Conflicting opinions on timing of election call
‘He feels a duty to complete his mandate’
Top PN strategists are advising the Prime Minister to postpone the election until after the Budget, despite pressure from some quarters to put an end to the uncertainty caused by rebel MPs.
Rumours are rife within both political parties that an election could be called in the coming week, but sources said Lawrence Gonzi’s advisers are telling him otherwise.
They want parliamentary procedure to take its course on the motions against Transport Minister Austin Gatt, much in the same way as when MPs Franco Debono and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando contributed to the unseating of Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and EU Ambassador Richard Cachia Caruana earlier this year.
This would show Dr Gonzi was treating his Cabinet members equally, and would dismiss claims that he was prepared to tie the vote against Dr Gatt into a confidence vote in the Government.
Crucially, however, this strategy would also allow the Government to present a Budget in November, as planned.
Dr Debono and Dr Pullicino Orlando are more likely to back the Budget with Dr Gatt out of the picture, a scenario which would give Dr Gonzi even more time to call an election.
“Dr Gonzi had already said he wants Austin Gatt to step down and work on the PN’s election campaign,” sources told The Sunday Times, indicating that the Prime Minister might already have a plan to replace the seasoned minister.
“The ball is in Dr Gonzi’s court and he might choose to do otherwise. But considering his past decisions, he has shown himself to be very cool-headed. He feels a duty to complete his mandate.”
Presenting the Budget and getting it approved would be seen by some PN insiders as a feather in Dr Gonzi’s cap, since it would show voters he managed to run the country smoothly till the end of the legislature, despite the crisis in government.
Conversely, if Dr Gonzi were to call the election imminently, it would prove he was unable to serve his full term. The absence of a Budget would also instil doubt in people’s minds about the real state of the economy.
“The Budget will show that the economy was managed excellently, despite all this strife,” sources said.
Ironically, voting down the Budget could put the spotlight on the Labour Opposition, which would be prematurely forced to unveil its economic plans for the country, one top official said.
Going for a November election would also ensure a near-certain landslide defeat for the PN at the polls.
But even though postponing the election until late January or February could give the PN more chance to recoup thousands of lost votes, some party members, including certain key Cabinet members, do not think this strategy is sustainable.
“Dr Gatt would be the third lost Cabinet member. Who will be next?” asked one Cabinet source.
Although the motion against Dr Gatt is similar to the one against Dr Mifsud Bonnici, many Nationalists believe they should be dealt with differently.
With Health Minister Joe Cassar also in Dr Debono’s line of fire, pressure is mounting on the Prime Minister to pull the plug now instead of continuing to limp towards the Budget, with ministers potentially falling by the wayside.
“Parliament has been hijacked and so has the national mood. No one is talking about Government’s performance anymore but about when the election is going to be held,” a Cabinet source said, adding that the motions of no confidence were also hampering the Government’s job of passing crucial legislation such as the IVF and cohabitation Bills and the Bill to abolish theatre censorship.
Meanwhile, the business community is feeling the brunt of the instability.
But another Cabinet source ruled out calling an election before the Budget, saying that the Government should not do Dr Debono’s dirty work.
“If Debono wants an early election, he will have to vote for it. Why should the Prime Minister do the job for him?”
Tomorrow, the Speaker is likely to be asked to decide the way forward after the Opposition presented its motions of adjournment.
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James Azzopardi
Oct 7th 2012, 23:11
Hemm bzonn li issir bidla fil gvern bla dubju forsi l pajjiz jibda jiehu ftit ruh. Il poplu mxebba u jrid elezjoni
Keith Zerafa
Oct 7th 2012, 22:15
the worst pn performance every they did a good job in the past years but have to be an end the pn saga, now for the pn need a party reform and in the mean time the labour needs to reform other sectors
Michael Sciortino
Oct 7th 2012, 19:27
The only good thing that can be said of this Gonzi administration is that it is coming to an end whether this month or in a few months time. An objective analysis would tell you that this has been the worst PN administration since 1987 and for many reasons starting with the Ministerial secret salary increases, the way divorce was introduced, the power station debacle, the capricious Valletta project and the arrogance of an administration with its 'born to govern' mentality. This administration was supposed to be a new fresh one when the 'old' guard was sidelined with an SMS but it turned out to be the worst. I find it hard to list any successes which can be attributable to the policies of this administration.
I have no idea which party will form the next administration, but whoever it is I surely hope that it will not be as bad as this one.
Christopher Ripard
Oct 7th 2012, 23:42
No successes?
What about MCAST, Uni, a new oncology centre, a new power station, new roads, record tourism, keeping Malta afloat in a huge recession, controlling our waste streams, including treating all sewage, blue flag beaches, huge international respect, especially over the Libyan crisis, huge expansion in the aviation services industry . . . a "bad" PN administration does 10 times more good than Labour ever did - but that's not difficult.
"Meditate gente, meditate"
C Busuttil
Oct 7th 2012, 18:32
Landslide defeat awaits the PN either if the election is held in November or March and the writing has been on the wall since the hike of those electricity tariffs.
Never in my life I have seen the PN so divided, I have never seen the PN so hated.Never in my life I have seen the PN distorting what labour says in a futile attempt to get votes. The PN always spoke the truth and does not need such dirty tricks.
It seems a Deja Vu of 1987 with the difference that this time its the PN not labour and will not be just 5000 votes that make the difference.
Hard times are ahead for the PN, the most important thing is after the election to keep the party united as at the present its risks to split. To remove those who for years have been having the time of their life at the expense of the party and the people who vote PN. Its not fair that this party has become a friend of friends exclusive club. Hard decisions need to be taken and please NO anointed leader but let the people/members decide. Eddie was a great leader but "his chosen" successor a total disaster who won because of the sant factor not on merits.
A Trapani
Oct 7th 2012, 21:53
"It seems a Deja Vu of 1987 with the difference that this time its the PN not labour and will not be just 5000 votes that make the difference" ..... That's not the only difference though.... In 1987 the new government inherited a destroyed country in a disastrous state with a mess in education, complete mismanagement, corruption, poverty, discrimination and a nation of beggars, this time, Joseph will inherit a completely changed and developed country.
mark borg
Oct 7th 2012, 17:18
“Dr Gatt would be the third lost Cabinet member. Who will be next?” asked one Cabinet source
Dr. Gonzi is !
mark borg
Oct 7th 2012, 17:15
“The ball is in Dr Gonzi’s court and he might choose to do otherwise. But considering his past decisions, he has shown himself to be very cool-headed. He feels a duty to complete his mandate.
Cool-headed ?? ha ha ha yes by closing down the parlament ...wow that is real cool.
joseph borg st john
Oct 7th 2012, 21:06
Like it or not you have to wait . GONZI will tell you when no one else.
cesco di luigi
Oct 7th 2012, 16:16
Once the PM has clearly stated today that elections are now round the corner I think he should announce a date. A lot of people are now planning Christmas trips abroad and this vaccuum could affect travel business negatively.
Raymond Micallef
Oct 7th 2012, 15:53
Ma nistax nifhem kif f'din il Gzira taghna, u mn'Alla ma konniex akbar ghax kieku mur ara eee!! Kif wara li jkollok tlett mozzjonijiet ta' sfiducja fi tlett Ministri tal-Kabinett, il- Gvern immexxi mill PRim Ministru jibqa ghaddej qiesu ma gara xejn, u ma jieqafx u jirrifletti x'hemm hazin. U biex tkompli tghaxxaq dawn il-mozzjonijiet gejjin minghand Membru Parlamentari tal-Gvern u mhux mill-Oppozizzjoni. Imma possibli ma hawnx politikanti ahjar milli ghandna llum? Issir jew ma ssirx l-elezzjoni issa jien nheggeg lil poplu biex jixtar u jaghzel L-AHJAR membri ghall- legisslazzjoni li jmiss. Xbajt naqra dikjarazzjonijiet minn ex-membri tal-Gvern, biex ma nghidx ex-Ministri, kemm sejrin u mexjin hazin fil - politika Maltija. Ejjew verament intennu ' Aghti d-dehen lil min jahhkimha' lil dawn il-GZEJJER MALTIN.
Henry S Pace
Oct 7th 2012, 15:26
' Conflicting opinions on timing of election call
I fail to understand why all this speculation about the date of the forthcoming general election.
Ever since the Nationalist Party was in government it did not exhaut=st the full term of office to call for
ger=neral elections.
The facts are:
1992 Election was called for on the 22nd February 1992 - three months before the previous election date.
1996 Election was called for on the 26th October 1996 - 5 months before the previous election date.
2003 Election was called for on the 12 April 200 - 6 months before the previous election date
2008 Election was called on the 8th March 2008 - one month after the previous election date.
That is, from now on any time would be called for a general election
It is obvious because all political parties are gearing up for the next election.
Schembri Ray
Oct 7th 2012, 18:13
And the labour called it 3 years before!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 9th 2012, 08:50
@ Schemdri Ray.
Labour called a general election "three years before" only because it had no choice left, after it had miscalculated and after losing a vote of no confidence of its own creation!
John Zammit
Oct 7th 2012, 15:02
IS THE PRIME MINISTER WORKING IN THE INTEREST OF THE NATION OR OF HIS PARTY ?????
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 7th 2012, 17:55
@ John Zammit, today at 15:02.
One does not exclude the other. In our recent history, the Nationalist Party has been so frequently successful in winning one general election after another precisely because the Malta electorate decided democratically that the interest of the nation coincided with the election of a Nationalist Party government.
And that is true whether it is typed in Caps Lock or not.
carmel cassar
Oct 7th 2012, 18:44
Do you rearly have any doubts?
Cornelius Murphy
Oct 7th 2012, 19:06
When you look at what Labour have on offer (no plans, no policies and a bunch of old dinosaurs from the '70s and '80s) and compare that with the way Dr. Gonzi is steering the country successfully, against all odds, through a terrible economic crisis, you soon realise that the interest of the nation is to have PN in government. Things might be different if there were an alternative, but there isn't.
Joseph Mifsud
Oct 8th 2012, 02:09
@ Cornelius
You said that the PN lead the country successfully through the crisis. Please mention one manouvre PN adopted to secure the country against the crisis.
Joseph Grech Attard
Oct 7th 2012, 14:12
" ... Hej managed to run the country smoothly till the end of the legislature, ...". I think the word "smoothly" is out of place,mif not a big lie!!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 9th 2012, 08:45
One cannot reasonably hope that a country be run "smoothly" when the whole world is passing through a an international financial turmoil. The most that one can reasonably hope is to weather the storm as well as the other countries. Malta has been credited by international agencies with coping better than most. That is a well-deserved accolade from neutral observers with no axe to grind.
Mario Tabone
Oct 7th 2012, 13:56
I cannot see what all the fuss is about . PL supporters going on about PN wanting to see the legislature through , and why not ?
At least the PN won the last election fair and square and have a legitimate right to govern as they have not been defeated in any motion of no confidence. And we all know how hard Joseph Muscat and his cronies have tried with the help of some others best left unmentioned !!!
Now had the PN had stayed on in government having got less votes in the election but more seats ( like the scam organised by the PL ) some years back, I would have said these PL supporters would have had some right to moan.
So in Paul Micallef's words, Relax and wait your turn and then go ahead and kaxkruna........then again that is what you thought you would do in the last election !!!!
@ Victor Laiviera.......Dr Gonzi has a right to call himself Prime Minister right until the next swearing in ceremony. On the other hand Joseph Muscat can only hope and pray and then again who knows , he might hope and pray in vain exactly as Dr Sant did last time you all counted your chickens before they actually hatched !!!
and finally @ Ethelbert Schembri
The saying ' Thick as two short planks' comes to mind as you obviously are no teacher of the island's constitution and don't have a clue what you are on about. Less said etc etc
Michael Magri
Oct 7th 2012, 13:49
“Dr Gonzi had already said he wants Austin Gatt to step down and work on the PN’s election campaign,” sources told The Sunday Times..
Wrong... The only thing that i heard Dr. Gonzi say was that he wants Dr. Gatt together with others, to start preparing on the election campaign and not for Dr. Gatt to resign from his Ministry as well.....!!! In fact, the recent statements declared by Dr. Gatt of resigning / not resigning vis-a-vis J.P.O. and Dr. Franco Debono`s parlamentary motion of no confidence in Dr. Gatt , confirms all this...!!
Reuben Cutajar
Oct 7th 2012, 13:22
So the decision is between waiting for the inevitable, stretching out the instability or simply do what is right and call for an election....
Everyone knows what the right decision is... except for the PM
D. Xerri
Oct 7th 2012, 12:52
Tkompli l-Qasma Interna fi Hdan il-P.N.
John Zammit Ph.D.
Oct 7th 2012, 12:34
If Franco Debono will vote against the budget he will have to be responsible for the unemployment and the bankcrubtsy of Malta. It is better that in this situation not to change the Captain of the ship when we know that Labour has nothing to offer but an economic disaster. www.john-zammit.eu
Alfred Vassallo
Oct 7th 2012, 15:54
And pray John Zammit -PH.D. Tell us all what do you know of BANKRUPTCY and economic disasters considering that you have NEVER been IN or OUT of goverment?
John Zammit Ph.D.
Oct 7th 2012, 16:49
Alfred Vassallo, I don't have to be in government because I experienced bankruptcy when there was Alfred Sant in government. That was the worst Labour Government and that is why I left Labour for good.
John Scerri
Oct 7th 2012, 12:06
Those voting for PN will vote to eliminate all those who disrupt the government from working to sustain employment and a stable economic environment despite the turmoil in countries aroound us .
As for Labour Party MLP,PL,MPM it is only concerned about the carparks : how pathetic.
The coming elections will show whether the people are capable of selecting a government whose programme is moving forward or one which lacks muscle like the MLP .
Henry Mifsud
Oct 7th 2012, 12:00
...... and whoever said that playing chess is a piece of cake?
Quo Vadis Malta?
Daniel Borg
Oct 7th 2012, 11:59
Kem ha ndumu sejrin biha jahasra.. eja faqaha d data ha naqtawha ax kulhad jistena qied qisna xi tfal
George Azzopardi
Oct 7th 2012, 11:48
"He feels a duty to complete his mandate.”
The truth is that he feels that he has no majority at the moment (in parliament and also in polls) and so needs more time to try and use power of incumbancy as best possible!! Irrespective of the current crisis, GonziPN is continuing in his election xmas fathering process. Something that we all have to pay dearly later and this because of this arrogant GonziPN adminsitration!!
Pierre Fenech
Oct 7th 2012, 11:36
One thing is sure... Gonzi learned nothing from his predecessor that is why most Nationalists are either choosing not to vote or even some like me to vote for LP. Eddie used to run the party and the country by keeping everybody involved. Gonzi adoped a policy of exclusion and no matter when the election will be held we will not forgive as this is not the party we have known fo0r many years.
Charles Massa
Oct 7th 2012, 11:24
Huwa ovvju li Gonzi u shabu iridu jibqu imwahhlin mas siggu tal poter sal ahhar. Dan biex b dawn l ahhar xhur jaqdu kemm jistu in nies bhal permessi mil MEPA, promotions, collective agreements, xi impiegi mal gvern u elf pjaciri ohrajn. Imma l poplu mhux se jinsa tbatijiet li ghadda minnhom dawn l ahhar hames snin , u lingustzzji li certu nies sofrew. Wara kollox il poplu mhux se jinsa l wediet ta qabel l ahhar elezjoni bhal tnaqqis fl income tax, waiting list tal isptar tispicca, 7000 impieg fi Smart City, liema wediet baqu ma twettqux.
Ray Mercieca
Oct 7th 2012, 11:20
The existing situation shows us “the common people in the streets” how important it is that there will be a third party in parliament or else more parliamentarians with a backbone like Jeffrey Pulicino Orlando, Franco Debono, Jesmond Mugliett and late Dom Mintoff on both sides of parliament.
Parties, members of parliament and VIPs in office should not take everything forgathered and be allowed to do whatever they want for a full term without carrying any responsibilities
Although I do not agree with everything they did, I do admire the courage they had on different occasions by declaring and more important acting on there beliefs, knowing that they will be doomed from there parties.
Well done JPO, FD, JM and DM for the determinations you showed
MALTA NEEDS MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
V. Cauchi
Oct 7th 2012, 11:17
This article mentions the Speaker's duty in such situation and the role he plays in Parliament in terms of the Westminster system but, as I see it, although we adopt this system in running our House we do not adopt the UK electoral system in having a continuous fresh majority in the same House.
We even speak of the Prime Minister's "duty to complete his mandate", meaning that the country is always stuck to the original election results with no progress as to change of opinion as at the time when a vacancy occurs. No by-elections are locally held in Malta and when a vacancy occurs, votes cast in a general election are re-opened, thus rendering our parliamentary representation a frozen institution for five years with little if any chance of revamping.
On the other hand, in the House of Commons people are always represented "as of now", which makes the Commons a veritable representative institution in terms of democratic surplus. It is in this context that the Prime Minister's and Speaker's prerogatives in the Westminster system should be understood and it can be seen that given the local electoral system, there is little room, if any, for the retention of such prerogatives.
Keith Camilleri
Oct 7th 2012, 11:12
Make Franco Debono minister, then call and election the next day. Give our beloved Franco his long standing dream of becoming minister, and at the same time making history as the shortest standing minister of all time world wide!!! That would also make him happier, as he will end up being in the World Records book as well
Paul Micallef
Oct 7th 2012, 11:06
If Gonzi and co are not afraid that they will lose, why dont they just call it???? its not the frist time ta, i remember Eddie, calling and early Election, why is GONZI afraid, daqs khemm amiltu gid, ha tkaxxkruna, so do the right thing, if you win you get rid of a lot of ENEMYS and if you lose, RELAX.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 7th 2012, 11:04
Renegade Nationalist MPs should bear the odium of frustrating the passage of the budget. That is a piece of very dirty work that they have been working on for many months in collaboration with the Labour Party. They should not be provided with a prop to avoid undoubted responsibility for the aftermath.
Toni Borg
Oct 7th 2012, 10:51
NO need to worry you lot, especially PL supporters!
Franco already said he will be voting against this and that and whatever else
the government tries to present in Parliament.
It's only a matter of days and FD will solve everyone's problems....or won't he??
stephen koludrovic
Oct 7th 2012, 11:21
I do not think that FD is there to do anybody any favours. He is just doing what in his own opinion he thinks is right.
fredu debono
Oct 7th 2012, 11:42
yes sure and we get rid of him. get rid of this jealous guy called FRANCO DEBONO>
Ronnie Callus
Oct 7th 2012, 10:41
Dan kollu wasalna ghalih ghax Dr.Gonzi halla l-Partit jitmexxa minn erba tal-klikka u dan kollu bil-barka tieghu ghax kieku kien jieqfilhom mhux jghid bhal-ta' l-Arriva li dicizzjoni kienet tal-kabinett kollu u refa r-responsabilta taghha HU flok Austin Gatt. Ara fil-kaz ta' Dr.Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici ma' harig spallejh ghalih. U jekk hu kif qal-Austin Gatt li d-decizzjoni fuq tal-Parkeggi mhiex tieghu biss imma tal-kabinett messu jirrizenja l-kabinett kollu u mhux Dr.Gatt biss. Veru li lil Dr.Gonzi gabuh b'id wahda wara u ohra quddiem barra li gabu lil pajjiz. Qattusa ghaggelija frieh ghomja taghmel u hekk se' jigri b'dawn il-ligijiet kollha li qed jiehu jew jipprova jiehu Dr.Gonzi. Kieku veru riedu jghamlu xoghol tajjeb x'hadu jghamlu dawk il-vaganzi kollha. Issa mhux tal-gvern biss ma' jahdmhux ( kif kienu jghidu) imma anke il-Gvern.
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Oct 7th 2012, 12:00
Tad-dahq ir-riferenza ghal "vaganzi kollha" ghal kemm dam wieqaf il-parlament.
Li kont minnek Ronnie, niccekkja ftit id-djarju tal- ministri u l-prim ministru u nara kemm hadu "dawk il-vaganzi kollha" ghax sa fejn stajt nara jien, ix-xoghol baqa' ghaddej avolja ma' kienx hemm tlablib u battibekki fil-parlament.
Minhix cert imma ghandujkun il-prim ministru xi tlett ijiem ha break. Dawn anki l-Hdud u l-festi jahdmu imma ghandujkun, l-kotra tahseb li min jahdem bil-fies biss ikun qieghed ghax-xoghol; dawk li jahdmu b'mohhom mhux xoghol ikunu qed jghamlu imma jkunu irposati.
Ara ftit l-attivitajiet tul "il-vaganzi kollha" u inkludi anki dawk ta' Franco Debono u Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando ghax anki dawk ma' qaghdux b'idejhom fuq zaqqhom.
Victor Laiviera
Oct 7th 2012, 10:32
"He feels a duty to complete his mandate.”
That is one way of looking at it. One could also say that he simply wants to be able to call himself PM for as long as possible ....
Paul Bajada
Oct 7th 2012, 11:16
indeed. he may simply want to be the longest serving PM without parliamentary majority in the history of Maltese politics.
Biker Man
Oct 7th 2012, 16:04
You have a point here BUT
Wouldn't you, me and all of the people commenting here opt for the second option if we were in his position?
Be honest now.
Ethelbert Schembri
Oct 7th 2012, 10:24
The PN are in a worst postion from the MLP of the 80s ... They lost the constitutional right to keep on governing months ago but still are imposing themselves on us!!
Gonzi said more then once that he will keep on governing till he has the numbers in the House.... ermm Gonzi, you don't have the numbers and didn't have them for some time now!!
You already had your democratic credentials thorn apart by the way you voted against the majority after the referendum, now this is the rubber stamp of how undemocratic you are!!
Ronnie Callus
Oct 7th 2012, 10:45
Well said Ethelbert. Probably they do not know maths because even in projects contracts they say one think and results another. ( Money no Problem)
Joe Felice-Pace
Oct 7th 2012, 10:54
According to constitutional practice, a government loses its right to govern - and therefore has to resign - when it is defeated in the House of Representatives on a motion that implies confidence. As far as I know, this has not happened as yet.
Ronnie Callus
Oct 7th 2012, 11:12
@ Joe Felice Pace:
Of course it does not happened ! But you should know why. This is because Dr.Gonzi is always delaying the vote to be taken. He is more interested in his seat than our country.
B Testa
Oct 7th 2012, 10:15
Yeah yeah....more and more excuses to make sure that the government has something bombastic to convince some floating voters to vote him instead of the opposition. Everyone is now aware that the budget won't pass through parliament and any legislation may go through only with the speaker's vote. The Prime Minister has just convinced everyone that he has no interest in the country except for the interest of the party and the merry few in the cabinet. As usual closing his eyes and ears to the reality and continue living well in GonziPN land.
If anyone feels that the PM is not working in the interest of the country by postponing an election one month after the other, please stand up as he has already postponed this for over a year when the cracks started to surface within the government and the PN.
Anthony A. Mifsud
Oct 7th 2012, 10:10
He feels a duty to complete his mandate’
Do or die, but he has to bow to the nation and not to his party. Malta is losing big time.
The longer he stays in power, the harder he falls.
Ninu
Louis Ebejer
Oct 7th 2012, 09:41
Franco is doing the his utmost to shame the goverment. After the motiom against Austin Gatt it will be Joe Cassar followed by Tonio Fenech, Tonio Borg ,Mario Demaco..............until we will run out of ministers. This farce has no limits.
fredu debono
Oct 7th 2012, 11:43
jekk jispiccaw kollha l-ministri FRANCO DEBONO xorta ma jsirx ministru ghax jekk ikun se jsir hu mmur jien.
Lawrence Fenech
Oct 7th 2012, 09:40
HHis duty is to focus on an election and get parliament moving and solve the instability Malta is going through.
He seems to forget or pretending to, that he has no majority in Parliament and 2 members ready to shoot down his motions and two ministers.
It is now a battle to keep his party together and stay in office at all costs. Ofcourse the maltese poplulation is
paying for his wait and see egoistic and arrogant game.
J Busuttil
Oct 7th 2012, 11:38
@ Lawrence Fenech
Always mentioning instability, when you decide to mention it again give us an example.
j brincat
Oct 7th 2012, 09:36
"He feels a duty to complete his mandate.”
Meaning?
Easy - that he wants to cling to power at all costs!
(jb)
Fran Abela
Oct 7th 2012, 10:37
Cling to power my foot. Dr. Gonzi has the majority of the people's mandate to complete his term in office. I just cannot understand why you will not understand this. When the time comes if the majority of the Maltese electorate decide to vote in the PL as the next government then so be it, in the meantime just have some more patience Mr. Brincat. Why the rush ? Maybe it is the PL who is so eager to be in power at all costs ?
K. Vella II
Oct 7th 2012, 11:05
@Fran Abela
"Dr. Gonzi has the majority of the people's mandate to complete his term in office."
How are you so sure? Has there been an election since this tragicomedy started?
Alfred Falzon
Oct 7th 2012, 11:21
@ Fran Abela
Did you think likewise when the late Dom Mintoff took to task Sant's mismanagement and arrogance?
Power at all costs is liable to backfire!
Alfred A. Falzon
Jeffrey Mallia
Oct 7th 2012, 12:15
@ Fran Abela........did you have the same opinion in 1998 ??
Maria Xuereb
Oct 7th 2012, 09:31
U x'jigi jekk fil-budget ikun hemm hafna mizuri li jkomplu jfallu lill-Malta halli gvern Laburista jiret dik is-sitwazzjoni? Min mill-ministri tal-gabinett ser jinzamm responsalbi ta' dak kollu, l-Prim Ministru, l-Ministru tal-Finanzi jew il-Kabinett kollu ghax issa drajna li d-decizjonijiet jghidulna li ttiehdu mill-Kabinett kollu. Jiena nahseb li l-ahjar haga ghal Malta u l-Maltin kollha li l-elezzjoni ssir qabel il-budget halli gvern gdid ikun min ikun jibda l-hidma tieghu fuq il-finanzi li jsib sew jekk huma verament sodi jew inkella jekk inhuma mod iehor. U jiena nahseb li l-poplu u n-negozju jridu li jghaddu zmien il-Milied u l-Ewwel tas-Sena fil-paci u mhux hafna meetings u thambieq mill-partiti.
Antonella Briffa
Oct 7th 2012, 11:49
"U x'jigi jekk fil-budget ikun hemm hafna mizuri li jkomplu jfallu lill-Malta halli gvern Laburista jiret dik is-sitwazzjoni? "
Mhux ahjar tizen sew dak li tkun ser tghid Maria? Kumment tad dahk jiddispjacini nghidlek! Ninsabu ferm ahjar min pajjizi ohra, pero l-importanti huwa li tirrepetu d-diskorsi bi kliem ovju tal PL, imma minghajr l-ebda ideat konkreti. Apparti, ghaliex ma tilluminanix bil proposti tant tajbin ghal Malta taghna li ghandu l Gvern Gdid? Jekk lanqas gharrafna bi proposta wahda, allura kif ezatt ghandna navdaw lil PL fil gvern? Kif , jew ahjar, JEKK il PL jiddeciedi jaqsam maghna xi pjan hejja ghal Malta, allura hemmhekk itini ghazla li nivvutalu.
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