. That will be the real showdown with EFA doing his part to bring down this administration so that divorce legislation will not pass under Gonzi!!
Mr joe vella
Jun 14th 2011, 14:37
JPO- the OPM is claiming that your statement was unfounded
could we read this as being a claim that you are a liar?
George Abela
Jun 14th 2011, 14:33
To tell the truth at first I was all out against the raise for Mp's. Then I was talking to my advocate( PL leading spokesperson) who told me that with the previous wage sucture he would have refused a Ministerial Position due to that he would earn much less than what he actually does at the moment. To be truly honest a MINISTER'S PAY of €60,000 isn't something of extraordinary. I know Financial controllers and Cicci-beqqi CEO's in private companies that earn twice as much.
George Abela
Jun 14th 2011, 14:25
For the information of thse who think to know everything...JPO gets about €1,200 a month, like Arrigo showed yesterday on TV....
Mr Victor vella
Jun 14th 2011, 14:22
Dan ta` hawn fuq x`jaghmbija `ealry election` . L`aqwa li ha li ried.wara li sab il-pulcinelli biex jaqduh.
Mr Joseph Cauchi Senior
Jun 14th 2011, 15:08
@ Victor Vella,
Do you mean "Pulcinelli" are those that voted Yes for Divorce?
JC.
Mr Victor vella
Jun 14th 2011, 15:18
No. Those in the opposition camp and the architect Falzon.
Jon Agius
Jun 14th 2011, 14:17
This shows again how funny is the presence of tribalism in Malta. The GonziPN supporters still supported Dr.JPO in light of THE MISTRA CASE brought out by Dr.Sant. Now that he was going to vote with conscience, the GonziPN hijacked his conscience vote by an early general election threat. And now the GonziPN supporters are all against Dr.JPO.
Mr Vincent Cassar
Jun 14th 2011, 14:32
X'tippretendi minn pajjiz bhal Malta??? L-indipendenza u l-helsien tistghu tarmuhom fiz-zibel ghax il-poplu ghadu skjav fil-mentalita` u hsibijietu...Sewwa qal Boissevain: The Maltese are a bicycle society with a cadilac mentality!
Philip Hili
Jun 14th 2011, 17:26
@ Vince Cassar.
Vince, tkellem ghalik innifsek please!!
Mr Victor vella
Jun 14th 2011, 17:26
Sur Cassar parlajt hafna u m`ghedx xejn ta` sugu. Immissek ghedt li llum hadd ma jista` jkun skjav ta` hsiebijietu meta llum l-informazzjoni hija accessibli ghal kulhadd. Immissek ghedt li llum min jiftah halqu jigi ittimbrat bhala anti-regim u jigi skjav ta` dak il-partit li jippredendi li huwa l`Alla tad-demokrazija. Dan immissek ghedt int. Boissevain immissu qal¬ The Maltese are always the victims of freedom of expression then by the British colonial rule and now under the aegis of the Maltese governments ruled by a bunch of cwiec politburo type of administration where might is right and where citizens are treated like second or third tier class idiots.
Mr Emanuel Curmi
Jun 14th 2011, 14:13
What a lame excuse. Fact is there never was an early election planned nor was it even be considered. This administration is so enamoured with power that it wouldn't even cross their minds. Why wud the PM consider such a extreme measure when there have been bigger scandals and the perpetrators are still holding high positions within this government.
However it does give a half baked excuse to those disgruntled back benchers for backing the PM embarrassing position. After all I imagine Mr. Pullicino Orlando and Mr Mugliett falling for such a ploy and yet these politicians expect that they can fool the electorate that their vote was one of conscience for the sake of the party! What a load of baloney.
Charles Sammut
Jun 14th 2011, 14:13
Calling an election would be another stupid decision Lawrence would take. He should resign for the good of the PN and hand over to Mario de Marco if he has any respect for the Nationalist Party!
HOORAY..HOORAY...THE END HAS ARRIVED!
GonziPN is dead!!!
....and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on....
Mr Joseph N. Attard
Jun 14th 2011, 14:13
Even those who are not so politically savvy would have guessed at this scenario. It was the only logical and honourable course of action open to the PM. The actions of the potential dissenters, before and after the vote, are now on permanent record, to be kept in mind at the next general election.
joe cutajar
Jun 14th 2011, 14:12
ahjar isir elezjoni halli nehilsu u inadfu il partit mill oportunisti li ghana ma jimpurtax li nitilfu l-elezjoni basta indafu il partit joe cutajar
Joe Grech
Jun 14th 2011, 14:04
This chap Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando likes being in the limelight. He does anything to achieve that not minding his habit of hunting with the hounds but then running with the hares as was manifestedly the case in the Divorce and other issues.
''Sources close to JPO ''say Dr Gonzi approached him on Saturday, just before the vote, and said that if he were to vote with the Labour Party, there would be an early general election.'' So that seems to have been the reason why this JPO chose to chicken out at the last moment. First he raised hell over the (admittedly) irresponsible manner by which the administration had selfishly provided its darling Cabinet members with extra moneys; then JPO does not back the Opposition's motion lambasting this precise issue.
JPO has lost all credibility. He keeps making a mockery of himself and of the P.N. Put him in his place come next election.
Charles Zerafa
Jun 14th 2011, 13:58
More nails in the PN's coffin.
Although Dr Gonzi won Saturday's vote (that was a vote of confidence for his leadership), he is loosing ground every day with the general public. He is seeing his minimum majority decreasing day by day not only with the electorate but also within his group.
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Jun 14th 2011, 13:44
Pullicino Orlando mhux stupidu. Kieku vota mal labour kienet issir elezzjoni u jirbah il labour u jkun mghajjar traditur hu flok Gonzi u shabu.
Ghalkemm Jeffrey fejn Gonzi zaghzugh ma waqax ghan nassa ta Gonzi u shabu.
Ms Maria Vella
Jun 14th 2011, 13:43
the more he speaks the less confidence in him I have
Mr william cauchi
Jun 14th 2011, 13:39
Dr Pullicino Orlando said he was not prepared to disappoint those who elected him by destabilising the government.
Sabiha din. So If a government goes astray or goes haywire, like this one did, does he think that this or any other government should go on unimpeded.
I can assure Dr. P.O. that a large proportion of those who voted PN, like myself, in the last election, because of the scare of the ba baw of Dr. Alfred Sant's return to power, would love to see an early end of this government.
Disappointed yes, but frankly I did not expect any different. Love him or hate him (I for one, well maybe i was biased), few would have the b.... to do what Mintoff did.
Mr William Flynn
Jun 14th 2011, 13:31
@ Joe Vella
I like your reasoning and I wouldn't put it past the PM to try what you said; but if Dr Gonzi were to call an election he will cease to be leader before he walks ten paces. The PN would want an election like they need a hole in the head. The PN executive know they would only be procrastinating the inevitable as far as the divorce bill and they'd lose power to boot. That's bad politics and they're better than that at it.
Mr Alfred Grech
Jun 14th 2011, 13:30
- Divorce in Malta was introduced under Dr Lawrence Gonzi's premiership - This will be the heading in Malta's history. Gonzi can eliminate his name from such statistics by calling for a snap election and he won't be the culprit of such law.
Mark Piscopo
Jun 14th 2011, 13:29
Il-Prim Ministru qatt ma missu holoq dan il-precedent fil parlament Malti. Ftakru hbieb meta tkunu ha tivvutaw li Joseph Muscat tilef €60,000 fis- sena biex telaq mill parlament Ewropew u gie jaghti servizz xieraq lil Poplu Malti fil-parlament Malti u iz –zieda li kien ha jtih il Prim ministru kien ha jtija li lfoqra.
Lawrence Gonzi ta zieda lilu nnifsu u lil Ministri tieghu ta €500 fil-gimgha blura mit 2008, jigifieri l- Prim u lministri ha jiehu €104,000 sa l-elezzjoni u li lpoplu tah €1.16 li tammonta ghal €60.32 sal l-elezzjoni generali.
Mr Eric Camilleri
Jun 14th 2011, 13:28
Dear JPO that would have been a very good move to the Maltese islands if there is an early election!
Your party is being bombarded with criticism, and corruption is clearly visible!! You had the chance to become one of the Maltese most famous MP if you did this, don't forget you would have done us a favor!!
Mr Joseph Galea
Jun 14th 2011, 17:52
Tghidx kemm il-laburisti baqghu ihobbuh lil Mintoff meta ghamel hekk? Kemm kulhadd ghandu memorja qasira
Mr Alfred Grech
Jun 14th 2011, 13:26
"I cannot disappoint those who voted for me by acting in a way that leads to an early general election,"
Those who voted for you, voted with the hope of seeing improvements in Malta and in their lives. This did not happen.
There are time when MPs have a choice - shall i "betray" my party or the people? People come first - government is elected to improve our lives. This has not happened and this admin put thousands in a very desperate situation.
VOTE FOR MALTA and not for your party.
Mr Carmel Garcia
Jun 14th 2011, 13:20
Uwweee....Uwweeeee...Uwwweee
Mr joe vella
Jun 14th 2011, 13:13
the simple truth is that had JPO and Mugliett voted with the opposition, the government would have lost the motion and this would have given dr gonzi and co the exact solution to the divorce bill dilemma
by resigning and going for an early election, this would have exactly suited dr gonzi's bill, he would then avoid having to pass the divorce bill through parliament, make divorce the main topic of the election campaign (and thus have a second go at trying to stop the bill from becoming law) and whatever the outcome the divorce law would not have passed on his watch, thus settling his, and others', moral dilemma
JPO and mugliett saw this possibility and refused to play game
this incident clearly confirms that dr gonzi is no longer running the show but is governing by crisis
Mr J Xerri
Jun 14th 2011, 14:02
governing by crisis .... or better by threats
Mr Eric Psaila
Jun 14th 2011, 13:07
JPO would it have been that bad if we had early elections bearing in mind that:
1) The country is fed up with your party being in government for so many years.
2) Your party has become a dictator and a fundamentalist party.
3) A party of two weights two measures.
4) A party which has an elastic conscience.
I found no support from your party when it concerned Air Malta. The writing was on the wall for all to see but nobody wanted to listen. End result Air Malta is in dire straits. Where was the conscience of your party then?
What is the government doing to get Air Malta's money frozen in Libya for so many years? Nothing so far.
Tony Dalli
Jun 14th 2011, 15:04
Eric, there are no Air Malta funds frozen in Libya.
Francis Attard
Jun 14th 2011, 13:05
U hallina JPO, tippruvax tghaddi n-nies biz-zmien izjed. Mela allura hallejt lil Gonzi juzak biex tkun komplici mieghu fl-iskandlu li wettaq. Ma nafx kemm ser jirnexxilek tikkonvinci nies u tfal b'din il-paprata.
Lili zgur li LE.
Anthony Busuttil
Jun 14th 2011, 13:03
this is a unique man
'I cannot disappoint those who voted for me by acting in a way that leads to an early general election," he wrote, in a third comment.' But he did dissapointed them by proposing divorce law
"I will not let anyone use me as an excuse to call an early election' but he used 53% of the Maltese people to vote for Divorce law.
this man is not to be trusted. I wished he was on my voteing list so I will have the pleasure keeping him out. But I am sure the PN will let him to contest the election so he will be humilated by keeping him out. He should thank Dr Alfred Sant that he got elected from 2 districts.
Mr Joseph Cauchi Senior
Jun 14th 2011, 13:02
Isn’t it time to call the bluff of certain PN Members of Parliament and call a SNAP general election?
There is no place in the PN for such “Prima-Donnas”!
We are being insulted by such behaviour!
JC.
Jason Falzon
Jun 14th 2011, 13:02
so in this case the will of the people doesn't count. if I am not mistaken this atrocious raise wasn't in last pn electoral manifesto, as wasn't divorce after all.
But since JPO stands to gain personally from the "will" of the people on divorce, then he can uphold it, but since he stands to loose personally on the salary he goes against the will of the people. JPO you went up there by the vote of people like me, the same vote (or lack of it) is going to take you down.
Colin Camilleri
Jun 14th 2011, 13:01
so what is wrong in calling an early election? the sentiment of the electorate would finally be heard? or? or is it a question that the PN cohorts want to stick to power as much as they like while enjoying the €500 a week increase?
do the maths people.... €500 a week for two years long make €52,000.... who would refuse that?
Victor Rodenas
Jun 14th 2011, 12:58
Now we have it from the horses` mouth,......they were blackmailed.Be carfull now,..it can happen again and again and as not to have an early election you have to vote with Gonzi every time.......What if in the Divorce referendum vote i n Parlament ,Gonzi uses the same tactic,...that is,..if yes vote passes there will be early elections,......how would you vote JPO.?.......if one fiddles with a snake and the snake bites ......
Mr Michael Debono
Jun 14th 2011, 12:57
No way not to shoulder the Divorce Vote.Dr. Gonzi p.n.
Mr Alfred Grech
Jun 14th 2011, 12:57
Jeffrey, you did a great disservice to the country by not voting "according to your conscience" and vote against the government. We need to have a change in parliament - you had the chance to make it happen but you chose not to.