Former President and Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami in reflections on Bondi Plus today said he did not think that Malta would ever suffer a repeat of the Tal-Barrani incidents of 1986.

Replying to questions by Lou Bondi', the former PN leader said many people today could not imagine the division that existed in the country at the time, but the people now realised the importance of having unity and serenity where everyone did his part according to his ideals in a civil, democratic and acceptable way.

The country had matured and there was no longer the political hatred of the past.  

DIVORCE

Questioned on Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando's actions in filing a private motion which eventually led to the introduction of divorce, Dr Fenech Adami said that he would never, as party leader, have accepted a situation where somebody elected on the party ticket acted independently of the prime minister, the party executive and MPs and  filed a motion on such a controversial subject.

It would have been okay had that MP been an independent candidate, but somebody elected on the party ticket should respect the whip and be loyal.  As leader, he would not have acted as if nothing had happened, Dr Fenech Adami said.

MARY FENECH ADAMI

On the passing away of his wife, Dr Fenech Adami said he was overwhelmed by the people's tributes. He was overwhelmed by how the people appreciated how she was always available and sought to help anyone, without distinction.

Dr Fenech Adami described his wife as a strong willed woman who never gave up in the various crises, never lost her presence of mind and always acted in the most natural of ways.

DOM MINTOFF

Replying to questions about Dom Mintoff, particularly his views on education, Dr Fenech Adami said Mr Mintoff  seemed to have been scared of having the people educated beyond a certain level. Mintoff was not against education per se  and he made primary school available to all after the war. But then he did not give proper value to advanced autonomous education.

Mr Mintoff had lots of positives, but he worried about power slipping from his hands. When he realised that the electorate would hand defeat to his party, he moved aside (in 1984).

Question on which was his sweetest political triumph Dr Fenech Adami said the 1987 electoral victory was the most important as it set in motion a train of events, including political reconciliation.

As to who was his most formidable opponent as leader of the Labour Party, Dr Fenech Adami said that was Dom Mintoff.

Mintoff had the gift of the gab, he knew how to work the crowd. Before he entered the political fray, he too went to Mintoff's meetings, Dr Fenech Adami revealed. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, his old friend in their University days, and Alfred Sant did not have the same quality as Mintoff had as an orator.

Dr Fenech Adami avoided questions on what he viewed as being the biggest obstacle in the way of victory for the PN at the next general election but said that in any democracy, having been in government for many years was a handicap. Inversely, however, being in Opposition for many years was also a problem, with people being led to wonder if the members of the Opposition were sufficiently up to the task, Dr Fenech Adami said, adding that he was not saying that they weren't. 

BRIBERY OF JUDGES

Dr Fenech Adami said the case involving the bribery of two judges was one of the saddest periods of his time in office. He said that prior to holding a press conference (where he revealed the case) he had heard wire taps recorded legally by the police where criminals revealed what was going on. The case was something which he never imaged could happen.

The stabbing of his consultant Richard Cachia Caruana was among the most shocking moments. Cachia Caruana himself, with a knife in his back, had phoned him to tell him what had happened.

Fenech Adami said he had the presence of mind to phone (then minister) John Rizzo Naudi on another line and he advised him to keep Cachia Caruana on the phone and talking until an ambulance arrived. Dr Fenech Adami said he then rushed to Mdina, where Cachia Caruana was about to be taken out of his home. At hospital, matters were touch and go until emergency surgery was performed.

Asked to recall his reaction after the trial by jury that followed the stabbing, (where one of the accused was acquitted) Dr Fenech Adami said he had felt disillusioned and had declared that a change to the criminal code was needed so that in such cases, where politics were involved, trials should be heard before judges rather than a jury.

Dr Fenech Adami said he had no regrets about leading Malta into the EU. The positives by far outweighed the negatives he said. One possible negative was that many bright Maltese were now going abroad, although it was a positive that they had now more opportunities than before.

Dr Fenech Adami said he worried about the erosion of values in Malta, but said this was not caused by EU membership but changing times.