‘I want to bring back lost votes’
MEP Simon Busuttil tells Christian Peregin he can bring a change in substance, style and performance.
Did the Prime Minister ask you to contest for this post?
He asked me to contest the general election. He did not ask me directly to contest the deputy leadership election. But I discussed it with him and he certainly didn’t tell me not to contest.
You entered the contest as a frontrunner. Now all the other potential candidates have got behind Finance Minister Tonio Fenech. Have the tables turned? Are you now the underdog?
I leave words like underdog for people like (Labour leader) Joseph Muscat. I always thought this would be a difficult contest for me because I’m an outsider coming from the European Parliament. In that sense I’m at a little bit of a disadvantage.
Add to that the fact that seven colleagues of Tonio (Fenech) in Cabinet have decided to nominate him. But I’m not for giving up. I’m determined to go through with this challenge because I believe there is something I can contribute.
Besides Health Minister Joe Cassar, did you ask any Cabinet members to endorse you?
No, because I felt I should not put them in an embarrassing situation. With Joe Cassar I have a much more direct relationship, based on friendship, so it was easier for me with him. But I have to say that the PN parliamentary group is not just composed of the Cabinet. It is composed of other people.
In fact, you have some MPs backing you.
There are at least 15 MPs who have pledged their support for me. Six of them have signed my nomination.
There is an impression that Cabinet members have turned against you. They’ve practically all signed Mr Fenech’s nomination. Is there any animosity between you?
Well, first of all, this is not the entire Cabinet. The Prime Minister and (deputy Prime Minister) Tonio Borg have been correct not to sign or get engaged in this in any manner...
Are you saying the others were incorrect to get involved?
No I’m not saying that, because they were asked and they signed. But the positions of the Prime Minister and deputy Prime Minister are completely different. I’m not saying anyone was incorrect. This was a natural advantage for Tonio and good luck to him for using it. If I were in that position, I would be the one getting their signatures.
Do you think your role of special delegate backfired? Do you think people saw you as the teacher’s pet?
I was never a teacher’s pet. I’ve always spoken my mind. The PN gave me the liberty to do so and in return I have given it eight-and-a-half years of uncontested loyalty.
What do you think is the single biggest problem facing PN? Why has it floundered every time it faced the electorate since 2008?
The real election is this one (the general election). All the others were different. In Malta we have this tradition of giving protest votes in non-general elections.
But we know how people are planning to vote. What is the party’s problem?
The party is trailing so badly at the polls because despite all the work the Government did, it was detached from the people. It did not communicate sufficiently and this is precisely the reason the Prime Minister selected me as his special delegate to conduct his outreach to civil society organisations.
Has that worked? The surveys are saying that between July and October, after this exercise was under way, the distance between the parties continued to widen. Clearly, it hasn’t worked.
Well, the exercise was not mine. I was doing it to help the Prime Minister.
But is listening really the problem? Or does the Government have a problem with delivery, such as with the Arriva issue?
It is about listening and communicating with people. The party and the Government are perceived to be detached. That needs to be bridged. I have helped the Prime Minister in that process.
I think the Government has delivered especially on the economy, not least thanks to people like Tonio Fenech. But yes, it doesn’t mean everything has been perfect.
You said you want to stand on a platform for change. What exactly do you want to change?
First of all, the change I want to bring is for the country. But I also want to bring renewal in the party itself. We have this unexpected opportunity to change as a party before going to the election rather than wait to be defeated and then change.
How should it change?
By bringing in new blood.
Wouldn’t that just be a cosmetic change?
If you want to call me a cosmetic change that’s for you to decide but I do not think I will bring a cosmetic change. I will bring a change in substance, in style and in performance. And this is not to say what has been done so far is bad. It is to say that I want to make it better.
Why do you think Joseph Muscat is managing to attract so many people to Labour? According to a survey by The Sunday Times, there has been a swing of 11 per cent. Isn’t he doing something right?
The fact that the Labour Party has itself changed after the last election has drawn new attention and potential voters to it. I want to appeal to those PN disgruntled voters who are now saying they don’t know how they are going to vote, but also to level-headed Labour voters, ex-PN voters who have swung to Labour, and bring them back to the fold.
We are in time to try and change things before it is too late. This is the last card we can play. It was completely unexpected but it is an opportunity for the party to renew itself and put alongside Lawrence Gonzi a new person who can help turn the tables on the election.
You recently met with rebel MPs Jesmond Mugliett, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Franco Debono. Do you think this was a wise move?
I tried to meet all members of the parliamentary group plus the 35th member who is now an independent on whose vote my party in Government still relies. So I feel I did absolutely nothing wrong. As for Franco, I didn’t even meet him. I just bumped into him in the street.
Wasn’t it a bit disrespectful to the PN executive which has taken quite a harsh stand against these MPs?
Not at all. I was in that PN executive meeting and I voted in favour of its decision... If we decided to remove them from our list of candidates but kept them in our parliamentary group, kept them in our party and kept relying on them for the vote, it means by definition that we need to speak to them. And therefore I refuse to accept anyone telling me it is wrong to speak to people in my own parliamentary group.
Franco Debono recently compared Lawrence Gonzi to Hitler, and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando is almost openly hoping for a Labour victory at the polls. Is there really any room for reconciliation?
There is always room for reconciliation with everyone. The PN lost thousands of votes and I want to bring them back.
When the divorce debate arose, you remained silent. Why?
I didn’t have a vote in the national Parliament.
You’re a very influential member of the Nationalist Party. You could have had your say.
Yes, on that occasion I stayed out of that debate because I did not want to project the idea that the divorce issue is something driven by the EU.
There was no such argument. No one ever thought it was being imposed by the European Union.
There were times when it was indeed perceived in that manner.
How did you vote?
The divorce issue is behind us, we have legislation. It is irrelevant how you or I voted on divorce.
It is not irrelevant because this was a crucial issue for the party.
If I was in Parliament I would have voted in favour of divorce legislation.
But you didn’t feel you needed to urge your party to take a stand in favour.
No. I did not participate in that debate because it was not my duty as a member of the European Parliament to get engaged in that local debate.
Do you rule out contesting for leadership after the election, for instance, if you lose?
If I achieve what I am working for, I have to rule it out because my leader will remain Prime Minister. If I wanted to think in terms of where you are heading in your thoughts, I would have simply stayed out of this, waited for my party to lose and then make my bid for the top job. I preferred to do it the other way round. I preferred to come to my party’s help when my party needed help most and not wait for it to be defeated before I put my name forward.
Is that a critique on other potential candidates who stayed out of the contest?
Well, it was their decision. What we know is that there is Tonio Fenech and myself who have contested this election and I have no doubt in my mind that both Tonio and myself are doing this out of loyalty to the party.
What’s your message to the PN councillors?
If you think with Tonio Fenech the party has a better chance of winning the election, please vote for Tonio Fenech. But if you think that, with me as deputy leader of the Nationalist Party, the party has a better chance of winning then you have the responsibility and duty to choose me.
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John Azzopoardi
Nov 19th 2012, 12:44
You cannot. You are not really that important. I have seen you how you operated and you haven't done much for Malta. Your only call to fame has been the burden sharing concept and it has been one big floop. PLease tell me and the rest of the maltese what you have really done as a member of the EU parlament.
m. borg (slm)
Nov 19th 2012, 11:25
By bringing new blood.
gonzipn needs a transfiusion complemented with at least 5 to 10 years on dialsys and maybe a little bit of genetic engineering.
Anthony Grech
Nov 19th 2012, 11:21
Give us what GonziPN promised us. Give us back what GonziPN took from our pockets (Euro 600)
IMBGHAAAAD NARAW.
m. borg (slm)
Nov 19th 2012, 11:19
What have you to offer Simon?
More of the same of the last 4+ years for which you had set the rpad map as you admitted.
More hollow promises and lies, like we have had for the past 12 years since you championed our entry into the EU.
D. Xerri
Nov 19th 2012, 11:13
So first we have Entire Years under the Gonzi Administration full of Arrogance, Stubborness and Laughing in the Faces of everyone who doesnt agree with us or share our opinion - then comes the general election and SOMEONE peeps out of the darkness and promises again heaven on earth and calls out for the lost sheep ...... too little, too late and So Very Very Shameful !
Anthony Paul Naudi
Nov 19th 2012, 11:09
Issa tridu iggibu l-voti lura ? Ghax ma hadtux hsieb qabel mhux injorajtu lil genwini. Jien wiehed li lili urtajtuni u grazzi hafna.
A.P.Naudi
Eve Axiaq
Nov 19th 2012, 10:29
Super simon.
A. Xuereb
Nov 19th 2012, 10:12
Can Dr Busuttil tell us if he was behind the letters sent to thousands of workers prior to the 2008 election assuring them their jobs would be guaranteed if the PN were re-elected? One such letter was sent to Airmalta employees. We need to know Dr Busuttil, just as we need to know why your change of heart about ACTA .
Lawrence Fenech
Nov 19th 2012, 10:10
Sur Simon "lost votes" are "lost votes" we do not have a" lost and found office" out here.
S. Camilleri
Nov 19th 2012, 10:08
I know Simon means well and i have a great respect for him and Dr Cassar personally. However he'd have an easier task landing a man on Mars!
Jon Vercellono
Nov 19th 2012, 10:06
What is disturbing is to consider the number of Labour children who have taken advantage of the advances in education provided by the current government to improve their own lives and by association their families'. These children have also been exposed to the EU and the opportunities there (and many have taken advantage of this) yet, they will still probably be voting Labour -old habits die hard
Roderick Micallef
Nov 19th 2012, 10:01
Like all politicians and Simon Busuttil is no exception, we are always told WHAT politicians will be doing, this is the practical example here :- 'The PN lost thousands of votes and I want to bring them back'.
Unfortunately politicians NEVER tell us HOW they are going to do what they intend to do. Personally I will not believe ANYONE unless I am told how a particular plan will be implemented!
Brian Gatt
Nov 19th 2012, 09:44
Tactically it is a good move, probability is that it is being done too late to have the desired impact....trying to win back the liberal votes most of which form part of the middle class which is being undermind on a daily basis by Gonzi Pn by introducing a new face with new (re-cycled) ideas is a great plan a bit stale but will have an effect on the electorate but will it have the desired effect?
pat muscat
Nov 19th 2012, 09:16
Holding on to power is GonziPN's vision; but what Malta needs right now is to move forward !
Michael Seychell
Dec 2nd 2012, 19:56
Pat for many years since I was made to leave the Labour Movement, I kept saying that l look forward to vote Labour again, however Dr JM convinced me that Labour has not changed, in fact he called back those who
were involved in the atrocities committed between1976/1987. With such persons if God forbid Labour will be in govt. the move will be backwards and not forward.
M. Seychell Tal-Pieta
Alfred J. McEwen
Nov 19th 2012, 09:05
Simon has as much chance in of bringing back lost votes as a snowball in hell.
Mark Borg
Nov 19th 2012, 08:57
And this guy is touted as the saviour of GonziPN! Pathetic.
Mr.W Cassar
Nov 19th 2012, 08:50
First thing you need to do is get a guide dog for the blind!
There have been too many F**k ups to even consider it!
John L Galea
Nov 19th 2012, 07:44
So the only vision for the future of Simon Busuttil & GOnziPN is to win back lost votes, nothing else. Then we see after the elections. mmmm this is food for thought for those who will be tempted to vote GOnziPN and the Evil Clique back in power.
B Attard
Nov 19th 2012, 08:29
Very good observation John.
John Scerri
Nov 19th 2012, 07:37
What will happen if Dr.Tonio Borg is not accepted as commissioner?
The Nationalist Party and the PN government have made the grave mistake of becoming one and the same.
The distinction between a political party and the same party in government is non existant.
There is no hint as to how the clock can be turned back to fix this .
This is why many PN votes are lost.
Robert Agius
Nov 19th 2012, 06:50
Political chit chat but nothing ever changes. After you impress, with actions not eulogies, you might get the 'lost' (PN are the ones who have been lost for a while here, not the people)votes. But that will happen AFTER the next election I'm afraid Simon.
B. Farrugia
Nov 19th 2012, 06:26
You can only bring the required change if you are prime minister at least, without the present support at the top.
Anthony Paul Naudi
Nov 19th 2012, 03:07
Voters must be taken care of 365 days per year and not few days before the election. Dear Simon I personally think that this is to late now. You might be able to convince a few but not a crowd. See what a clique can do and is now unrepairable.The party needs new flesh and blood and in order to achieve this you have to be in the opposition and not in power. I now turned to be a floater
A.P.Naudi
Paul Gauci
Nov 19th 2012, 01:12
Thousands of floaters and PN voters will not vote for the PN this time. These people were fooled by the Nationalist Party. Changing PN deputy leader a couple of months before the election will not change their voting intentions.
G Schembri
Nov 19th 2012, 00:44
Simon might be trying hard to show that he is different, but all he does is insult Joseph Muscat every chance he gets. He also boasted of being the one who drafted the last election programme, and will be doing the same in the next election, people know that Simon is a lot of paroli and nothing else. Fooled me once shame on you - fooled me twice shame on me.
Pippo de Marco
Nov 18th 2012, 22:32
if you really want to bring back lost voters, Simon, then lose the GonziPN strapline. But if you really want to win, then just drop Gonzi.
Andrew Terry Buttigieg
Nov 18th 2012, 22:15
What politics in democracy will be and forever be, a fair play for power.
I Bugeja
Nov 18th 2012, 21:10
Last time round when the party leader changed the PN did a massive campaign to associate Gonzi with PN so that people would vote.
This time round PN wants to re-invent itself using Simon Busuttil - however he has been too far from the limelight. This ensures less 'scandalous' affairs yet people forget who has been away for such a long time. I doubt this attempt will work to re-elect PN.
Joseph Grech Attard
Nov 18th 2012, 20:53
For nearly a year now, we have been listening nothing but incidences within the PN. This is a good cover to the mess our country is in and it is scandalous. What an immoral and unethical way of deviating the citizens' minds from the country's needs and problems. God forgive us all.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Nov 18th 2012, 20:25
Retrieving lost sheep is a most admirable undertaking. Introducing proven ravenous wolves back into a sheepfold isn't.
Joseph Borg
Nov 18th 2012, 20:23
Too late Simon...unless the clique of Gonzi, Gatt, Fenech, Delia, Pullicino, RCC, ecc remain there...NO WAY am I voting PN again. For the record I ALWAYS voted PN...this time my dustbin gets my vote!!!
Christian Sciberras
Nov 18th 2012, 20:13
Here's a little challenge for you, Simon. Try to win MY vote, then we'll talk.
For the record, I'm no die-hard MLP supporter, so it should be easy.
Anthony Galea
Nov 18th 2012, 20:12
I was told by one of the inercircle of the pn some 3 months ago that busutill will never makea good leader. Let us hope that this will not be a repeat story like that of gonzi made leader whi ruined our party
Dominic Chircop
Nov 18th 2012, 20:08
Has anyone ever considered the possibility that support for Tonio Fenech by most of the Cabinet members is a challenge to the PM himself ? It appears that they are not happy with the idea of having another "anointed" !
Anthony Galea
Nov 18th 2012, 20:05
It is now too late to bring us back to your fold. We suffered for 5 years and made our decission to vote for a new government
TONY FORMOSA
Nov 19th 2012, 08:21
Galea,, pl tell us what kind of suffering you had endured.
TONY FORMOSA
TONY FORMOSA
Mario Brincat
Nov 18th 2012, 19:58
You better hurry to get mine Simon cos time is running out
Louis Craus
Nov 18th 2012, 19:54
Issa ghandna KOK gdid mela. Il- borma ilha mhawwda u gej issa Xmun il- feddej.
Xi trid tbiddel jekk hemm kollox sewwa?
Carmel De Gabriele
Nov 18th 2012, 19:18
MHUX HEKK...... TIXTIEQ!!
Melvyn Mifsud LLD
Nov 18th 2012, 18:59
Simon is by far, the People's Choice.
The Party cannot ignore what the majority wants.
Let's get it right.
Let us not discard this golden opportunity
Simon ...is the Solution.
Dominic Chircop
Nov 18th 2012, 20:10
As the saying goes - "hope springs eternal in the human breast". And we maltese add - "Tgħix bit-tama, tmut bil-piena".
Jan-Wouter Stigter
Nov 19th 2012, 08:43
Really? Was there an election?
Joseph Bonnici
Nov 18th 2012, 18:50
What a mess this party is in.
Ms. P.M Graham
Nov 18th 2012, 18:47
Mr Busuttil, do you have any idea how many Maltese Nationals have applied to join the arms class action? [email protected] That tells me just how out of touch you ALL are with the problems the Maltese face on a daily basis, but then those struggling to make ends meet have never truly been a part of this Governments manifesto
Peppi Borg
Nov 18th 2012, 18:42
The cabinet seems to have chosen your opponent dear Simon! I think you should leave Tonio to deal with the crucifix that he, with his mates have burdened the party with. You should have entered the stage after the election like others will do.
mark borg
Nov 18th 2012, 18:42
If I was in Parliament I would have voted in favour of divorce legislation
ha ha h ah tghidx mhux hekk laqi ta gonzipn bhalek !
Alfred Vassallo
Nov 18th 2012, 18:14
''He asked me to contest the general election''
Of course he did, but not the deputy leadership. The inner circle is for the bosom friends.....you are just a means to get the votes.
Karl Consiglio
Nov 18th 2012, 18:45
All good things are a means to get votes.
V Mercieca
Nov 18th 2012, 18:03
Simon, you want to get back lost votes!
Well not mine for sure. It is too late now. I don't want to be fooled by GonziPN once more.
As long as Gonzi and his clique remains in power, I shall never ever vote PN again.
One final thing - if Gonzi is changed as leader by one of the clique I shall remain far away from the PN
Karl Consiglio
Nov 18th 2012, 18:44
Simon is not of the "clique", he's in Brussels.
Joseph Grech Attard
Nov 18th 2012, 20:56
Who said the clique is all in Malta? There are and were still some away from Malta. And they fare much better.
Robert Agius
Nov 19th 2012, 06:45
He is in the worse clique Karl!
Brian Gatt
Nov 19th 2012, 10:54
He is one of Gonzi's blue eyed boys...Gonzi specifically put him as a special delegate for the party to try and bridge the gap that has widened throughout the years with the people. He is re-writing the electoral manifesto -So yes he is in his clique
michael scicluna
Nov 18th 2012, 17:46
No chance if people consider all your broken promises from last election and the fact that you are re-writing your new election manifesto!
GL Calleja
Nov 18th 2012, 18:16
He came to my kitchen and he tried but he left somebody else to clean up..... Enough said. By the way I still prefer Simon Busuttil to Tonio Fenech, anytime. No contest.
Karl Consiglio
Nov 18th 2012, 18:42
What do you mean by "No chance"? I like Simon, I wouldn't mind him replace Gonzi.
pat muscat
Nov 18th 2012, 14:54
So Simon has not managed to bring the stray sheep back and he blames Dr Gonzi for the lack of results?
Karl Consiglio
Nov 18th 2012, 13:03
Like the story Jesus told of the shephard and the lost sheep, Simon wants to retreive that sheep. All well and good, then eliminate hunting, legalize abortion and cannabis, introduce gay marriage and the rights for gay couples to adopt, fix the roads, see that the justice system gives balanced sentences, remove religion from public spaces....
Andrea Damato
Nov 18th 2012, 18:05
'' eliminate hunting.................... legalize abortion and cannabis''
Taf tisthi sur Consiglio, ghasfur tistmah aktar minn bniedem u trid idl-cannabis legalizzata. Int u min hu bhalek , x'nies intkhom jekk tista issejhilkhom nies !!!!
Karl Consiglio
Nov 18th 2012, 18:39
How rude, I got my views and I am honest.
Mr Evan Camilleri
Nov 18th 2012, 19:00
Unfortunately that's the attitude taken by many liberals these days! Up goes animal rights (which i agree) and down go human embryos rights!
There was a picture going around, saying that a few cells on Mars would be one of the greatest news ever because we would have found LIFE out of this world.... but a human embryo on Earth is not regarded as life!
Frans Aguis
Nov 18th 2012, 19:13
@Damato
Nies li naqraw u nafu x'hadem u ma hadimx barra.
I Mercieca
Nov 18th 2012, 20:55
Taf tisthi KARL CONSIGLIO?
Alfred J. McEwen
Nov 19th 2012, 08:56
But that`s all it is Karl..Just a Story.
Robert Agius
Nov 19th 2012, 10:11
As a pro cannabis/ pro choice person, nies, daqskhom u aktar. If you don't like my views you can always 1) forgive me 2) don't listen to me 3) disagree 4) kiss me where the sun don't shine.
It's a democracy (well...thereabout) .... deal with it.
Eddy Privitera
Nov 18th 2012, 10:24
So sitting on the wall is not an alien thing for Dr. Simon Busuttil ! Dr.Muscat has shown that even on such divisive matters as divorce, & IVF he stood up to be counted. This is the difference between a real leader and one who just wants people to like him by avoiding to speak on controversial issues !
Karl Consiglio
Nov 18th 2012, 17:55
Hold it, JM is the leader of his party, Simon so far has been team player for PN, you can't say what Simon would be like at the top.
Louise Vella
Nov 18th 2012, 09:53
Simon wants to bring back the lost votes. The Sunday Times (28.03.2010) quoted Simon saying it was "shocking" that "just four people were charged in court for racist crimes". Obviously Simon thinks more people should be charged for racist crimes. Yes, bring back the lost votes!
Giov DeMartino
Nov 18th 2012, 18:08
I shudder to think that any normal, adult person can change allegiance because one single person made such a statement.
mary pace
Nov 18th 2012, 19:39
Simon, to get lost votes, you need to investigate mepa permits that violate the environment..you have to revoke these permits!
Giov DeMartino
Nov 19th 2012, 12:03
Ms Mary Pace deserves the admiration of all of us. Never have I seen such love for the environment! Keep it up Ms. Borg.
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