The penny has finally dropped
After a long deep sleep in their world of four week recesses and bliss, our politicians seem to have woken up to the realisation that online and social media are going to be the most important tools in the next electoral campaign.
Better late than never I suppose, but did they all have to wake up at the same time?
Up until a few months ago most politicians had Facebook pages which were dead or dormant, and with the exception of a few voyeuristic wannabes, most big heads had just created a fan page and let it rot.
But now, in the last few weeks, we've had, mychoice.pn launching the Prime Minister for a day competition......facepalm!
We had Joseph Muscat tweeting about social policy and taking micro blogging to a whole other level because there are less than 2000 Maltese accounts on Twitter, and most of them are inactive.
Some also received an email from Paul Borg Olivier encouraging PN supporters to send sympathy e-cards to poor Carm Mifsud Bonnici.
And last but certainly not least, soon after he had lost the confidence vote in Parliament, we had Carm Mifsud Bonnici himself updating his own blog with a clip from the interview he gave Bondi+.
In the first few minutes of the clip he tells Lou Bondi that he wasn't too shocked that he lost the vote of confidence. He said that he was psychologically prepared for every eventuality and that's why he now appeared serene.
He then said that just like every other Minister, he knew that on any given day, the Prime Minister could have called him up and removed him from his Ministerial post.
He added that every morning, he reminded himself that 'this could be the day that he'd be removed' and that this is what made him give his all.
He said that he gave his best every day so that if the Prime Minister decided to pull the plug on him, he would have contributed one more day to the Maltese people.
Now, let's face it, as much as I recommend never taking your job for granted, I seriously doubt that going to work with such a threat hanging over your head every day is in any way healthy or productive.
And whilst Franco Debono's ploy might have been more about personal antagonism than the good of the country, one must also consider that in recent history Prime Ministers have (almost) never asked a Minister to step down to the back bench, and certainly not for incompetence or poor results.
Ever since Lawrence Gonzi has been Prime Minister (8 years) he has only ONCE asked a Minister to step down, and this was with John Dalli following serious allegations of corruption and fraud.
And upon finding that the allegations couldn't be proven, Gonzi went the extra mile to make up for the inconvenience by appointing John Dalli to European Commissioner – a four year post which carries with it a monthly salary of almost €20,000 a month.
With such a nice and reasonable boss, why would Misfud Bonnici feel that his job was on the line every single day for the past four years?
Could it be that he knew that he had it coming, or is he intrinsically paranoid?
Or is there perhaps another web that has been weaved? A web which common mortals like us will never be allowed to unravel?
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Pierre Mangion
Jun 8th 2012, 07:48
The thought being shared that this whole charade about CMB being concocted by the PN group should not be dismissed. Nowadays most political parties around the globe seem to have found convenient creating stories and events to sideline the people's focus and attention from more important matters happening in their respective country.
If we take for example our neighboring country, Italy. During the last couple of years of Berlusconi's reign, a million and one stories came to light about his personal life, which did nothing more than sideline the crucial fact that the country was running into shambles.
Social media, apart from delivering the required message can also be used to alienate people from more important matters.
Antoine Vella
Jun 5th 2012, 08:12
The Carm Mifsud Bonnici affair and its sequel, the vote of confidence, have done so much harm to the PL (and, consequently, benefited the PN) that inexperienced persons like Alison Bezzina are suspecting that it was all a diabolical plot by GonziPN.
Mario Grech
Jun 5th 2012, 08:27
After the John Dalli charade, how can you possibly be so sure Antoine? Is it blind faith or do you know something we don't?
Jonathan Camilleri
Jun 4th 2012, 18:06
The popularity of social media is as effective as social media, and, we appreciate that we keep being reminded of the importance of social media, even though this has caused controversial employment issues in the past, that are perceived to be triggered by a drive for a fixation for time management whereby some employers assume all their employees are lazy bones. Of course every fixation needs a psychologist...
What I am bugged with is that electoral campaigns are pervasive and invasive, with party promoters suddenly having details of my mobile number, and, using it to send me promotional SMSs without asking me - in view of the Data Protection Act 2003 - whether I would like to be signed up. Of course I have complained to the Commissioner of Data Protection on this issue, who has the authority to ask the Police to intervene if this issue gets out of hand. Is it just my idiosyncrasy?
Well, I have had enough of phony phonecalls asking me whether I have voted. I notice the hobbyist 'vote counters' driven by their dedication to the political party, who seem to be noting how many people are voting, and, judging by impression which side they are judging.
Why don't they create an online betting game on who will win the elections? I am confident that some people might have some spare money to bet if they have money to bet on online games and so on.
A friend of mine who has a bit less than a decade of experience managing a gaming affair, said that this might give rise to controversial issues, if companies decide to display an online betting game, but, on second thoughts, I think it would be popular...
Donations for the idea if it is implemented are appreciated of course :)
Edmond Micallef
Jun 3rd 2012, 17:23
Was all this, maybe, just maybe, all brewed up at tal-Pieta' with a special thought in mind of how the PN can portray itself as a victim of circumstances in a mischievous plot to regain the lost support and sympathy and gather back to their fold the disgruntled sheep?
Charles W. Sammut
Jun 3rd 2012, 17:14
quote
Ever since Lawrence Gonzi has been Prime Minister (8 years) he has only ONCE asked a Minister to step down, and this was with John Dalli following serious allegations of corruption and fraud.
And upon finding that the allegations couldn't be proven, Gonzi went the extra mile to make up for the inconvenience by appointing John Dalli to European Commissioner – a four year post which carries with it a monthly salary of almost €20,000 a month.
unquote
Oh come on. You insult your readers' intelligence.
Dalli was a serious contender for the PN leadership, but he did not belong to the inner circle who inherited their position from their father and grandfather or through other family connections. The allegations against him were made up to sideline an uncomfortable and very able competitor. He was then kicked upstairs out of the way so that GonziPN could keep fudging along.
That is how politics work nowadays, especially EUSSR politics. Stuff your critics' pockets and they will soon mellow and roll over for more. Somehow, I don't think that Dalli has rolled over, unlike many of his colleagues, he has principles.
And doesn't this article's author have a name?
Pat Hobson
Jun 3rd 2012, 17:05
"Or is there perhaps another web that has been weaved? A web which common mortals like us will never be allowed to unravel?"
With this question, you have hit the nail on the head. The PN is very well-known for these contrived spins!
Please choose the reason of your report below: