Updated: AD decides to contest after being told that leave is optional
Alternattiva Demokratika said this afternoon it will be contesting local elections as it had been informed by the principal permanent secretary that leave for public service employees was optional and candidates could opt not to take it.
Earlier today, the party threathened that if restrictions by the Office of the Prime Minister on public sector employees are not removed, it would not contest the local council elections.
The party was referring to a directive that public sector employees wishing to contest the elections are to take leave prior to the election.
"It is absurd that the Office of the Prime Minister is penalising local candidates by asking them to take special unpaid leave or leave for offering to give a voluntary service to their locality. This is obviously detrimental to all candidates who work in the public service, and especially to those who come from small parties or who are independent candidates. We have no doubt that this is the true reason why this new directive was introduced less than a year ago and with restricted circulation," AD chairman Michael Briguglio said.
He said the party realised in the past few days that very few were aware of the directive's existence.
"In such a context of bad faith and manoeuvres to restrict participation of citizens in Malta's democratic process, AD - TheGreen Party will be withdrawing its 10 candidates from the forthcoming local council elections, unless the directive is revised so as not to punish public service employees who choose to give a service to their locality", he added.
"AD will keep this in mind in forthcoming strategies for the general election".
The government explained yesterday that its policy was aimed at broadening participation by government employees in elections, while safeguarding the impartiality of public administration.
It said that public service employees who declare themselves candidates for local elections 'have the opportunity' to take special unpaid leave during the electoral campaign, unless they wished to use their normal leave.
AD said earlier that the candidates were actually being 'forced' to take two weeks of unpaid leave.
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Victor Zammit
Feb 10th, 11:10
The “view to reconciling the political impartiality of the Public Service with the personal rights of public officers” of Para. 1.1. of the Directive is safeguarded by the “no option but to avail himself/herself (i.e. the public officer) of unpaid electoral leave” in Para. 4.1. of the same Directive.
If “no option” now means “not mandatory”, where does that leave the “impartiality of the Public Service”?
Alfred Falzon
Feb 10th, 10:53
Prospective candidates who happen to be Government employees need not pretend to be funded from taxpayers' money.
If they are so keen to serve the people, they should either ask for normal leave or do the electoral campaign rounds outside office hours!
Otherwise there should be every encouragement to all candidates willing to observe the rules of the game on a level playing field.
Alfred A. Falzon
Carmel Cacopardo
Feb 10th, 11:12
No candidate from AD request anything of the sort implied by Alfred Falzon.
AD has insisted that Local Council candidates should not be forced to take unpaid leave.
The Directive issue by the Office of the Prime Minister stated clearly In para 4.1 that :
" .................... the prospective candidate has no option but to avail himself/herself of unpaid electoral leave for an uninterrupted period of at least 15 working days,......"
Dr Godwin Grima was man enough to accept that this was an error made by his office and consequently informed AD that Local Council candidates are not required to make use of unpaid leave.
Local Council candidates can get on with their normal working duties throughout the local council campaign. This is what AD candidates have been doing until public officers informed a number of them that they had no option but to make use of unpaid leave. this has now been reversed in writing.
arnold cassola
Feb 10th, 11:34
That was exactly our point:
Our candidates wan to to do their electoral campaigning after office hours and do not want to be obliged taking 3 weeks (15 working days) unpaid leave or leave entitlement.
Any candidate who wants to campaign during office hours can, if s/he so wishes, take unpaid leave.
But do not oblige everybody to do so.
Luckily, the OPM has admitted that the wording of the directive does not reflect the intention behind the same directive.
E. Vassallo
Feb 10th, 13:04
@Carmel Cacopardo
This is an administration that listens.
Ramon Casha
Feb 10th, 09:07
Although this issue has been settled, anyone interested in reading the document in question, it's available here:
https://secure2.gov.mt/localgovernment/file.aspx?f=6380
The problem was in the words "so however that in each of the three cases, the prospective candidate has NO OPTION BUT to avail himself/herself of unpaid electoral leave for an uninterrupted period of at least 15 working days" (emphasis added).
Dr. Godwin Grima clarified that this was not intended to mean that the unpaid leave was mandatory.
Mr Anthony Briffa
Feb 10th, 08:01
Am I to understand that AD misread the contents of the government circular to civil servants or is it a u-turn by the OPM? It will be interesting if the circular is published in full to be read and understood becuase here stands for scurtiny the integrity of either the AD leadership of the writer of the circular.
Carmel Cacopardo
Feb 10th, 09:38
Mr Briffa :
The Directive is very clear. In para 4.1 it is stated that :
" .................... the prospective candidate has no option but to avail himself/herself of unpaid electoral leave for an uninterrupted period of at least 15 working days,......"
If you want the full text you can read through my lastest entry in my blog where you can find the necassry link. http://carmelcacopardo.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/id-direttiva-tal-misthija-l-ahhar-att/
Kenneth Williams
Feb 9th, 22:35
Nixtieq naf min qed imexxi Kastilja????? U turn wahda wara l ohra.
A. Schembri
Feb 9th, 19:38
Well done AD....you voiced your very reasonable and good opnion and managed to change the to make a difference!
Michael Gatt
Feb 9th, 18:48
Somebody said that GonziPN should change its name to UTurn PN. Now I am realizing how true is that statement
Joe Morana
Feb 9th, 18:10
Govt. said that public service employees who declare themselves candidates for local elections 'have the opportunity' to take special unpaid leave during the electoral campaign, unless they wished to use their normal leave.
Prosit ! Good sense prevailed.
Steve Borg - Marsascala
Feb 9th, 16:55
@Michael Briguglio
When I contested the MEP elections on behalf of the PL I was on a low Scale 13 employed with the Ministry of Education with a monthly net income of around 900 euros. After the elections I was nominated by my party to be its representative on the MEUSAC sectoral committee regarding the environment.
Nevertheless, being a civil servant I was informed by writing that if I wished to attend the meetings, usually held at 3pm I had to apply for leave that would be reduced from my personal one, entitled to me by law.
Notwithstanding the fact that since March 2008 the Prime Minister's Office had, through its parliamentary secretary for Public Dialogue identified eight tasks for MEUSAC. These included the need to "discuss the impact proposed EU measures could have on Malta, its institutions, its specific sectors and ordinary citizens." Futher information on MEUSAC's mission statement is found herewith www.meusac.gov.mt
Despite the appeals by senior PL officials, I was denied leave to attend the MEUSAC sectoral committee meetings unless I took leave, since I represented a political party. I was also denied the right to attend to the meeting hosted by Swedish Ambassador to Malta He. Ms. Ulla Gudmundson, entitled the Swedish EU Presidency Public Dialogue, to which I was personally invited, unless I took personal leave - since I represented a political party. Oh yes, of course. And this ruling taken on the presumation that all government appointees are non-political.
The bard advices us that, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."
Or do you sincerely think this ruling is all pure coincidence? A few weeks ago during the Debono-Gonzi fallout you suggested that this wasn't the right time for Malta to go for general elections. And then, a month latr you have this new regulation impeding the candidature of your representatives for the local council elections. Just wait for further surprises for the general elections. Enough said.
Michael Briguglio
Feb 9th, 16:11
The latest OPM Directive simply cannot be accepted. I can see no logic in it other than making it much more difficult for small parties to field candidates. We simply cannot legitimize it by fielding a few candidates and by accepting that the majority of our candidates cannot contest. After AD's meeting with OPM, we will send an update on the situation. Should OPM persist with its dictat, the story will not end here.
In reply to some of the sceptical comments above, I have one thing to say: No AD candidate who is a public servant was going to do housevisits or other campaigning during office hours, so they were not going to take a cent from the public service for this.
The mediocre comment of sceptics is not surprising. You really have the rulers you deseve.
R Bonnici
Feb 9th, 17:10
"You really have the rulers you deserve"... you couldn't have said it better Mr. Briguglio.
Jesmond Micallef
Feb 10th, 00:06
May I wish a sincere good luck to Alternativa Demokratika. May you also manage to secure your well deserved place in the Maltese Parliament. It is about time that such a Progressive and Democratic development takes place in Malta, too. Work passionately and honestly hard on your constituency and political agenda.
With my best wishes to the AD Party.
Robert Callus
Feb 9th, 14:05
Let me clear a misunderstanding a couple of people seem to have.
We are NOT asking for any paid leave or extra privilege for conducting our campaign. I for one do my campaigning in the evening or on my days off. I don't even dream of asking anyone to give me paid leave while I'm executing my campaign!
What we're talking about here is FORCED leave. In other words, if I contest the election the government is forcing me to use all my leave from next Monday till election day, or take unpaid leave.
This has nothing to do with campaigning. It's a ridiculous law as one can see from the vague and absurd explanation the government has given above. The motive for the law - I will leave that to your imagination.
Mr J Xerri
Feb 9th, 13:31
Could somebody please make things clear. Is this as the authorities are stating "an opportunity " for those contesting to take special unpaid leave, or are these candidates being 'forced' to take this opportunity. Can a Civil Servant contest these elections without the need of absenting himself on 'unpaid' or 'normal leave'?
If one cannot the government is trying to pull people's legs when stating that its policy was aimed at broadening participation by government employees in elections, while safeguarding the impartiality of public administration.
Andre` Vella
Feb 9th, 14:17
No Mr. Xerri, you cannot contest elections without taking leave, hence why it is forced.
At least until now, teh decision has not been reversed yet. Hopefully they will have a change of heart.
Richard Schranz
Feb 9th, 13:27
Mr B Cassar - Please be advised that I am a 71 year old pensioner, struggling to make both ends meet with a pension of less than 700 euros month, after having contributed to the Social Security Fund for over 44 years.
This notwithstanding, I am ready and willing to refund you the 15 eur donation you gave to AD if ,due to circumstances beyond the control of AD, your voluntary application to participate as an AEC pro AD should fail to materialise.
AD is run by a small group of mainly young, dedicated highly qualified, civic-minded people, sacrificing their free time at great personal financial cost. Out of Parliament they achieved a lot, especially in the field of social justice, civil and human rights and environment, and against corrupt practices. Malta needs a third party of the calibre of AD.
Richard
B Cassar
Feb 9th, 14:28
As much as I agree with you, the point here is much about the fact that there was a committment entered between AD and all those that applied for this. At some point everything was withdrawn and I felt it was not fair that we were promised this and all of a sudden we are left with nothing. Everyone is focusing on just the 15 euros but such withdrawal was seen as unclear especially when the dates changed so suddenly and then there was this article. Now Mr. Brigulgio has cleared this in his comment.
You know what Mr. Schranz - on these pages there are alot of bullies that as soon as someone comments on something they are ready to jump at his/her throats as if they are the perfect angels of Malta. I am quite sure that if they were in the same position there question would have been - Have I applied for nothing? Have I paid 15 euros for being an AEC and I've been taken for a ride? So it's one thing paying something as a donation right away and it's clear but it's another being told you are going to serve as AEC and then everything is blown in nothing. Things should be clear - that's it. I bet that few would have paid the 15 euros as a donation if they weren't promised something in return. Even the people hereunder that want to portray themselves as angels and visit these pages everyday.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 9th, 13:05
AD - and any other canditate effected by this directive - deserve all our support. People who step forward to serve in public bodies should be commended, not penalised.
Victor Zammit
Feb 9th, 12:50
“The government explained yesterday that its policy was aimed at … safeguarding the impartiality of public administration”.
What ‘impartiality’? Are not Local Councils civic and apolitical by the very law that created them? I’d be living in cloud-cuckoo land to believe they were.
So is the OPM now formalising that they are political?
Angus Black
Feb 9th, 13:56
How can Local Councillors be apolitical if they run under the banner of respective political parties? Had they been apolitical they would run as independents and not be subject to directives by political parties they run for.
Victor Zammit
Feb 9th, 14:32
@ Angus Black
But isn't this what I said, that they are not apolitical?
John Scerri
Feb 9th, 12:07
'The government explained yesterday that its policy was aimed at broadening participation by government employees in elections, while safeguarding the impartiality of public administration.'
NONSENSE
Dr.Gonzi repeats always that mistakes are made and bad decisions are taken and the government is ready to listen and rectify bad decisions taken by certain departments .
This case in point is one of them . A very rash and stupid directive which is also discriminatory .
Here is a test ...The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Mr J Xerri
Feb 9th, 13:24
Do you really believe that this decision was taken without consultation and is just a 'bad decision taken by certain departments?
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 9th, 11:54
Once again, GonziPN shows its democratic credentials. In the divorce referendum, they eliminated a number of young people on the pretext that the electoral register had not been published yet; in the last elections they made sure that foreign residents were not given the vote; parliament now opens at the whim of NP. Is this what we fought for in the 1980s?
David Mangion
Feb 9th, 12:56
No this is not.
This is GonziPN, punto e basta.
It is what the people have voted for. (at least we have not been cheated on this one. We knew what the product consisted of. The label was there for all to see.)
Gone are the days, when our battlecry was "Xoghol, Gustizzja, Liberta !"
Who believes in the "Gustizzja" nowadays ?
Anybody ever reflected why "Gustizzja" was put before "Liberta" ?
G Vella
Feb 9th, 11:46
How cynical, coming from a government that leverages its incumbency to the full in shoving tax-funded propaganda down our throat just prior to a general election.
Gianfrancesco Buttigieg
Feb 9th, 11:33
Thawdux il-hass mal-kabocci.
According to this directive, candidates (this applies to all parties and independent candidates) have to take unpaid leave even if they DON'T do their canvassing during office hours. This is the rub.
Few can afford to go without a salary for 2-3 weeks, especially considering 'kunsilliera' are not paid.
Victor Pulis
Feb 9th, 11:04
carmel callus
Today, 10:48
Why should teachers take leave to campaign, when they can do that after school hours and on weekends!
Exactly my thoughts. I mentioned teachers in particular because of the nature of their work none can take unpaid leave and abandon a classful of students for two weeks.
(teachers do not have leave per se. They have 27 and a half hours special leave which is given at the discretion of the head of school)
Ms Xaxa Caruana
Feb 9th, 12:25
100% right.
J Azzopardi
Feb 9th, 11:03
Min ma jafx x'inhi Directive 5 ikun ahjar li ma jiktibx messagi bla sens hawn taht. Din Directive 5 hi ingusta u jekk ma jkunx hemm spjega sew jista jkun li kandidati ta' partiti ohra fosthom PN u l-PL ma jikkontestawx fl-elezzjoni.
Jien ghalliem u ma taghmilx sens li jien niehu '15 working days unpaid leave' (3 weeks). Immagina li BILFORS ma nkunx nista' nmurr skola! Nghallem studenti li se jaghmlu l-Matsec u minhabba din id-direttiva jista jkun li ma nkunx nista nmurr l-iskola.
Biex nohrog ghall-elezzjoni tal-Kunsill m ghandi bzonn ebda leave u l-kampanja tieghi naghmila f'hin iehor.
Nghid proset lil AD li qed jahdmu fuq din il-kwistjoni, lil PL li ukoll hargu reazzjoni taghhom u anki l-MUT li qed jahdmu ukoll ghall-interess ta' ghalliema li huma interessati li johorgu ghall-elezzjoni tal-Kunsill Lokali.
Tajjeb li wiehed jaghraf li din mhix kwistjoni partiggjana imma kwistjoni li hemm bzonn kjarifika. Kull haddiem tac-civil li behsiebu johrog ghal elezzjoni se jkun affettwat, u jkun ta' liema partit hu. U l-Kjarifika ghandha tohrog kemm jista jkun malajr ghax is-sibt huwa l-ahhar jum tan-nominazzjonijiet.
Grazzi
Emanuel. Vella.
Feb 9th, 10:39
bir-rispett kollu lejn,ic-chairman ta ad,is-sur michael briguglio.il-poplu malti u ghawdxi,fin-1998 wera bic-car,li mhux interessat,fit-tielet partit f pajjizna.
Andre` Vella
Feb 9th, 11:03
Ara kemm hu bravu dan - qed jghid li nistaghu inbezzghu lil tal-AD aghax hekk jew hekk minoranza politika.
Il-haga li turtani hija kif minn jaf li din hija ingusta, xorta jaqbzu ghal min qed jizbalja ghax tal-istess partit!
carmel vella
Feb 9th, 11:23
X ghandu x`jaqsam? Din id-direttiva sejra tolqot lill-kandidati tal-partiti kollha. L-argument ta Michael Briguglio huwa fuq bazi totalment differenti.
Din id-direttiva sfortunatament ixxekkel lil dawk l-impjegata fic-civil illi b`sens ta dover lejn il-komunita jew rahal li jghixu fih jixtiequ jaghtu servizz senza interessi. Il-hin illi dawn in-nies joffru f`xoghol volontarju ghal gid tar-rahal taghhom huwa imprezzabli u huwa ta importanza kbira illi ma ninsewx li dan il-hin qieghdin inaqqsuh mill-hin li jqattghu mal-familja.
Appell: Dr. Gonzi ghoqod attent ghaliex la jasal il-mument, verament niggudikawk fuq dak li tkun ghamilt u mhux fuq dak li tkun ghidt. Sfortunatament int u l-partit tieghek thobbu tilghabu l-parti tal-palladini tad-demokrazija u li fil-verita zgur li ma intomx. Wisq nibza li Franco Debono ghandu ragun.
Ms Xaxa Caruana
Feb 9th, 12:25
@Emanuel Vella
Allura bl stess ragunamnet tieghek, il kandidati tal pn ghal elezzjoni fil Kunsill Lokali, ma johorgux ta ghax gonzi ma ghandux il maggoranza fil parlament.
Jekk ma taqbilx ma AD just tivutax lilhom u xejn iktar, kompli ghaddas rasek fir ramel bhal ma qed jaghmel leader tal partit tieghek.
Awguri.
Karl Consiglio
Feb 9th, 10:31
So who exactly is supposed to feel "threatened"?
Andre` Vella
Feb 9th, 10:56
As a quasi-local councillour you should support AD.
At least PL have (in)directly supported AD....but go figure Karl Consilgio tal-PNPaceville!
Gianfrancesco Buttigieg
Feb 9th, 11:34
Good on you if you feel 2-3 weeks of pay are unimportant and you can comfortably make ends meet without them...
Karl Consiglio
Feb 9th, 11:50
Andre, get with the program, i'm no longer in Paceville ever since PN turned its back on us.
Andre` Vella
Feb 9th, 12:31
That was not the point - the point is that being in the Paceville's Administrative Council you should know better than to thrash AD just becuase you do not tolerate minority parties.
Your electoral campaign, if you had one, could have been easily conducted after office hours. AD's local council campaigns are no different, but forcing candidates to take unpaid leave anyway is a great injustice. Instead of agreeing on this principle you keep insisting with your blinkered anti-AD position, even if they just defended Paceville residents' rights just last Saturday! (http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120204/local/pn-s-decisions-will-deepen-crisis-ad-chairman.405261)
Karl Consiglio
Feb 9th, 13:54
@Andre` Vella,
What makes you think I got something against AD? The odd bit of criticism? Ansi I feel they got they're priorities right in place, need to upgrade their promotional skills though, thats all, by changing the name of the party for example.
Karl Consiglio
Feb 9th, 13:56
@Andre` Vella,
What makes you think I got something against AD? The odd bit of criticism? Ansi I feel they got they're priorities right in place, need to upgrade their promotional skills though, thats all, by changing the name of the party for example.
Michael Briguglio
Feb 9th, 10:26
@ B Cassar. We had to change date of meeitng with aecs due to deadline imposed by electoral commission. If we withdraw all aecs etc will be refunded. This afternoon AD has meeting with Principal Permanent Secretary
Ms Xaxa Caruana
Feb 9th, 12:19
@M Briguglio .......re B.Cassar....tista torqod mohhok mistrih ha tohodhom lura il 15euro. jaqq xi dwejjaq ta nies.!!!!
Mario Bonnici
Feb 9th, 10:11
Certi kummenti hawn isfel juruni kemm hawn nies li ma jimpurtahomx mid-demokrazija.
Frank Gauci
Feb 9th, 10:09
AD will close one door but the Independent door is still open :)
G Mangion
Feb 9th, 09:58
Prosit AD
LOL who's Next ?
G .Mangion
David Mangion
Feb 9th, 11:07
Din il-mentalita......bhal tieghek hija r-raguni ewlenija ghaliex il-PN jinsab qed jeghreq.
Meta tibqa ghaddej tghaffeg fuq min hu ckejken u tittrattah bhala invizibbli, tkun qed taghmel zball strategiku kbir.
Min hu ntelligenti u strategista tajjeb, dejjem hares lura lejn l-istorja u jinduna li jaqbillu li jittratta tajjeb lil minoranzi illi huma ta principju.
Issa x'qed tiggwadanja bhala Nazzjonalist., billi qed issib xi hadd ckejken u titnejjek bih f'wiccu?
Forsi qed tiggwadanja r-rispett tieghu?
Forsi tahseb li bil-kumment tieghek hemm xi hadd li kien se jivvota AD u issa se jivvota PN minhabba li int dhaqt bih/biha?
L-akbar probabbilta hi li min hassu insolentat b'kumment medjokri bhal tieghek, se jipprova jpattihielek billi jivvota fejn l-aktar jista jpattiehielek.....jigifieri Labour.
G Mangion
Feb 9th, 11:52
David Mangion
Semmejt hafna kliem bla Sens !!! imma x' Tistenna minn,min hlief holm ikrah ma jigihx go mohhu
Allura inti tahseb li issa dawk li sa jpattuieli sa jivutaw lil P.N ? hallina jien sempliciment ghedt [ Prosit AD LOL who's Next ? ] Issa jew tuba jew fimtni Sewwa x' Jista jigri, min jaf il pl u Champion biex jikoppja !! The less the --------
G . Mangion.
Anton Zammit
Feb 9th, 09:58
What a cheek!...........and AD is not ashamed of itself in issuing this statement?
Does AD think that I as a self employed am content in seeing a civil servant get paid for doing AD's work?
NO WAY, as no one pays me if I do that.....
Andre` Vella
Feb 9th, 11:24
If you are unable to conduct a local council electoral campaign outside office hours then I doubt you are fit to become a local councillour in the first place.
Frank Fenech
Feb 9th, 09:58
Good riddens!
Ramon Casha
Feb 9th, 14:21
What is a ridden?
Mike Abbot
Feb 9th, 15:57
it's the past participle of ride
Victor Pulis
Feb 9th, 09:50
This new regulation practically eliminates all those teachers who were thinking of contesting.
carmel callus
Feb 9th, 10:48
Why should teachers take leave to campaign, when they can do that after school hours and on weekends!
Andre` Vella
Feb 9th, 09:49
With all due respect but why should I be forced to take unpaid leave if I was not planning to take leave anyway?
I can't stand the arrogance shown in these comments, simply to protect Godwin Grima and PN.
This is a simple small local council campaign, I don't need to take leave to carry it out, becuase I can do it after work. So again, why should I be forced to take unpaid leave when I can easily juggle both?
Kevin Marks
Feb 9th, 09:30
Who cares!!!
M. Schembri
Feb 9th, 09:47
Who cares about what? Democracy you mean?
Kevin Marks
Feb 9th, 11:29
@ M. Schembri
Mhux about ad.
carmel vella
Feb 9th, 11:30
Very stupid comment! If you don`t care about democracy, we do.
Kevin Marks
Feb 9th, 12:59
Ad after all always side and sided PN in the past so WHO CARES!!! Grazzi u prosit tal programm!!
Andre` Vella
Feb 9th, 14:39
@Kevin Marks
Today, 12:59
Ad after all always side and sided PN in the past so WHO CARES!!! Grazzi u prosit tal programm!!
So in this case, you think that AD are siding with PN? And what about the divorce referendum? The usual labourite argument "Min mhux maghna kontra taghna", who cares if it's AD or PN or someone else, if they are not bearing the "torca" in their hearts they are adversaries.
Mr Lawrence Calleja
Feb 9th, 09:29
What does AD expect? Candidates to be granted PAID leave for doing door to door canvassing, i.e. being paid for nothing.
D Borg
Feb 9th, 10:09
no, simply no need to be forced to take leave.....
is that too complex to understand?
B Cassar
Feb 9th, 09:29
@AD
Nixtieq nigbed l-attenzjoni lil AD li hafna nies applikaw biex ikunu AEC u counting staff f'isem dan il-partit nhar it-tlieta li ghaddew u li hallasna 15 euros lil partit biex inkunu nistghu napplikaw. Issa illum qed nara din l-istqarrija li ferm iggelni nahseb hazin u nissuspetta li gejna misruqa mill-Alternattiva demokratika nhar it-tlieta li ghaddew. Dan ghax:
1. Ic-cans biex napplikaw ghal AEC u counting staff gie imcaqlaq hesrem minn nhar is-sibt li gej ghal nhar it-tlieta li ghaddew u illum alla jbierek qed tohrog din l-istqarrija;
2. Biex napplikaw nigu imgghela inhallsu 15 euros bhala donation jew insiru membri tal-partit inkella ma tistax tapplika f'isem AD;
Wisq nahseb li jekk il-partit ma jikkontestax l-elezzjoni allura l-AEC u counting staff li applikajna f'isem dan il-partit u li hallasna 15 euros nhar it-tlieta li ghaddew, nigu irtirati ukoll. B'hekk il-partit ikun qala 15 euros minn fuq dahrna ghalxejn. Mela qed nahseb sew li jekk dan jigri, ifisser li l-AD ippjanaw kollox biex jigbru il-15 euros bil-quddiem, jaghmlu kemxa flus u wara jirtiraw mill-elezzjoni u ahna li applikajna nispiccaw insaffru nhar l-elezzjoni???? Kien kollox ippjanat u ghalhekk giet imcaqalqa id-data ta l-applikazzjoni daqshekk hesrem???? Nispera li jkun hawn xi hadd u jaghtina spjegazzjoni u jghidilna x'se jigri minnha li applikajna ghal AEC u counting f'isem dan il-partit jekk dan jirtira mill-elezzjoni ghax mghandix dubju li il-Gvern mhux se jati kaz x'qed titlob l-alternattiva demokratika.
Sincerament nahseb li dan li qed titlob AD hija ridikola. Wara kollox tajjeb tahsbu li min jikkontesta l-elezzjonijiet kulhadd jaghmel dan ghax fl-ahhar mill-ahhar ghandu il-vantaggi. Certa li kieku hadd mhu se jinhela johrog ghal l-ebda elezzjoni.
Charles W. Sammut
Feb 9th, 09:39
Jien ghalija bl-AD u minghajra xorta jekk mhux ahjar minghajr. Pero, kont nimmagina li jekk int applikajt f'isem l-AD biex tissalvagwardja l-interessi tal-partit waqt l-elezzjoni, int temmen fil-principji tal-AD. Imma milli jidher int temmen biss fil-flus li stajt taqla.
Dawk principji!
David Mangion
Feb 9th, 10:03
Lanqas int wiccek tosta wkoll !!!!!!
Jekk thoss li ghandek tapplika ghall- AEC sabiex taqla lira extra, allura kun mara/ragel, u applika mal-gvern (jigiefieri mal kummissjoni elettorali) .
Inti ma taghmilx hekk, ghax taf li mal-gvern japplikaw hafna u jintghazlu ftit, filwaqt illi kwazi kull minn japplika f'isem l-AD ghandu cans kbir li jintghazel.
Bil-Malti, int qed tinqeda bl-AD sabiex taqbez il-kju!!!
Imbaghad bil-wicc tost kollu qed tipprova thammeg lil AD ghax il-partit mhux lest li jqahhab il-principji tieghu sabiex jakkwista xi forma ta poter.
INTI TAF SEW ILLI DIK ID-DONAZZJONI LI QED TAGHTI LIL AD, (u jekk ma tridx tista wkoll ma ttihiex) GHALIK HIJA INVESTIMENT LI SE TQALLGHEK MAT-80 EURO.
U ghax ghal-darba marritlek hazin, se toqghod tlablab fil-vojt.
Ms Xaxa Caruana
Feb 9th, 10:40
@B Cassar,
Tisa tispjega ftit ghaliex aplikajt ghal AEC ma AD?
Zgur mhux minhabba il-fiducja li ghandek fijhom!!
Ghal 15euro kont lest/lesta li zeblahom hekk?
B Cassar
Feb 9th, 14:13
Ghall-informazzjoni ta hafna pcielaq jiktbu hawnhekk nghidilhom li hafna drabi mort AEC ma l-electoral jigifieri serhu raskom li ma kien l-ebda affarijiet mohbija.
Il-punt kollu kien li mhux sew tghid lin-nies biex jigu japplikaw ghal xi haga, tghidilhom ihalsu speci ta mizata imbaghad f'daqqa wahda tghidilhom insiha ta ghax milli ghedna mhu se jsir xejn. Specjalment meta filli kienet se issir f'gurnata u filli f'ohra. Tridu tippuntaw subajkom il-hin kollha u mghandix dubju li li kieku kontu intom thossu li tmejlu bikom. Alla jbierek hawn kull erbgha angli fuq din il-gzira. Ghalihom xejn ma jimporta.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Feb 9th, 09:26
Another U turn?
Robert Henry Bugeja
Feb 9th, 09:36
Another Day, another gaffe, Charles. It has officially become the hallmark of this administration.
Dominic Chircop
Feb 9th, 11:33
I wonder why all this fuss. I have to admit that most of the comments here reflect the Maltese fażżoli syndrome.
It is a bit rich reading such comments from people who, unwttingly, approve of their MP's lying under oath when they declare their campaign expenses !!!
The fact that it is AD carping is of no importance. Go on and flourish, Maltese faċċoli !!!!
Lucas North
Feb 9th, 09:24
So AD wants us the taxpayer to fund your electoral campaign????
no thanks...
while you might have had a point when it was said that it had to be unpaid and one could not use normal leave..
but now you have lost the plot...
you want to get off work for whatever reason.... unless it is medical of course... then use your leave or take unpaid...
D Borg
Feb 9th, 10:11
mr. north
with all due respect, it seems you have lost the plot
the issue here is that nobody should be forced to take leave before a LC election.
Local councils were intended to promote the interest of the local community - but alas have been hijacked by the main political parties.
carmel callus
Feb 9th, 10:44
@ D. Borg, nobody is being forced to take leave before a LC election. Candidates who want to campaign during the time when they should be in their place of work have two options: either to take paid leave or to take unpaid leave. If they opt for the unpaid leave, then they would not lose any of their paid leave.
Ms Maria Vella
Feb 9th, 09:21
U iva no big loss.......
R. Caruana
Feb 9th, 09:26
Of course, why should you value more Democracy!
W Cassar
Feb 9th, 09:54
Actually it is for democracy ...and that is a big loss!
Ms Maria Vella
Feb 9th, 10:15
What is the big deal to take leave? If I want to engage in some activity that takes up my time I take leave full stop.
Janet Pullicino
Feb 9th, 10:32
Ms Vella - the leave is forced even if you do not want to engage in any activity that is election related during office hours
Andre` Vella
Feb 9th, 10:50
@Janet Pullicino
That's exactly the point - the electoral campaigns by those who hold public office positions will not be carried out during office hours so the taxpayers will not be funding AD's electoral campaigns!
As I had stated above, a local council campaign is very small-scale which can easily be conducted after office hours!