Kurt Sansone
Will Gonzi’s 2012 be like Major’s 1995?
Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s decision to submit his Nationalist Party leadership to the test is a leaf out of the British Conservative Party’s book when its former leader, John Major, had done the same thing in 1995.
Facing mounting rebellion within the party, Mr Major, who was then Prime Minister leading a party in its fourth term in government, had resigned from leader and re-contested the post.
Mr Major, who was challenged by John Redwood, won the right to continue leading the Conservative Party but went on to lose the general election 18 months later to a Labour Party led by Tony Blair.
Former PN minister Michael Falzon believes it is hard not to draw parallels between Mr Major’s 1995 decision and Dr Gonzi’s.
“The only difference between the two is that Dr Gonzi has not resigned his post as party leader while seeking reconfirmation and this may create a statutory conundrum,” Mr Falzon said.
The rules governing the PN leadership contest say that to be elected leader a candidate has to obtain two-thirds of the vote, even if Dr Gonzi is uncontested.
Even if he does reach that threshold, a substantial negative vote could prompt Dr Gonzi to “rethink his position”, Mr Falzon said.
He conceded this scenario was highly unlikely because the political impasse created by backbencher Franco Debono had contributed to “a surge of popularity” for Dr Gonzi within the party.
But the mechanics of how the PN will go about reconfirming its leader may be secondary to the more important issue of whether this course of action will solve Dr Gonzi’s parliamen-tary problem.
Mr Falzon’s answer is a plain “no”, similar to that of former Labour minister and columnist Lino Spiteri.
Both agree that Dr Gonzi’s decision will do little to solve the issue of whether the government still enjoys a parliamentary majority after Dr Debono abstained on a no-confidence motion last week.
Mr Spiteri described the Prime Minister’s decision as “a tactical move” intended to pile pressure on Dr Debono so that he will have a change of heart in Parliament.
“Government’s parliamentary majority will not be regained because of the PN council’s decision but only through another vote of confidence or a positive vote on a money Bill,” Mr Spiteri said.
Nationalist backbencher and former minister Francis Zammit Dimech is more hopeful and believes the leadership race “should solve the crisis”.
“The Prime Minister was responsible and serious enough to accept responsibility for any decision that could have been better or possibly not right,” he said, adding that Dr Gonzi took the matter further by opening up the party leadership race in a transparent way.
Dr Zammit Dimech said the PN parliamentary group had to respect the people’s mandate for the government to be in office until 2013 but acknowledged that Dr Debono had, among others, expressed the wish to work with another individual instead of Dr Gonzi as Prime Minister.
“Given the constitutional convention that the President appoints the leader of the party with a majority of seats as Prime Minister, the only way to change him in a democratic set-up would be for the party to hold a leadership contest.
“Whatever the outcome of the contest this would be the result of a democratic process within the party and I would think that a person who rightly makes it a point to spell out issues of democracy would also respect democracy within the party.”
Somebody with a popular mandate to run the country until next year should not precipitate matters by calling an early election, he said. The PN should remain in office until a no-confidence vote is successful or government is defeated in a money Bill.
Dr Zammit Dimech also blamed the political turmoil on what he described as Labour leader Joseph Muscat’s “irresponsible and immature” behaviour of seeking an early election. “Dr Muscat’s election cry is warping what democracy is all about.”
Writing on his Facebook wall yesterday, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, another PN backbencher, disagreed with holding a leadership contest now.
“I absolutely disagree... Lawrence Gonzi was elected democratically,” Dr Pullicino Orlando wrote, adding that he had supported the Prime Minister during the 2004 leadership race.
The MP had insisted that after Dr Debono’s abstention during Thursday’s no-confidence motion, the only solution to the political impasse was a general election.
It is a feeling shared by the head of the Today Public Policy Institute Martin Scicluna, a commentator, who insisted an election was inevitable.
“A leadership election within the party is all fine but it doesn’t change the price of fish and the fact that this is a government on life support,” Mr Scicluna said.
If the party overwhelmingly re-elects Dr Gonzi as its leader, which Mr Scicluna expects to be the case, the administration would still be governing on borrowed time.
“And the borrowed time is at the behest of one of its own members of Parliament.”
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mark borg
Feb 5th, 21:44
Gonzi Linked to John Major...LOL.......he is not even fit to clean John’s shoes!...
B Ellul
Feb 3rd, 10:56
@Charles Busuttil
You seem fit to start writing fairy tale books....
fred fellon
Feb 1st, 17:15
Mr Adrian Camilleri, Yes I do live in Malta, otherwise I wouldn't care what goes on, Malta is my native land.
Victor Vella
Feb 1st, 07:47
This nation never encountered an arrogant person like Gonzi. When you hear those in the net of Gonzi PN and Gonzi himself make everybody cries. The production of tissues since last Thursday increased by 500%. Most of them were sold at tal-Pieta` headquarters. According to the Nationalist Statute nobody can contest Gonzi at tal-Pieta` because Gonzi has not yet resigned his post as the leader of the PN at tal-Pieta. There is no vacancy. How can anybody contest Gonzi when there is no real vacancy? This nation is living in a virtual reality. The Gonzi PN is living in a lie, an extended lie that in the long run the bubble of arrogance and hypocrisy will burst in the faces of Gonzi PN and his people.
David Bezzina
Feb 1st, 03:16
IT IS ONLY A HUGE 'MESSA IN SCENA'........WHO IS THE PM TRYING TO FOOL ?
Catherine Mifsud
Feb 15th, 12:30
Well the way he probably sees it is that he has managed to fool a lot of people all these years so why not give it another go !!!
I despair for the state of my beloved Malta and for the blissfull ignorance some people still want to live in...any one with half a brain can see it is time for drastic change.
And Please you diehard PN voters out there ...do not bother replying to this as I will treat you to the same arrogant disdain that Gonzi and his cronies dish out to the Maltese people and ignore you completely.
Ivan Esposito
Jan 31st, 22:03
Quite frankly I'm not too concerned about Dr. Gonzi's 2012!
What really concerns me is what's happening to our Parliamentary Democracy.
We now have a dysfunctional government.
Adrian E. Camilleri
Jan 31st, 20:39
Allow me to congratulate Dr. Gonzi on the magnificent address he gave the Kunsill Generali. A great leader, and a great Prime Minister. The confirmation or otherwise of Dr. Gonzi as PN leader, and as PM, will, if anything, solve one major problem i.e. Franco Debono. If Dr. Gonzi is confirmed, as I believe the vast majority will confirm by secret vote, then Dr. Debono will either have to lump his pride and accept and follow Dr. Gonzi, otherwise Dr. Debono wold have no other alternative but to RESIGN as an MP. Well done Dr. Gonzi and thank you for all you have so far done for this country. Malta needs you at the helm of its Government for many more years. Good luck.
Mr Charles.C. Brown
Jan 31st, 19:45
Forget those whos applyed to lead the PN, theres a lot of talk among my friends and many nationalists that they would love to see GEORGE PULLICINO leading the PN into the next general election . George his certainly the man for the job, his done wonders in his ministery, hes wise, you never hear a bad word about him not even from the opposition and hes got enough political weight and experience to lead us through these turbulant times, i wish that people start to recognise this gentleman and minister who serves this country so well as a potential leader.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 31st, 19:08
In the 1960's, President Kruschev of the Soviet Union visited the USA. He played golf with the American President- golf was then unknown in the Soviet Union. Pravda reported that Kruschev played golf, his first time at a very American game. The US Prsident came first BUT Kruschev came second! The more Gonzi does these gimmicks, the more I see the stalinisation of the PN.
Henry S Pace
Jan 31st, 17:34
'Put Up or Shut Up' The is the pphrase said by John Major when he requested a vote for his leadership in 1995.
fred fellon
Jan 31st, 17:17
Gonzi is like a lame duck , and the quicker he goes is better.
Adrian E. Camilleri
Jan 31st, 20:42
Mr. Fellon, are you really living in Malta, because it certainly does not seem like it?!
Joseph Calleja
Jan 31st, 17:12
And who from his own party would contest or challenge Dr Gonzi? This is all political game playing at the expense of the people. Franco Debono himself said, he is not interested in the PM's job and besides he is not dependable, as we saw in the last two votes. A man has to make a decision, good or bad and not falter in the heath of the battle. One cannot dare somebody and then turn the other way when he comes under fire. That is what ABSTAINING is all about. So for now GonziPN will remain GonziPN, well at least for a while. till a general election is set in place. This political storm is not over yet, there is the opposition led by a certain Joseph Muscat that wants to take over the helm away from GonziPN. So a vote of confidence within the Party is only for show, and nothing but a general election will suffice.
Paul Portelli
Jan 31st, 16:45
mela darba kelnha kap ta partit li rebah elezioni ta. Tafu kemm ikkontestawh? hadd.mux ovvja nan li jirbah hekk kien wahdu.hekk ha jajdulna wlied ulidna il quddiem.
Jimmy Magro
Jan 31st, 15:52
It does not take alot of mind power to come to the conclusion that the votes obtained on party level has nothing to do with the votes obtained in Parliament.
I wonder how much Dr. Franco Debono - now not a PN Parlaimentarian - will be impressed by the percentage of votes obtained by Dr. L. Gonzi when the modified leadership contest is concluded.
Ken Spiteri
Jan 31st, 15:45
Thatcher, John Major these are all nonsense, with this vote Gonzi will come out stronger VIRTUALLY, because in reality he is in a very weak position, no one will confront him for the leadership now with a general election at our doorsteps. But once he looses next election there is no where to hide, I want to see if those mentioned for leadership, if they will back him then.
Henry Mifsud
Jan 31st, 14:49
Who would dare to challenge the great leader with his pair of strong hands?
Theatricals at there best!
pat muscat
Jan 31st, 14:36
Joseph Muscat is to blame for the mess in Gonzi's party! If this is true, then Muscat is a capable politician, managing not only his party, but the Government and GonziPN itself! The mess cooked at Castille is not good for consumption: il-borma tinten u din il-borma tridt tintrema, ghax kollox wehel mal-qiegh: borma gdida, gvern gdid!
George Busuttil
Jan 31st, 14:23
This joke is the same like when Eddie Fenech Adami resigned after being found guilty in court of discrimination and all his minions decided that there wan no one like him and he RELUCTANTLY withdrew his resignation.
Gonzi will do likewise and accept to keep SERVING.
Lol.
Simon Spiteri
Jan 31st, 14:12
With all due respect to the autor of the article the comparison between the Gonzi administration and the Major administration is inappropriate since Major was facing Tony Blaire and not Joseph Muscat I am sure Mr Sansone is not comparing Dr Muscat to Tony Blaire because they are light years apart.
Adrian E. Camilleri
Jan 31st, 20:45
Hear, hear Mr. Spiteri!!!
Mario Farrugia
Jan 31st, 13:19
I don't know, call me stupid if my logic here is wrong... but, can someone explain this to me?
So the PN holds a new party leader election.
Gonzi is re-elected.
Franco Debono does not wish to be led by Gonzi as leader.
So it's back to square one, no?
What will this solve??
mario gellel
Jan 31st, 12:59
WITH A SMALL DIFFERENCE. MAJOR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE WAS A REALITY, GONZI'S IS A GIMMICK.
Charles Busuttil
Jan 31st, 12:49
There was this man Joseph walking down the street when he saw his friend Lawrence looking for something. Joseph asked: 'What are you looking for, Lawrence'? The latter answered: 'I have lost my wallet and am looking for it'. Joseph said: 'Let me help you. Where exactly did you lose it'? 'I have actually lost it in the other street, but it is so dark there that I have decided to look for it under this lamp post'!
This is exactly what Gonzi is doing. He lost his majority in Parliament and is looking for it within the PN.
George Calleja
Jan 31st, 12:38
Kulhadd sar espert kostituzzjonali.Specjalment l-pampaluni laburisti. Insew dawn li damu tmien xhur shah jiddependu mill-vot ta l-Speaker meta kienu l-ahhar fil-gvern is-seklu l-iehor. Kulhadd irid jaghti l-pariri u jikkompara. Il-laburisti mal-1998 iridu jqabblu biss ghax insejna meta l-ahhar li kienu fil-gvern. Minn naha tieghu jghidu x'jghidu, Franco Debono qajjem l-irwiefen kollha imma meta gie ghad-decizjoni mportanti halla l-kulhadd jittewweb...ghax l-laburisti u n-nazzjonalisti ma kisbux dak li riedu. Imma ghall-inqas n-nazzjonalisti ghandhom id-dritt sagrosant li jibqghu imexxu. Issa li gejjin ghal kariga ta kap nazzjonalista, FD rega wera li iparla kemm iparla mhux kapaci jiehu hu it-tmun tal-partit. Mela ahjar jaghlaq halqu!!
mario gellel
Jan 31st, 12:31
ON A DEMOCRATIC POINT 'YES'. ON A ARROGANT ANT DEMOCRATIC POINT 'NO'.
John Borg
Jan 31st, 12:28
The country's problems will onlt be solcved if Joseph Muscat, who opposed EU membership, who did not come up with one concrete solution, becomes prime minister and involves in his cabinet all those elected on the PL ticket. Because he will have to find a way to appease everybody to ensure that he will not have a Franco Debono.
Bil-lejber nispiccaw b'kabinett ma jispicca qatt, anke jekk ikollna hafna ministri bla portafoll, u l-ispiza tal kabinett tkun hafna ikbar mill-500 zieda li l-ministri ma baqghux jiehdu.
Jekk il-lejber iridna nemmnu l-ministri tieghu se jkunu mhallsin bil-qamel, hemm il-prroverbju ngliz addattat: paying peanuts will only get monkeys.
Willie Grech
Jan 31st, 16:27
@ John Borg.
"paying peanuts will only get monkeys."
We have been paying ministers and parliamentary secretaries 500 euros per week for the last four years. According to PM Lawrence Gonzi his cabinet was filled with incapable people. So, according to your proverb, we were paying very good money and still we were getting monkeys!!
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 31st, 19:12
paying peanuts will only get monkeys: so what youare saying is the PN ministers are there to make money not to serve our country. I agree.
Rod Enderby
Jan 31st, 12:26
The interesting thing about the Major "episode" was that one MP (Portillo) was secretly setting up a campaign office ready to stand and was then tumbled and bottled it, and after the "election" many Tory MP's swiftly regretted not backing Redwood and forcing Major out. It will be interesting to see any similarities here.
Joseph Grech Attard
Jan 31st, 12:13
What sort of comparison is this? Major's actions were those of a statesman. Gonzi's actions AT THIS PERIOD IN TIME OF CRISIS is a farce, although there are some who are labeling him THE IRON MAN, a comparison to Margaret thatcher!!!
Jay Oatmon
Jan 31st, 14:21
I agree 100% Dr. Gonzi would have preferred to take no action on anything for as long as possible - it is his style. Thats why every scandal is swept under the carpet for others to sort out in the next government.
Peter Murray
Jan 31st, 11:23
The comparison we should be drawing to Major's government around that time was the fact that the UK was removed(evicted) from the EERM -that didn't turn out too bad did it?Why can't such an eviction be applied now to errant states?
John Zammit
Jan 31st, 10:44
What is definitely true is that Dr.Gonzi have no beef in the Cabinet. Replacements of ministers will not solve the Nations Problems.After all he is a problem himself
godwin difesa
Jan 31st, 16:35
Yes he is a big problem for LP as he already won his last election in the 2008 if you remember and he will do the same in the next of 2013.LP are afraid to leave him finish all the projects that why they want a quick election.Wait my friend a little more there is much time left for PM.Do not forget get 2008 he came from back l to win the race not with much but at least with majority not like 1981.
Lawrence Fenech
Jan 31st, 10:05
De.finately
Paul@ Micallef
Jan 31st, 09:20
After reading the above comments I have to say that Dr Zammit Dimech is living in a dream world. Listening to him on tv saying the same things I feel that he is still thinking that one can make the maltese people believe anything that the village lawyer might tell them. Can't you understand that that time have passed. Did you and the PN learned nothing from the recent divorce issue?
Jesmond Farrugia
Jan 31st, 09:14
The opposition must now provide clarity on where its stands on the big issues. In short, it must move away from making populist comments that are meant for domestic consumption only, to providing sound economic policies built on the solid foundations laid down by the administration of Dr. Gonzi. This will also have the effect of shocking the NP out of it's slumber, whereupon it may take evasive action to avoid the looming and near perfect storm. Dr. Gonzi, do kindly engage weather radar sir.
pat muscat
Jan 31st, 09:09
The John Major controversy in the British Conservative Party happened 17 years ago! GonziPN is surely stuck in the past to look back ( again)and try to fix its mess by old methods and out of date procedures. One cannot solve new problems with old methods. Malta needs new ideas and new leaders capable of thinking out of the box.
Victor Laiviera
Jan 31st, 09:04
Dr Francis Zammit Dimech said, ""Given the constitutional convention that the President appoints the leader of the party with a majority of seats as Prime Minister, the only way to change him in a democratic set- up would be for the party to hold a leadership contest."
This is totally and utterly false - I hope it was a genuine mistake.
The President is obliged to appoint, as PM the person who can command a majority IN THE HOUSE.
His or her standing in the party is irrelevant.
Willie Grech
Jan 31st, 12:24
Victor, Dr. Francis Zammit Dimech did no genuine mistake. He is purposely mixing party politics with parliamentary affairs as he very well knows that his party is not right in this issue but is merely clinging to any 'straw' he can catch.
They are only playing for time and in the meantime they are praying that Franco Debono will have a change of heart before the next money bills are put forward in parliament.
R Abela
Jan 31st, 08:56
Jien nahseb hemm sejjer!!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jan 31st, 08:52
There is a difference between the party leader and the PM. Any MP can challenge the PM and nominate another MP to take over and if the nominated MP garners enough support from his side he becomes the PM while the other member may still remain an MP and leader of the party.
One must remember that the House does not distinguish between political parties and the business is conducted by two leaders and their supporting members – the PM and the leader of the opposition.
The Constitution would allow all the elected MPs to form themselves in any combination irrespective of party tickets as long as they can provide a workable coalition to form a majority, the rest would be led by the majority group leader within the minority parties. The system is the same as that in the British House of Commons.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jan 31st, 08:50
""Given the constitutional convention that the President appoints the leader of the party with a majority of seats as Prime Minister, the only way to change him in a democratic set- up would be for the party to hold a leadership contest." This is totally incorrect. The PM must have a majority in the House not in his party.
M Farrugia
Jan 31st, 10:59
Jekk wihed jara l-istorja parlamentari ta pajjizna isib li kien hemm zmien meta ebda partit ma gab il-maggoranza, gabu siggijiet inqas u l-gvenatur sejjer wiehed minn dawn il-partit sabiex imexxi l-pajjiz minkejja li ma kellux maggoranza fil-parlament. Il-parlament mexa fghax dak iz-zmien sab lil Partit tal-Haddiema ta veru jappoggjah. Meta dan il-partit ddecieda li ma jkomplix jaghti l-ppogg tieghu xorta wahda ma ghamilx bsaten fir-rotti lil gvern, u l-gvern kompla mmexxi l-legislatura kollha. Nafu li anki dak iz-zmien kien hemm partit iehor iddispratt ghal poter, imma l-Labour PArty ma paxxihx. Meta, il-Partit tal-Haddiema ghamel passi differenti u beda jappoggja partit iehor minflok dak li beda jaghti l-appogg tieghu fil-bidu r-rizultat kien wiehed disastruz ghalih, ghax kull ma gie elett kien l-kap biss.