Parties will launch their campaigns on January 7
PM had chosen to prolong instability – Muscat
The two main parties are expected to officially launch their electoral campaigns on January 7 in the lead-up to a widely touted March 9 general election, The Sunday Times has learnt.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has said he will call on the President to dissolve Parliament if his Government loses the crucial Budget vote tomorrow, and that will most likely take place this week.
Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono has repeatedly said he will vote against the Budget unless Transport Minister Austin Gatt resigns from Cabinet.
However, sources close to the Nationalist Party said party officials have held talks with Dr Debono during the past days to try to convince him about the importance of voting with his party.
“We still expect him to vote against the Budget, but as far as the party is concerned, the door for Franco Debono remains open. The country needs this important Budget to go through,” one senior party source said.
“The country needs to start implementing it rather than leaving it hanging in the air. It will ultimately make little difference to the election date.”
Party officials dismissed suggestions that the Prime Minister would make an attempt to prolong the uncertainty and in his speech tomorrow he is expected to confirm the Budget vote will be tied to a vote of confidence.
“The Prime Minister will make a political commitment that he would go to the President if the Budget vote isn’t carried through.”
The President’s engagements for this week show a scheduled a meeting between George Abela and Lawrence Gonzi on Tuesday at 10am.
The make-or-break vote is taking place at the start of the festive season though the two main parties have agreed to postpone all electioneering until after the new year so as not to disrupt business during the Christmas season.
Sources from both parties yesterday said their electoral campaign would officially kick off on January 6, though Labour’s could start a day later. Should the Budget fail to make it through Parliament tomorrow, the Prime Minister is expected to name a March 9 election, making it the longest electoral campaign since 1987. The Constitution states that an election must be held within three months of Parliament’s dissolution. Local elections have also been slated for March 9.
The standard Monday Cabinet meeting is not being held this week. Ministers are expecting an urgent Cabinet meeting on Tuesday before Dr Gonzi goes to the President, should the Government lose the vote.
Contacted yesterday, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said the Prime Minister had chosen to prolong the instability even though he was well aware there was a good chance the Budget might not be sanctioned in Parliament. Confirming his party would vote against the Budget tomorrow, since it was effectively a vote of confidence, Dr Muscat insisted that a new Labour government would still carry through the 2013 Budget to ensure stability.
The Chamber of Commerce has warned of the economic repercussions should the Budget be voted down. It insisted that tax and duty collection, for instance, may be thrown into disarray to the detriment of public coffers, fiscal morality and the reputation of the country as a stable business destination.
Government sources said that during his speech tomorrow, Dr Gonzi is expected to highlight his administration’s handling of the economy during the past five years in the midst of financial collapse around Europe, forcing a number of EU states to ask for a bailout.
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Noel Damato
Dec 9th 2012, 20:24
Li kieku l-Gvern ta GonziPN ma qaghadx jilghab biex itawwal iz-zmien u jawweg il-fatti ma kienx jasal ghal sqaq maghluq. Il maturita politika kienet tirrekjedi li l-ewwel kien jintaghzel l-interes tal pajjiz u mhux l-interes tal partit. Sewwa qalulu li kien bena hajt madwaru.
joseph saliba
Dec 9th 2012, 19:25
Dr Muscat is trying very hard to steal the limelight from Dr Debono. But it is so late in the day for both of them! Only the March vote will will win the day.
pat muscat
Dec 9th 2012, 14:24
The Transport Minister DR Gatt comes before the good of the country? If he does not resign it simply means he does not give a hoot about the interest of the people, and that he is de facto the real leader of GonziPN!
John Zammit
Dec 9th 2012, 14:09
Gonzi PN was offered a life raft to save the budget By putting the motion presented by Franco Debono regarding vote of confidence in Austin Gatt but it was shelved. Now they want Dr. debono to vote in favour
Willie Grech
Dec 9th 2012, 12:52
One should note that although the PL was targeted as wanting to win the government at all costs, it agreed to postpone "have agreed to postpone all electioneering until after the new year so as not to disrupt business during the Christmas season." That is maturity at its best!!!!!!!!!
Steve M. Engerer
Dec 9th 2012, 18:24
Political maturity by both parties, right??
Willie Grech
Dec 9th 2012, 12:49
“The Prime Minister will make a political commitment that he would go to the President if the Budget vote isn’t carried through.”
Political commitment? What political commitment? That is what our Constitution says - No more, no less! Stop treating voters as if you are doing them any favours!!!!
Paul Cassar
Dec 9th 2012, 12:40
the pm and the pn ALWAYS put the interests of the party BEFORE, much before, the interests of the
nation..............always and in all aspects........................so election comes when the party interests decide.
REMEMBER THIS WHEN VOTING..............not your interests but the party's come first and foremost for the pn.
D Portelli
Dec 9th 2012, 12:35
So the campagine didn't started yet!! Maybe the official one, because all we are seeing is the two major parties doing talks to their followers.
Malcolm Farrugia
Dec 9th 2012, 12:14
This is all the "Prime Minister's" fault, he new that there was no solution to the current empasse, but instead of takinfg the right and homourable decision he chose to prolong the instability even further.
Peppi Borg
Dec 9th 2012, 11:48
I hope that tomorrow the prime minister during his speech in parliament would tell us that he was capable of convincing all his deputies to support budget.Thanks to gonzipn's arrogance the country is facing this unpleasant situation. one should be very arrogant to expect Franco Debono to support you when one of his otions against minister Gatt was shelved.
alfred seguna
Dec 9th 2012, 11:26
I hope that in the electoral manifestos there would be that there would be no more ARROGANCE.There would be also that every one should be accountable and responsible for his decisions and actions.It is also a must that the CULTURE of RESIGNATIONS be introduced for UNACCOUNTABLE and IRRESPONSIBLE MP'S.In parliament there should only be accountable persons who have then nation at heart .
j brincat
Dec 9th 2012, 11:25
@Giov DeMartino
"though the absolute majority had voted PN"
AND where is GonziPN's absolute majority now?
He has lost the relative majority he had more than a year ago yet he remained glued to the seat of power.
Certainly with what has been happening in the last twelve months, the PN is in NOT a position to call the pot black any longer!
(jb)
j brincat
Dec 9th 2012, 11:19
@Giov DeMartino
"KMB did worse than that when he dragged to the very last possible day even though the absolute majority had voted PN. And before he left he employed EIGHT THOUSAND PERSONS"
And YET when the PN came to power in 1987 they continued to employ their blue eyed ones in the public service messengers etc.
(jb)
Giov DeMartino
Dec 9th 2012, 12:47
Did you expect the PN to kick them out?
*Joseph Brincat
Dec 9th 2012, 11:03
• November 27 – speaking to The Times
Dr Gonzi says the vote on the Budget if it is not approved, he will have
NO problem asking the President to call an election .
NO PROBLEM HE SAYS SO DON,T WORRY ????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMeUANw1y-A
P Sciberras
Dec 9th 2012, 11:01
The country now expect that the Chamber Of Commerce who recently was really worried of the instability of the country because the PL is not voting in favour to the budget. Now as have been published, Malta will have the longest electoral campaign since the bad old days,expect the Chamber Of Commerce to comment about another 3 months of instability.
mark borg
Dec 9th 2012, 10:57
ilu sena jgebbedd ..parlament maghluq,elezzjonijiet tal kumissarju,elezjonijiet interni u elf skuza ohra halli jibqa mwahhal mas siggu Dr Gonzi.....issa bil wicc tost kollhu jipredendi li habba l-istabilita jivutawlu ghal budget ...la skont hu ghandha l-aqwa economija tad dinja ghalfejn issa qed ihabbel rasu ?
Joseph L.
Dec 9th 2012, 10:56
Dear MPs if you agree with the budget & if you're still going to get the election in march, should the vote pass or not. Wouldn't be the best for the sake of the population to vote in favour of the budget?
For all labour fanatics, what will u get if the vote doesn't pass? No rises in Children's allowances, no minimum wage increase etc etc & an election. Should it pass? You get it all! GLMalta
Giov DeMartino
Dec 9th 2012, 16:10
Andrew Cumbo: THAT is the problem that thousands of voters were either very young or they were not born at all. Today they may believe that we have always been as prosperous, as free and as democratic as we are today. Our comments are restricted to not more than 400 words and so I cannot deliver a sermon to explain to these "youngsters" what a hell it was under labour.
Victor Laiviera
Dec 9th 2012, 10:49
So Lawrence Gonzi means to drag out the uncertainty and instability to the last possible day ....
Incredible.
Giov DeMartino
Dec 9th 2012, 10:55
KMB did worse than that when he dragged to the very last possible day even though the absolute majority had voted PN. And before he left he employed EIGHT THOUSAND PERSONS.
Anthony Paul Naudi
Dec 9th 2012, 12:06
What happened in 1981 ? kindly refresh your memory sir.
A.P.Naudi
Andrew Cumbo
Dec 9th 2012, 12:06
Giov De Martino, why you keep yourself jammed with what happened 25 years ago. Do you realise that some people weren’t even born those days. At least I pretend from you to mention the honourable way Dr. Alfred Sant did in 1998, that is much more different from GonziPN. So try and turn the page, because many people don’t care of the past, and all they want is a brighter future.
Joe Tabone
Dec 9th 2012, 12:15
Victor,
You have been talking about instability for the last TWO years, but Dr Gonzi has managed to govern although all obstacles by PL..............................seems that some one took you for a ride.
The 5 years are over in March, and it is the PN's duty to govern through the mandate given to it in the last election!!!
j brincat
Dec 9th 2012, 10:43
"Sources from both parties yesterday said their electoral campaign would officially kick off on January 6"
But will GonziPN, in the meantime, refrain from ribbon cutting ceremonies which are part of the propaganda strategy?
Will there be a secession of the ongoing incumbency in the Xmas period?
So is it just whitewash?
(jb)
,
T Mifsud
Dec 9th 2012, 11:48
Whats wrong with launching and inaugurating projects? Hundreds of projects, some very major and long term ones were done by the PN. It is impossible to build projects for the sake of it. Confidence, finance, reputation are built along the years. The thing is that Malta, thanks to the PN and not Labour, has built a solid financial center that allowed banks, gaming companies and investors come here.
Joseph Micallef
Dec 9th 2012, 10:39
B'niket inħabru l-mewt tal-gvern ta' GonziPN. Ħalla jibku t-telfa tiegħu lil Franco Debono, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Jesmond Mugliett u tlett kwarti tal-poplu Malti u Għawdxi.
Qraba u ħbieb huma ġentilment mitluba li flok fjuri, jintbatu donazzjonijiet b'risq dawk li jinsabu f'xifer il-faqar.
E. Mifsud
Dec 9th 2012, 11:01
fl-1996 kien miet il-gvern ta' Fenech Adami biex floku tela' gvern tal-labour bil-kawlata magna u 33 taxxa gdida li gab mieghu! Wara biss 22 xahar konna habbarna b'ferh kbir (u mhux b'niket) il-mewt ta' dak il-gvern. Nittama li ma nergghux nirrepetu dak l-izball kbir.
Joe Spiteri Gauci
Dec 9th 2012, 11:08
HAHAHA... veru funny .... dahhaqtna
George Calleja
Dec 9th 2012, 12:52
@ Joseph Micallef
Minghajr ma taf qed tammetti li, 'tlett kwarti tal-poplu Malti u Ghawdxi' se jibku t-telfa ta gvern nazzjonalista. Mela malajr tinduna li l-PL ghandu biss support ta KWART tal-poplu Malti u Ghawdxi!!
Joseph Micallef
Dec 9th 2012, 13:02
George Calleja, Issa naraw mir-riżultat elettorali kemm se jkunu kwart ta' voti. Forsi tħalli marka ikbar minn ħaddieħor bil-vot tiegħek, nawguralek. E.Mifsud, Għandek raġun titkellem fuq l-iżbalji għaliex irranġajtu ruħkom li tellajtu lil Gonzi. Nittama li ma tagħmlux bħal m'għamiltu fis-sittinijiet meta tajjartu lil Gorg BO. Serraħ rasek mhux se nieħu żball fil-vot.
Joseph Micallef
Dec 9th 2012, 13:14
@ Ġorġ Calleja,
Gvern li jmut, ma jmutx bis-support ta' kwart ta' l-elettorat! Possibli, anqas l-affarijiet bażiċi ma ħallik tirraġuna fuqhom GonziPN? U GonziPN jiftaħar bis-suċċessi edukattivi. Insomma, mhux ta' b'xejn GonziPN tefana l-aħħar fil-lista tas-suċċessi edukattivi fl-EU.
Saviour Cachia
Dec 9th 2012, 10:32
With a super budget that Lawrence Gonzi proposed to the electorate and the way certain European Union members have had to resort to austerity measures, a three week electoral campaign will be enough. Yes election should be held first week in February. The instability and all have been with us for months,so why prolong it. Time for general elections, the soonest..
Joseph Fava
Dec 9th 2012, 10:52
3 week? :)
Charles Camilleri
Dec 9th 2012, 10:56
Agree 100%
V Caruana
Dec 9th 2012, 10:31
Whoever believe that we are not living in an election campaign must be day dreaming. then why a PN leaflet with political content was sent to civil servants employees? Why LG and JM have been holding on every Sunday (to say the least) conferences and political speeches? Why all the billboards scattered throughout the country from both parties? Ministers's activities are displayed on PBS!
Anthony Pace
Dec 9th 2012, 10:30
In Italy Mr Monti has said that he will resign if the budget does not get through Parliament and elections will be held as soon as possible. We should follow the same example with a campaign of just two weeks.
robert pace
Dec 9th 2012, 10:20
Go Gonzi Go do a favour to the Maltese for once leave us in peace!! Ilrk tawwad u tibdell vezjonijiet filli hekk fill hekk , lanqas li ghamilt taxxa fuq il minimum wage ma taf u ghajjart lil Joseph li iffriza il minimum wage? Taf x inti tghid ghid?
Joe Scerri
Dec 9th 2012, 10:15
Politicians will suddenly remember our existence and come grovelling for our votes. Pathetic lot.
Joseph Borg
Dec 9th 2012, 11:00
Than do the only thing sensible, DON'T VOTE. Politicians take us for granted because we vote, Nationalists come election day suddenly remember what happened between 1981 and 1986 and the PL suddenly remembers id dnub il mejjet. I have got tired of voting to a party not because I believe that it is not corrupt but because I think the other is worse.
TONY FORMOSA
Dec 9th 2012, 10:14
'Instabbilita' seems to be the latest buzz word.!
TONY FORMOSA
TONY FORMOSA
Fran Abela
Dec 9th 2012, 10:11
I do not believe that the political campaign will start on January 7 - it will start the same evening that the budget vote falls through.. How gullible do you politicans think the electorate is. Do what is best for Malta - vote in the budget then the Prime Minister will announce the date of the election. That is political maturity.
Lawrence Fenech
Dec 9th 2012, 10:07
Right, mela by January 7th of the next year of course, Gonzi will confirm that we have found oil, Austin Gatt will finish the tunnel from Malta to Gozo and the BWSC power station will start functioning and the Smart City will be overcrowded with 7,000 IT students and not one hole in our roads. Tonio will confirm that the 5 billion debt and the 500,000 interest will have What a way to win election
David Farrugia
Dec 9th 2012, 10:04
The PN era is about to close down. WE need a fresh new Government. Our national debt of €4,000,000,000 is the legacy of GonziPN and how can we forgive them. The PN need to rest for a while maybe 10 to 15 years and then can be able to lead our country to another 5 to 10 years. That is a political cycle and hope we adhere to it.
Victor Pulis
Dec 9th 2012, 10:04
I thought the campaign had already started what with all those bill boards lining the streets!
Alfred Vassallo
Dec 9th 2012, 10:03
Quote:
''but as far as the party is concerned, the door for Franco Debono remains open''.
What door? You had it your way all the time, especially Dr. Gatt. You left the man no option to turn too. You slammed all the doors and windows shut in the man's face. Now reap your deeds, and look no further for all your misgivings EXCEPT YOURSELVES!
*Joseph Brincat
Dec 9th 2012, 10:00
Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono has repeatedly said he will vote against the Budget
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aht9hcDFyVw
Charlene Bonnici
Dec 9th 2012, 10:17
Good one :)
George Calleja
Dec 9th 2012, 12:57
Jekk FD jivvota kontra l-Budget la FD u lanqas in-nazzjonalisti ma jkunu se jbaghtu....imma il-poplu kollu li qed jistenna l-beneficcji tieghu. FD ghaqqadhom u m'ghandux bzonn xejn. Il-poplu ghandu!
B Attard
Dec 9th 2012, 14:46
Perfectly.
Ronnie Callus
Dec 9th 2012, 09:56
Dan il-pajjiz ilu li messu inheles minn din il-kurruzzjoni kollha.Ilna nisemhu b'nies f'puzzizzjonijiet gholja imdahhla f'kurruzzjoni, qrati, kuntratti ta' xoghol u ohra,evazzjoni ta' taxxa, nies fil-VAT Dipartiment, football u lista ma' tieqaf qatt.Hemm bzonn li dawn l-affarijiet jinqataw bill fatti u mhux kliem sabih biss ripetut u ma'jsir xejn ghax anke jekk ghaddiet xi ligi baqet fuq li xkaffa
Joanne Camilleri
Dec 9th 2012, 09:55
Gonzi took the wrong route, in my view, by leaving the country in all this uncertainty.
Renald Borg
Dec 9th 2012, 09:54
"Party officials dismissed suggestions that the Prime Minister would make an attempt to prolong the uncertainty and in his speech tomorrow he is expected to confirm the Budget vote will be tied to a vote of confidence."
Lol that is what has been going on for the last 2 years!
Robert Agius
Dec 9th 2012, 09:51
More waste of money coming your way! More pathetic slogans! More child-like bickering and squabbles! 7th Jan...not to be (can't) be missed.
Brought to to by Malta taxpayers & co.
Ronnie Callus
Dec 9th 2012, 09:46
Il-kamra tal-kummerc, issa qed tinkwieta fuq ir-ripperkussjonijiet ta' taxxa migbura minn l-ghada li thabbar il-budget tista tkun ghalxejn ! ghax ma' tkelmietx meta dawk il-miljuni kollha ta' VAT li kellhom jithallsu minn min suppost u ma'sarx, jew dan insewh ukoll. Nahseb li ghada Dr.Gonzi se' jittehdulu l-krozzi li ilu miexi bihom zmien. Dr.F. Debono jkun heles lil pajjiz minn din il-kurruzzjoni
G Pace
Dec 9th 2012, 09:46
Li kiku jista gonzi emm jibqa daqs kemm ihobbu l poter.....time to say goodbye gonzinho :)
Anthony Paul Naudi
Dec 9th 2012, 09:38
Wara il-vot fuq il-bagit issa naraw il-kliem jittpoggewx ghall-fatti ta' Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox jew dak ma ghadux jittiehed in konsiderazzjoni illum.
Jirbah min jirbah l-elezzjoni hadd minnhom ma jkun jixtieq hsara lil Malta.
A.P.Naudi
carlos ellul
Dec 9th 2012, 09:34
Why not in february 1st. In that way we will reduce the instability to the minimum.
Anthony Pace
Dec 9th 2012, 10:27
January 11th would be a better date - to get it over and done with instead of an unstable goverment in place! The campaign has already started with door to door visits by the campaigners.
*Joseph Brincat
Dec 9th 2012, 09:29
GONZI PN First he created chaos in his party and now he is creating
chaos through out the nation ,
"what a leader " step aside the sooner the better
Anthony Paul Naudi
Dec 9th 2012, 10:02
Jidher kemm hawn krizi fil-pajjiz. meta ma tmurx tara in-nies jixtru mis-supermarkets u hwienet ohra u jieklu fir-restauranti. Ghandek ragun tghid hekk ghax fil-bagit kellna naqqis il-pagi, naqqas il-penzjonijiet, naqqas l-impieg,i kulhadd b'zewg jew tlett karozzi ,studenti bla salarju u ghax ma hawnx investiment ta' xejn.Jien ma ghandi minn hadd imma il-fatti jitkelmu wehidhom.
A.P.Naudi
*Joseph Brincat
Dec 9th 2012, 11:18
Anthony Paul Naud
Poverty has increased >>>>
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121205/editorial/The-families-at-risk-of-poverty.448212
Stephen Zammit
Dec 9th 2012, 09:20
The campaigns have already started. We are already getting door-to-door visits. I thought that we were going to be spared for the christmas season. Even though both parties have agreed otherwise, candidates are taking care of business.
Please choose the reason of your report below: