JPO tells Speaker he considers himself in coalition with the government

John Azzopoardi

Jul 24th 2012, 12:27

Mr Privitera, as a young men, I still remember your ranting in the Mintoff years..........Not a proud record or impression I might say. If you are the real Privitera. Time to fold and look back. This will never have had happend in the the Mintoff years right

Eddy Privitera

Jul 24th 2012, 17:27

John Azzopardi: Tista tghidli x'ghandu x'jaqsam li ktibt int mal kumment tieghi ta' hawn fuq ? meta ssemmi z-zmien ta' Dom Mintoff, trid issemmi wkoll li dak iz-zmien Malta saret WELFARE-STATE hafna qabel stati ohra Ewropew ferm akbar u sinjuri minnha !! U dahlu drittijiet civili u tal-haddiema ferma qabel dahlu f'pajjizi ohra meqjusa bhala xempji tad-drittijiet tal-haddiema, bhal Gran Brittania ! U LI L-PN DEJJEM KIEN JIVVOTA KONTRA TAGHHOM !!!!

Edgar Azzopardi

Jul 24th 2012, 08:04

G Tonna: those voteas are JPO's by right . People vote for the person not the party.

Without those 5000 votes the PN has 3500 votes LESS than the PL!!!

So I suggest you stop talking about votes and where they should be !

It is enough that we are living in a country where MPs sell their soul to the party , and are expected to vote with the party even when they do not agree....otherwise they are ostracised.

So please stop convincing us that we have entered into an era of DICTATORSHIP ...because most of us we are already convinced.

Mario Scicluna

Jul 24th 2012, 09:01

@G Tonna - Today, 07:16

''The Nationalist government has continued to move from one success to another in the economic and political life of this country''

And how did GonziPN achieve 'one success to another' exactly if I may ask?

1. Is the below a 'success' according to you?

Malta's national debt within a year rose to 75% of GDP in the first quarter from 70.5% in the same quarter last year, according to data issued this morning by Eurostat, the EU's statistical arm.
In the Budget Speech, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech had projected the debt to be 68.9% of GDP by the end of this year.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120723/local/malta-s-national-debt-jumps-to-75-of-gdp.429794

2. Was it PM Gonzi's or the financial guru Tonio Fenech's merits that:

The economy officially entered a recession in the first three months this year after growth slumped by 1% ?

Is it a 'success' that this was the second negative quarter in a row. In the last three months of last year the economy declined by 0.3 %t after 9 months of solid growth ?

Figures released by the National Statistics Office this morning show that GDP for the first quarter stood at €1.1 billion, down from the €1.2 billion in the previous quarter?

Household expenditure, exports and imports all registered declines?

Was it due to the Eurozone’s annual rate of inflation stood at 2.4 per cent, unchanged from the previous month, while Malta’s was almost double that, at 4.4 per cent ?

Was it because this rate of inflation is 0.7 per cent more than May’s and more than one per cent higher compared to June 2011 ?

Is it a success for Malta that the lowest inflation rates in the eurozone last month were registered by Greece (one per cent) and Spain (1.8 per cent) ? And Malta?

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120717/local/Inflation-soars-as-imports-drop.428928

Do I need to elaborate on the failures, mismanagement in every political scenario that PM Lawrence Gonzi has messed up so badly that we are in such dire situation that Malta has never seen before?!

So much for financial 'successes'. I suggest that before you write anything, know what you are talking about instead of scribbling nonsense!

J Busuttil

Jul 24th 2012, 09:32

@ Edgar Azzopardi

" G Tonna: those votes are JPO's by right . People vote for the person not the party."

You are totally wrong Edgar. If JPO was an independent candidate or AD let's say he would surely not have got those votes and they would have been given to another PN candidate.

Mario Scicluna

Jul 24th 2012, 09:48

@G Tonna - Today, 07:16

''The Nationalist government has continued to move from one success to another in the economic and political life of this country''

And how did GonziPN achieve 'one success to another' exactly if I may ask?

1. Is the below a 'success' according to you?

Malta's national debt within a year rose to 75% of GDP in the first quarter from 70.5% in the same quarter last year, according to data issued this morning by Eurostat, the EU's statistical arm.
In the Budget Speech, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech had projected the debt to be 68.9% of GDP by the end of this year.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120723/local/malta-s-national-debt-jumps-to-75-of-gdp.429794

2. Was it PM Gonzi's or the financial guru Tonio Fenech's merits that:

The economy officially entered a recession in the first three months this year after growth slumped by 1% ?

Is it a 'success' that this was the second negative quarter in a row. In the last three months of last year the economy declined by 0.3 %t after 9 months of solid growth ?

Figures released by the National Statistics Office this morning show that GDP for the first quarter stood at €1.1 billion, down from the €1.2 billion in the previous quarter?

Household expenditure, exports and imports all registered declines?

Was it due to the Eurozone’s annual rate of inflation stood at 2.4 per cent, unchanged from the previous month, while Malta’s was almost double that, at 4.4 per cent ?

Was it because this rate of inflation is 0.7 per cent more than May’s and more than one per cent higher compared to June 2011 ?

Is it a success for Malta that the lowest inflation rates in the eurozone last month were registered by Greece (one per cent) and Spain (1.8 per cent) ? And Malta?

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120717/local/Inflation-soars-as-imports-drop.428928

Do I need to elaborate on the failures, mismanagement in every political scenario that PM Lawrence Gonzi has messed up so badly that we are in such dire situation that Malta has never seen before?!

So much for financial 'successes'. I suggest that before you write anything, know what you are talking about instead of scribbling nonsense!

fred sammut

Jul 24th 2012, 11:00

G Tonn JPO can stil have mine, partner and our families , even if he will goes for the next election...... Divorce issue is enough !!

Luke Borg

Jul 24th 2012, 11:39

@ Mario Scicluna - Well said habib! prosit analizi bis-sens hafna ghandha ssir kif ghamiltha inti bil-fatti u mhux bil-paroli u bil-partiggjanzimu kif ghamilha dan Tonna...kieku qed nitkellmu fuq il-boxing, ikknockjak f'Round 1 ghaziz Tonna - grow up gbin ghadda dak z-zmien ta' hafna passjonalita l-aqwa li nuri x'jien ghax tkun qed taqa' ghan-n....! Prosit Mario Scicluna!

Karm Lughermo

Jul 24th 2012, 08:27

Franco has already stated that he will not support the government unless Austin Gatt is removed from minister and that he should have voted against Austin and not abstain! This is just the beginning, just wait till November comes up together with the budget and it will be all Franco all over again! Im sure you will not be dissapointed with the Franco show come November! :)

Angus Black

Jul 23rd 2012, 21:27

@ Mr Johnny Scerri

First of all I am surprised that a sitting MP does not even know the meaning of 'coalition'. A coalition is only possible between two distinct parties and NOT between a party and one of its own MPs who was elected under the same party's banner. It just shows how dilettantesque JPO's treatment of the whole affair really is, unless of course JPO has set up his own party with distinct principles than those of the NP. As the situation stands now, JPO is simply an 'Independent Nationalist' MP.
The hogwash about letters sent to hunters promising this and that has nothing to do with the situation at hand. By the same argument, no government in this whole wide world would survive one whole term since not a one government is ever able to fulfill all the promises made at election time because circumstances change, rules and regulations change and economic conditions changed like they did just after the 2008 elections. If we look at things this way, I would bet one single euro that if Joseph is elected, his government would be very short-lived because he will soon (and so shall we) that the promise of cheaper electricity, without raising taxes or reducing services, will be impossible to deliver.

Mr Zeppi Borg

Jul 24th 2012, 08:17

Well Said mate.......

Paul Giordimaina

Jul 24th 2012, 10:04

He should have resgned thats what gentleman do Gann

Joe Vella

Jul 24th 2012, 00:30

alfred farrugia, there is one big hole in your way in your analyses.. You are assuming that the 5,125 voters would have voted PL. Nice try, but think before you put thought to paper.

Mario Sciberras

Jul 24th 2012, 02:25

The member may not be part of the P.N. any more,but the votes were.So the election result stands unless Dr.Jpo fails his constituents.
Its not like when we were governed with a minority of votes,Sur Farrugia

Brendan Zerafa

Jul 23rd 2012, 19:21

Making fun of the Maltese democratic system? He was elected to parliament because those who voted for him felt that he could take decisions and actually play a role - if they hadn't thought so, they would voted for another PN candidate instead of voting for him. Therefore, yes, he has every right to do what he has already done.

Roberta Sciberras

Jul 23rd 2012, 20:32

Did Dr Gonzi resign from Parliament when he chose to vote against the will of the majority as expressed in a democratic referendum on the introduction of divorce? Or did he vote according to his conscience and acted as if nothing had happened?

Mr Caruana what's good for the goose is good for the gander. We simply can't keep moving the goal posts as it suits us.

On the other hand if your only interest is seeing JPO burnt at the stake (figuratively speaking) rather than argue sensible than that becomes your problem and only you can deal with it.

Joseph Caruana

Jul 24th 2012, 00:07

I am sorry, but I think you are misinformed - he came out on the PN's ticket, therefore to my logic his seat in parliament belongs to the PN. Using your logic, any MP can give his or her seat to anyone, which would be retorted - given that their seat belong 100% to them.

Alfred J. McEwen

Jul 24th 2012, 08:44

Alfred J. McEwen

I fully agree with Brendan Zerafa... JPO will give GonziPN something to think about, and as far as votes are concerned, people voted for the man because he has , and is still capable of doing good for the country. GonziPN have been reduced to a weak-kneed bunch of administrators ESPECIALLY on their INACTION on the illegal immigration issue and squandering money on controversial projects making the national debt sky rocket to 75% of GDP such as the new parliament house and a useless theatre without a roof, amongst other things. The money could have been better spent on more meaningful aspects of the infrastructure where it would have been best accounted for and appreciated by the general public. Also a good thing was to get rid of the``present minister for the congestion of traffic schemes`` and curtail his mad ideas of narrowing main roads in the process. Three hundred million Euro would have given this country a better road structure, or an expansion of the Mater Dei hospital as examples, or a myriad of other things that could have been done with that kind of money. One hopes that JPO will put the brakes on this administration`s poor fiscal policies and give this country a breather.

Mr Zeppi Borg

Jul 24th 2012, 08:50

Mr Caruana Democratic System MEANS that when the GOV make big fails, there would be an easy way how to remove him from power otherwise all of us would face big problems as we are facing... If you read the news not just politics yesterday we found out that this year we have an increase of 5% which add up more then 75% of the GDP, loans.... this means that the GOV is leading very very badly.... Be real and stop defending the PN as I did 5 years ago...........

Edward Camilleri

Jul 23rd 2012, 19:51

If your opinion holds, then when a party in government has any dispute with its own members, they will make him resign, and replace with another! This is a joke to democracy!

If every member in a party has to vote with its own leader, then we do not need MPs in parliament, we can replace with dummy figures to show the number.

G Schembri

Jul 24th 2012, 01:45

He was not in the cabinet, how can he be removed from cabinet?

Paul Giordimaina

Jul 24th 2012, 10:09

Agree

G Schembri

Jul 24th 2012, 01:54

JPO was beaten hands down by the PN over RCC, the PN was beaten hands down by Parliament.
My conclusion is that the PN went against the will of the people since Parliament is representing the people.

William Caligari

Jul 23rd 2012, 21:27

maria,

he is not the first one, that he cross the house!!

there was one in gozo, konrad attard, from Ganado party to PN.

Mr Stephen Borg

Jul 23rd 2012, 22:18

Apparently JPO like so many others has finally understood that the Gonzi administration is not his home any more. The nationalist party has become a party of the few so one might start to understand JPO's move. Many nationalist supporters have moved away from the party and apparently JPO decided to follow.

Joseph E Briffa

Jul 23rd 2012, 19:00

Roberta Sciberras...you say there is nothing that could legally stop JPO from depriving his support for the government. Legally there isn't but......morally and ethically there is aplenty. JPO knows this and he has already stated that out of respect for the PN supporters who elected him in 2008, he will carry on supporting the government, albeit as an independent nationalist. JPO is duty bound to do what he rightly promised.

Roberta Sciberras

Jul 23rd 2012, 19:17

Mr Briffa I have already conceded that you may or may not agree with the stand JPO has taken. Will you now concede that the PM is morally and ethically incorrect to keep the whole nation in this state of instability simply in the hope of saving the party.

If we are going to speak of integrity we have to speak in terms of what is good for the nation not what is good for the party.

End of story as far as I'm concerned.

Joseph Fenech

Jul 23rd 2012, 18:43

It's a pity you weren't around from 1981 to 1987 to teach us a bit more mathematics about governing without less votes

E. Xuereb

Jul 23rd 2012, 19:15

Joseph Fenech,

It's a pity that you haven't checked what the constitution of Malta said back in 1981; i.e. the party with the majority of seats had the right to govern. During that same legislature, this was changed so that the party with the majority of votes govern and extra seats are added to the government if the opposition has more. This is exactly what happened for example after last election in 2008 where the PN were given 4 extra seats as the PL had more than the PN needed to govern.

Mario Camilleri

Jul 23rd 2012, 23:28

@Joseph Fenech,

I thought you were going to tell me how come that Mintoff always won with the majority of seats as per constitution say what you want, how come EFA and Afred Sant both won by the absolute majority where as Gonzi won by a RELATIVE majority and by a mere 1,580 votes who then had not enough to form a complete seat, hence he was given 4 seats from PL to form a government. It's a bit ridiculous to govern in such a manner and yet GONZIPN treats us with arrogance!!

Mario Camilleri

Jul 23rd 2012, 23:57

@Joseph Fenech,

Needn't be around at the time, simply download the Constitutional laws of Malta and you have it in black on white. It's you who should be made aware of the Constitutional rights to govern. But then again, if you are biased and one directional, then I pity you.

And for the record, I'm pleased to say I was around to vote in 1981.

Dr Alex Bugeja

Jul 23rd 2012, 18:31

The divorce bill was quite an accomplishment for him actually. No idea what you mean by that last part...

mario genovese

Jul 23rd 2012, 18:38

simply he was not a puppet on a string - too many enjoy that status

Hossam Helwani

Jul 23rd 2012, 18:49

@

Dr Alex Bugeja

what did we achieve by the divorce bill? are we talking selfish now? More taxes because we are living in a nation where social welfare is abused free this and free that. I dont think that the divorce bill is an achievement at all. our dear jpo did it to destabilise. Some can be blind to see but there are some who see beneath his skin.

Joseph E Briffa

Jul 23rd 2012, 19:40

Daniel....if somebody back-stabs you, the shame is on them not on you. I think nobody refutes this. As for the position in the House, there are 34 Labour MPs, 34 Nationalist MPs and one Independent Nationalist MP who vowed to support the government out of respect for the nationalist supporters who voted him in. So, the government has a majority in the House.

Eddy Privitera

Jul 23rd 2012, 22:34

Actually the government does not know if it has a majority or not , because on each Bill the prime minister has to consult Dr. JPO and get his support !

D Borg

Jul 23rd 2012, 16:59

Why?

Aren't Chairpersons and other persons appointed to serve in public institutions, supposedly identified on the basis of their expertise and ability - rather than anything else?

Saviour Aquilina

Jul 23rd 2012, 16:59

If not, Dr Gonzi must take him off as soon as possible.

Emanuel Farrugia

Jul 23rd 2012, 17:45

" It's what you are that counts ", said Mr. Edward Caruana Galizia. In this case it appears to be a curious situation because there is a saying which roughly translated means ; if you are NOT with us, you are against us. In this case it's not true. In this case Dr. JPO was clever enough to get the best of both worlds.
And in your opinion, what is he, a champion, fighting for his rights, or a coward for leaving the PN. Do I detect a note of sarcasm Mr. ECG or is your comment meant to be some pearl of wisdom ?

Do you mean what he is as a person or as a politician ? And who does it affect most, whatever he is ?e

Mr Edward Caruana Galizia

Jul 23rd 2012, 18:32

You really went off at a tangent. Actually, I was talking about him being an Independent Nationalist. His situation is one that has happened many times before in other countries. So none of this is new.

However, you are right about the sarcasm. It's called a pun.

John L Galea

Jul 24th 2012, 07:31

If I am not mistaken they had other candidates to vote to on the GOnziPN ticket. They chose to vote JPO. mmm...so logic says that they preferred him over others. So most of them may be happy with what he is doing as they believe in democracy. Next time round if they are not satisfied with him they should not vote for him.

The PN supporters also did not vote for soaring national deficits, for a disastrous transport system, for 25 years of bad roads, for a failing health system, for a polluting power station extension, and so on and on and on. Therefore, according to your logic the PM GONzi and the PM Austin Gatt and the Tonio Fenech should resign....just to mention the worst of the worse.

David Caruana

Jul 24th 2012, 08:22

Your statement is incorrect as there is NO way you could know out of those 5,100 voters how many voted for JPO more than voting for the NP.

If I support JPO but have my reserves on the NP, I might still choose to vote for JPO. In this case, I would want JPO to keep his seat and not give it to some other NP 'yes-man'.

JPO has the duty to retain his seat - same as Lawrence Gonzi is saying that it is his duty to go for the full term rather than an early election.

William Caligari

Jul 24th 2012, 13:19

@ Robert,

ekku buffunata sabieh!!

issa naraw kif u x'fatta sa' jkun l'appogg!!!!

Albert Farrugia

Jul 23rd 2012, 16:08

You might be surprised, silvio! The PN can have it buttered on both sides, also in the crust! You should have heard Radio 101 yesterday morning full of eulogies for JPO, how he acted "according to his conscience", how he is a "gentleman" keeping his word as regards the PN programme....

Angus Black

Jul 23rd 2012, 16:13

What are 'Constitutional norms'?

W Cassar

Jul 23rd 2012, 16:09

John you forget that divorce was voted in through a referendum the most democratic way possible, the whole of Malta voted and the Majority won.

B Attard

Jul 23rd 2012, 16:19

Skuzi ma gawdix JPO biss gawdew nies ohra li kienu mjassrin u msawta. Tkunx egojist ghax forsi qieghed sew int.
Wara kollox kieku l-affarijiet kienu jimxu sew f'dal-pajjiz id-divorzju kien jidhol l-ghada li dhalna fl-ewropa mhux noqoghdu nahlu 4 miljuni f'referendum. Ghax meta dhalna fl-EU iffirmajna ghal pakkett kollu mhux kif ghamel GonziPN u qablu EFA jimplimentaw dak li dejjem qabel lilhom

John Micallef

Jul 23rd 2012, 16:20

Sur John Borg, rigward id divorzju hadd ma sforza il hadd... sar referendum demokratiku li bih il poplu Malti iddecieda li... Iva... id divorzju ghandu jidhol. (halliha li il Prim ministru gie jaqa u jqum mir rieda tal poplu fuq din)

Philip Hili

Jul 23rd 2012, 16:45

@ W Cassar and all others.

Mr. W Cassar, you should know that divorce was never mentioned in the electoral manifesto prior to the last general elections. Therefore, what you are saying is immaterial. The vote of the referendum was the result of the unethical and ill-mannered behaviour of this person who cheated 5100 voters who voted for him. It may be that although you are on his side NOW, prior to the general elections you voted against him and his party. Therefore, stop talking non-sense.

Philip Hili

Jul 23rd 2012, 16:48

"B Attard"

Maaaa x'ragunament:- "Ghax meta dhalna fl-EU iffirmajna ghal pakkett kollu mhux kif ghamel GonziPN u qablu EFA"!!!!!!

Allura ghalfejn gie innegozjat it-trattat ta' l-EU? Kif qieghed tpeclaq inti imisshom ma negozjaw xejn ghax gala darba dhalna iffermajna ghal pakket kollu!!!!

U Hallina siehbi!!!!

W Cassar

Jul 23rd 2012, 17:02

@ Mr Hili

Using the words unethical and ill-mannered behaviour for a democratic exercise is what I consider nonsense!

Toni Cardona

Jul 23rd 2012, 17:53

JPO never forced anyone to legalise divorce. As far as I remember, the majority in a democratic referendum opted for divorce to be legalised in Malta.
Remember that even now, nobody is forcing anyone to divorce. If you disagree with divorce, do not use it. You always have the other option, to seek a Church annulment.
The divorce law simply made divorce available on an equal footing. There is no more need to get divorced abroad; it can be done locally.
What JPO and the rest of the team managed to do was to convince enough electors to separate Church and state, at least in marriage.
Thank God for that.

Philip Hili

Jul 23rd 2012, 18:20

@ W Cassar

Thank you Mr. Cassar for showing me that you do not even know the meaning of "unethical and ill-mannered". I came to the conclusion that you do not even know the meaning of the word "nonsens" in order to express yourself the way you did.

Thank you.

Philip Hili

Jul 23rd 2012, 18:30

@ Toni Cardona

Mr Cardona, this is not the point! After all, coming next election either party might have listed it in their electoral manifesto and the people decide.

The point is that this person cheated 5100 voters to reach his goal. It is not a matter whether you agree with divorce or not. It is a principle of honesty. Maybe had this person uttered one single word in favour of divorce when the electoral manifesto was being drafted, it might be that people would have not voted for him in the first place.

Then to plan everything from behind everybody's back it is very much unethical and dishonest Again, you may agree or you may not agree with "divorce". That is another matter. But to get my vote and that of others so that you achieve your personal goal, again this is called DISHONESTY.

Edward Gatt

Jul 23rd 2012, 18:35

Although I voted in favour of the divorce bill in the referendum, please be informed that the referendum on divorce was proposed by the prime minister. All JPO wanted was to introduce divorce and if it was up to him and Evarist Bartolo, there would have not been any referendum but just a vote in parliament. So JPO actually proposed and wanted something to be voted on in parliament when it was not mentioned in the PN electoral manifesto.

Philip Hili

Jul 23rd 2012, 18:53

@ Edward Gatt

" please be informed that the referendum on divorce was proposed by the prime minister. "

Mr. Gatt, there is nothing to be informed of because you should know that "the referendum on divorce was proposed by the prime minister." after this person acted the way he did FROM BEHIND EVERYBODY'S BACK ,and after it seemed that this person was going to hold all the country at ransom had his private member's bill was not going to be debated. These are facts and you cannot ignore.

Philip Hili

Jul 23rd 2012, 19:05

@ Edward Gatt

"So JPO actually proposed and wanted something to be voted on in parliament when it was not mentioned in the PN electoral manifesto."

You see, this is the whole trick, and the LP JUMPED ON THE WAGON of this person!! Had it not been agreed between them (this person and PL) before but from behind the PN party's back, because as things now stand, I might come to the conclusion that there was some sort of agreement between this person and the PL!!

Why should this person proposed something to be debated on which he knows that it is against the principles of the party he was elected for and which was not in the electoral manifesto???

John Cassar

Jul 23rd 2012, 22:49

@philip hili

You seem to conveniently forget that Eddie never mentioned the fact that he intended to make a concordat with the Vatican that resulted in the infamous family act 1995.

Bottom line is that whether you like it or not the Maltese electorate voted YES in a democratic referendum.

Reading your rhetoric reminds me why I will refrain for voting for my party in the foreseeable future.

Mario Camilleri

Jul 23rd 2012, 23:45

@Philip Hili,

But what you did is far more worse since you (the PN) blamed his sins on Alfred Sant so that you could acquire his votes prior to 2008 and later you threw him away 'kif ngħidu bil-malti għasartuh bħal-luminja u wara meta użajtuh, armejtuh'. Għallanqas Alfred Sant kellu raġun u dan ikkonfermajtuh intom bilġlied intern tagħkom.

Nazzareno Cortis

Jul 23rd 2012, 16:20

According to JPO and Franco debono----if I heard correctly---and correct me if I am wrong------they both said that Dr.gonzi should resign---and that they both said that they will not work with Gonzi!!!!!! In the last vote of confidence in parliament,Dr.Gonzi was clear saying that that vote should be clear,and without conditions!!!!! In my opinion (and I think many others) Dr.Gonzi's words,and statements are no longer believed!!!! No matter how hard the PN propaganda machine tries otherwise------------!!!!!! In the present situation,the longer in power,the worse will be the result !!!!!!