Dalli defends canvassers’ role of middlemen
Former European Commissioner John Dalli has defended the practice of allowing canvassers to act as middle-men with international lobbyists, insisting that no money is transacted in these liaisons.
In an interview published in The Times today he also discloses that many more Maltese canvassers took on this role after they were approached by foreign organisations to facilitate access to the former Commissioner.
"I have many other people in Malta, who have international organisations asking them to fix appointments with me. This is not just Silvio Zammit doing it, because it seems that people think that you have to go through someone to go to the Commissioner."
About his relationship with Mr Zammit, Mr Dalli said: "Silvio Zammit is a canvasser like many hundreds of canvassers that I have. That is my relationship with him. (With him)... I have the contact I have with other canvassers. When they need something and when they have some friend who needs something... It's the usual political game in Malta.
"The question is at the heart of the scandal that Mr Dalli has found himself sucked into after an investigation by the EU anti-fraud agency, Olaf, concluded that Maltese businessman Silvio Zammit asked for a bribe from snus producer Swedish Match to be able to influence legislation under Mr Dalli's portfolio.
Mr Dalli has strenuously denied this, challenging Olaf to publish the report. Mr Zammit also denied the allegation but has refused to comment on any mater related to this case after he released a brief statement with his denial.
Brussels accepts lobbying as a legitimate part of the political game, however, lobbyists as a practice are registered for the sake of transparency.
Mr Zammit was not and Maltese people acting as middlemen usually are not, Mr Dalli admitted.
Moreover, the exact parameters of lobbying have been called into the question following this case.
Asked if dealing with such unregistered middlemen, whose only qualification is likely to be access to him, Mr Dalli said insisted that similar meetings made over the past two-and-a-half years were done transparently.
"I have other people who have contacted me over the past two-and-a-half years, in the most transparent way, and asked me to have meetings with people and I did. So what?"
He also excluded that these would make themselves available for money, arguing instead that they are more likely interested in deriving satisfaction from the important position it puts them in."I would be such an evil mind to think that for someone to set up a meeting he would take money. All I say is that it usually is a feeling of importance (that these canvassers seek)."
See interview at http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121023/local/my-decisions-on-tobacco-directive-had-been-leaked.442224
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A. MICALLEF
Oct 24th 2012, 05:29
Fao Frank Zammit - Be it A.D. or someone else in parliament, no PN or PL should have a
majority. The majority of votes should be divided between one big party and one or more
representatives. They are "same game, different players". Both parties are infiltrated
with sharks, developers, contractors and the big business people.
Kieron O'connor
Oct 23rd 2012, 20:32
Is anyone going to speak about the elephant in the room in this.
If after all these years a politician has finally acknowledged that canvassers carry out lobbying for a commission, how much is "the person" on the top of the pyramid of favors receiving from the "commission".
lets face it Malta has been high on the corruption pyramid and finally we are seeing the reason why, where is the press?
M Farrugia
Oct 23rd 2012, 17:11
aktar ma nisma u naqra dwar dan il-kaz min gurnaisti differenti b'agendi differenti f'kitbithom ma jafx jekk ghandix nibki jew inkella nidhaq. Minflok inharsu lejn l-interess tal-pajjiz inharsu lejn lil min se nkomplu nozzu fil-hama jew inkella nipprvw naqiluh mill-hama. L-interessi tal-pajjiz inhoss li ghandhom jigu l-ewwel u qabel kollox.
Sandro Pace
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:50
John Dalli has a way of twisting every argument in his favour. For him, everything he deems acceptable, is acceptable. That was always his problem and now eventual indefensible downfall. Fortunately, with all its defects, the EU was not fooled. Regardless of foreign or local conspiracy theories, it has very reasonable facts not to trust him, and it had every right to its action. So stop fooling.
Pauline Busuttil
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:44
Jekk John Dalli ma kien imdahhal xejn f'din il-kwistjoni jaghmel sew li jiggielieda, ghallavolja l'Olaf il kaz huwa maghluq.
Jiena inhoss li anki l-gvern missu ghamel investigazzjoni halli tohrog il-verita. Peress li ahna pajjiz zghir ikun hemm minn jiprova iwaqqana ghas-suffjet kif ghamel Kessler.
Nistennew investigazzjonijiet serji halli kullhadd jiehu dak li haqqu.
Jonathan Zammit Lapira
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:34
I would like to ask Hon. George Pullicino why he got rid of Silvio Zammit as one of his canvassers in the past. Also Hon Michael Frendo and Hon Francis Zammit Dimech had Silvio as one of their canvassers and kicked him away. One wonders why!!!!!
John Zarb
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:10
Good point Mr. Lapira!!!! Biex tqanna bih John Dalli.
Francis Attard
Oct 23rd 2012, 17:10
Just to add another question.
Why didn't the PN kick him away also?
Peter Zahra
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:16
U hallina sur Dalli, trid taghina l impressjoni li dawn il famuzi canvassers joqghodu jithabtu l hemm u l hawn sempliciment ghal karita...!!
Huwa fatt mgharuf li hadd ma jaghmel xejn ghal xejn. Possibli dawn ta Swedish match ma kienux kapaci jaghmlu appuntament mieghek "through normal official channels" u kellhom bzonn lill x hadd min wara l kwinti sabiex jghadu t talba taghhom ??
Charles Grixti
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:13
But that is the whole purpose of lobbyists, to curry favour for their corporations with vey willing politicos, most of whom have their hands out. The whole system was designed by politicians for politicians to enrich themselves. Why else would anyone need canvassers and lobbyists if not transact this negotiations for the benefit of a few and the detriment of the many. Scrap this system.
Alfred Dimech
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:41
"When they need something and when they have some friend who needs something... It's the usual political game in Malta."
And this is exactly why I will not vote for the PN or PL in the coming elections. This might have been acceptable 30 years ago when Malta was still a developing country, but times have changed.
A Galea
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:33
And you really think this happens in Malta only? Are the US and the UK a developing country as well? Cos these things happen there as well, a few minutes on the internet will yield quite a few cases.
Alfred Dimech
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:46
@A Galea,
Well no, canvassing is done in the UK (though it comes in a vastly different form) and I would imagine it's the same in the US. However, canvassers don't work in exchange for "favours" in the way Mr. Dalli is so shamelessly hinting at. At least they make an attempt to pretend that they volunteer because they believe in the party's ideals or proposals.
Kieron O'connor
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:29
Could be so Naive as to not know, that the usual political Maltese game of influence and favors involves requesting the so called "commission" fee for the favors and influence and the exact reason why Malta ranks high on the corruption scale?
He cant be that Naive, and this is the opportunity for the government to now legislate against the corrupt process of favors and influence for "commission
Mr Victor Borg
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:12
Having a shadowy individual - whether canvasser, or buddy, or cohort - lurking around a Commissioner's or Minister's office acting as intermediary with parties whose interest is to bend the law for their narrow interest is not something innocuous. It is a kind of perversion of political influence. The fact that it happens in Malta indicates that our political culture in Malta is perverted.
Charles Grixti
Oct 23rd 2012, 16:20
It happens on a much large scale in Washington and Brussels too, were the stakes are in the billions. That is what the whole system of 'Lobbyists' is all about. In Washington for instance, lobbyists outnumber politicians 400 to 1. Kind of makes a sham of Democracy doesn't it and it is perfectly legitimate.
Mr Victor Borg
Oct 23rd 2012, 22:41
Charles:
You are wrong. Lobbyists are people employed by NGOs, companies, and other entities who perform a professional role in presenting, in the best possible light and most effective manner, the views of their employers. Canvassars on the other hand are shady characters who use their privelege of access to their political master as a tool for some sort of direct gain to themselves.
Joseph E Briffa
Oct 23rd 2012, 13:45
Middlemen always do their job for a percentage of any deal.
Eve Axiaq
Oct 23rd 2012, 13:40
Kemm ghandna voluntiera mas saqajn!
Claire Busuttil
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:54
dalli just shut up now!!! you made your country ashamed of you
Frank Zammit
Oct 23rd 2012, 13:27
Or better still; The PN ashamed of YOU......the situation has really gone haywire for the PN now which is really not good for the country.
J Martinelli
Oct 23rd 2012, 13:58
If JD has hired lawyers preparing for his defence, they must have omitted giving their advice asking him to stop yapping.
On the other hand, now it was revealed that "there were two witnesses present when Mr Dalli offered his resignation". That in itself constitutes a verbal contract, duly witnessed and therefore binding. Contracts/resignations, etc. need not be in written form.
A Galea
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:39
Nah, he made dumb naive people like you ashamed of him!! People who because a foreigner said so will gulp it all down without question. Do try to keep yourself informed on the inner workings of this magnificent institution that is the EC and you will soon realise that compared to what other EC members do, Malta is like the little babe in the woods
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:53
Only in Malta!
George Calleja
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:36
U hallina Sur Dalli!! Kont nahseb li iktar intelligenti. Il-middleman huwa sensar ghalina l-Maltin u kull sensar jitlob 'ic-cejca' talli jkun ghamel is-senserija. Ftit huma dawk li jaghmlu s-senserija ghal vanaglorja....imma l-hafna 'sharks' ghal flejjes tajba jaghmluha!! Missek qadt hafna iktar attent ma min kont qed titkellem. F'Malta kulhadd maghruf!! Tinqeghdix bil-labour ghax qed jinqdew bik!
A. MICALLEF
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:34
Both parties PN and PL are infested with these canvassers. Sinjuri kandidati you have
your canvassers and we have the votes. This time our vote will go to Alternattiva
Demokratika and your canvassers shall end up empty handed, with no pjaciri to cash
on.
Frank Zammit
Oct 23rd 2012, 13:17
Voting for AD? Don't think so, not yet. AD is still in its infancy and has been in that stage since the day it was conceived. It will be political suicide to VOTE AD at this stage before they learn to act and behave like a proper political party; not just a pressure group. AD never managed to make that crucial leap fwd and it is a great pity. There might be a time, but it's not that time yet.
B Attard
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:16
Could be there will be more parties and independent individuals contesting next election. You will have a wider choice.
Charles Buhagiar
Oct 23rd 2012, 17:10
So Alternativa do not have any canvassers as yet?? Wait till they get at least one seat in parliament and then you will see them flocking behind Alternattiva candidates!
Frank Zammit
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:26
What Com Dalli should be accused of is that he exported the Maltese way of doing politics. If he is a criminal because he did that, then the majority of our politicians are criminals and more than half the population must have participated in a criminal act at some point or another.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Oct 23rd 2012, 13:39
Frank, this has nothing to do with being a criminal. In public life, you must be whiter than white. Put simply, you must not only be beyond reproach but appear to be beyond reproach. Many politicians worldwide are required to leave public office because there may well be a perception of something being improper. Malta needs to reinventits politics. Canvassers should be banned.
N Zahra
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:04
Actually - yes you're quite right on this. What is acceptable in Malta could well be illegal elsewhere. And this is the case here. Mr Dalli was an employee of the EC, and so EC rules apply.
Paul Azzopardi
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:25
Its was actually very abrupt and impromptu the way Barroso chucked Mr Dalli away. It may also seem insuling not only to Mr Dalli but also to the Maltese people in General. No where does anyone dismiss a person from an appointment or a position not even in employment in such a way, it is illegal and a reason has to be given not only verbally but also in writting. Mr Dalli may very well sue.
Mr Victor Borg
Oct 23rd 2012, 14:19
Dalli is political history, in Burssels as well as Malta. And he only has himself to blame.
Mike Hunt
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:00
"Silvio Zammit is a canvasser like many hundreds of canvassers that I have. That is my relationship with him. (With him)... I have the contact I have with other canvassers. When they need something and when they have some friend who needs something... It's the usual political game in Malta."
Really? Don't these people have official contact channels?
Mark Borg
Oct 23rd 2012, 11:49
Why all the gasps of surprise for what Dalli said about canvassers and their role? Are these declarations of surprise the product of naivety or denial or both?
Emanuel Curmi
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:27
Dear Mr. Borg. You are absolutely right. Confusing canvassers with lobbyists shouldn't even be a matter of discussion in Brussels. I'm surprised Mr. Dalli cannot even distinguish between the two.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:52
Because they are hypocrites.
Mr Mike Farrugia
Oct 23rd 2012, 11:40
Drittijiet mhux pjeciri!
What politicians fail to understand is that when they give in and grant favouritism to one of their potential voters, they create an injustice with the rest of the voters.
It's like a person allowing someone to skip a long queue. One may be entitled to give up one's place but it is unfair to put someone in front of you and all those behind you.
W Cassar
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:54
So right we are all citizens, this practice should be banned!
Francis Attard
Oct 23rd 2012, 11:21
Jista jdahhlek f'xi balbuljata "canvasser" Sur Dalli bhal ma ghamel lilek. L-izball tieghek kien illi kont daqshekk "cuc", skuzani l-espressjoni, illi inti hsibt illi peress li hawn Malta mhux facli li "canvasser" idahhlek f'xi balbuljata, hsibt illi kullimkien hu hekk.
Ben Agius
Oct 23rd 2012, 11:18
Hahaha........that's the problem!!! The usual political game in Malta! Well said!! This is not a game that is tolerated in other more advanced jurisdictions. I thought we joined Europe to improve practices!!!! Why would these so called canvassers (and Dalli has hundreds!!!!) do what they do??? For nothing??? Yeah sure. The Maltese system must change.
George Joseph Cauchi
Oct 23rd 2012, 11:08
"Silvio Zammit is a canvasser like many hundreds of canvassers that I have. That is my relationship with him. (With him)... I have the contact I have with other canvassers. When they need something and when they have some friend who needs something... It's the usual political game in Malta.
Mr Dalli, it's called corruption and we all know about that here, just like the Greeks.
Richard Caruana
Oct 23rd 2012, 11:06
Can't believe that what is supposed to be a seasoned politician talks this way.
Preferential treatment due to nepotism, whether money changes hands or not, is corruption.
B Attard
Oct 23rd 2012, 10:57
Mr Dalli said: "Silvio Zammit is a canvasser like many hundreds of canvassers that I have. That is my relationship with him.
When they need something and when they have some friend who needs something... It's the usual political game in Malta.
So here Mr. Dalli is admiting the rotten smell of corruption in our country. Canvassers and their friends are treated better than others!
Richard Mifsud
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:06
I wonder why you are so surprised... Where have you been living?? On Mars?
Joseph Aquilina
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:20
Lejber media would have one of its glories very repetitive never ending day If gonzi or any one else from PN dared to say those words. Dalli said these words and lejber nothing ... indeed if you think about it lejber are more inclined to defend Dalli then PN ... why? Howcome those accused of any form of wrong doing always find refuge in lejber in some form or another?
Ben Agius
Oct 23rd 2012, 13:36
And all parties do the same! It's the Malta way.
Geoffrey Farrugia
Oct 23rd 2012, 10:30
My question at this point is, would Olaf and Barroso have acted in the same way had it been a Commissioner from another country such as Germany, France, Italy or UK...Or has all this arrogance been slammed on Dalli just for coming from one of the smallest member states and the subject at matter happens to be a 'hot potato' to deal with!
alfred seguna
Oct 23rd 2012, 10:55
Fully agree.I am sure that they wouldn't have dared to make this move
alfred seguna
Oct 23rd 2012, 10:57
Fully agree.I am sure that they wouldn't have dared to make this move
Mike Hunt
Oct 23rd 2012, 11:48
I think it's time Maltese got over their persecution complex
paul camilleri
Oct 23rd 2012, 11:50
it is not because we are a small nation it is the actual post that Comm Dalli has/d one must compare it to swimming in the sea infested with sharks ( these being the tobbaco industries)
Emanuel Curmi
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:20
Dear Mr Farrugia, this is a purely speculative and just reflects an inferiority complex in our attitude. The German President was recently forced to resign on more minor accusations than this one. What Mr. Dalli is overlooking is what is acceptable in the Maltese way of dong politics is viewed with suspicion by the EC. Suggest you take the case of our party financing as a case in point.
A Galea
Oct 23rd 2012, 15:42
Your answer is a few articles away on this same site. Check out what the Swede MEP is up to. Obviously no one got wind of this, and then OLAF and Barroso want people to believe this was not a frame up. Dalli kicked out, Anti-smoking NGO offices ransacked, MEP selling illegal tobacco/drugs from parliament and the new smoking directive due soon. Ara veru hawn nies lesti jibilghu kollox Malta!!
C Muscat
Oct 23rd 2012, 10:17
As Mr Dalli is saying ... it is normal. It is bad pratice but it is the most used method in our island for many decades and used by all parties.
Mainly because the canvassers are the promoters of the candidates and yes many of these including myself do canvassing as a service and to become important and have a status.
Leslie Darmanin
Oct 23rd 2012, 09:59
So according to John Dalli, international lobbyists prefer to contact one of his "hundreds" of canvassers instead of his office directly.
That means Mrs Cettina from Dalli's home town Qormi will get a call one morning from a tobacco lobby group and she would jump at the chance to get them an appointment with Dalli, just to feel important.
Wow, how friendly they must think we Maltese are.
Lawrence Zammit
Oct 23rd 2012, 09:54
The more Mr Dalli talks the more complicated his position gets. Better if he keeps his silence and lets the AD does his investigations.
Albert Spiteri
Oct 23rd 2012, 12:38
The louder Dalli defends his honour and integrity the less comfortable those who framed him feel, both in Malta and in Brussels. Should one decide on accepting Giovanni Kessler's nonsensical oxymoron then there's no way out from considering as substantial proof of cahooting between Malta, Barroso and the Brussels-based tobacco industry lobbyists.
Francis Attard
Oct 23rd 2012, 09:52
Why, on earth, do I have to look for a "canvasser" if I need something, it's absurd. And if I don't know any "canvasser"?
Kompli ikkonferma Sur Dalli il-famuza frazi "Lil min taf u mhux kemm taf", hallina.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Oct 23rd 2012, 09:41
"When they need something and when they have some friend who needs something... It's the usual political game in Malta." That says a lot about Maltese politics. Time to get rid of this practice. It is a practice that is either corrupt or has the appearance of corruption.
Please choose the reason of your report below: