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Sunday, January 6, 2013

Ready, set, continue...

Published January 6

The election campaign officially starts tomorrow but political parties have been revving up their engines for months. Kurt Sansone takes a look at the long road ahead.

President George Abela will raise the curtain tomorrow on an electoral campaign that has been revving up backstage for months.

Voters will be asked whether they are prepared to jettison the devil they know for the one that they don’t
- Godfrey Baldacchino

The President will do his constitutional duty and dissolve Parliament, officially declaring an election for March 9.

At almost nine weeks, this will be the longest general election campaign since 1987 and one that will put the political parties’ resilience to test.

Surveys conducted by The Sunday Times and confirmed by other pollsters put the Labour Party well ahead at the start of the campaign.

The last survey commissioned by this newspaper in October saw the PL enjoying a 12-point lead over the PN.

A more recent poll by Malta Today carried out after the election of MEP Simon Busuttil as PN deputy leader has seen the gap narrow but not enough to put the parties neck and neck.

Godfrey Baldacchino, a visiting lecturer of sociology and chairman of the Centre for Labour Studies at the University of Malta, believes the gap in voter intentions will narrow as election day approaches. But he argues the election is the Labour Party’s to lose.

“The PN will pounce quickly on any faux pas committed by Labour, obliging the PL to play cautious with any dramatic policy initiatives,” Prof. Baldacchino says.

Five years after the PN won the 2008 election by the slimmest of margins in decades, much has happened that may change the status quo.

“The PL has a new name, a new leader and deputy leader, and a determination to appeal to the ideological centre.

“The PN, in spite of Simon Busuttil, is just so much old hat; a weary outfit that has grown too comfortable in office,” Prof. Baldacchino says.

He notes that the 2013 campaign will unfold over an electorate that, other than a 22-month hiatus, has only distant memories of a Labour Government.

This does not mean the PN can be written off, especially at the start of a very long campaign in which it will pull out all the stops to convince the electorate that it is best suited to steer the country during turbulent times.

With low levels of unemployment, and no serious economic damage from the ongoing global financial crisis, Prof. Baldacchino says voters will be asked whether they are prepared to jettison “the devil they know for the one that they don’t”.

He believes the PN will deploy its incumbency to the highest levels of sophistication ever witnessed in political campaigns.

“The key message will be that the Nationalist Party is a safe, tested and responsible pair of hands; and that these turbulent times are not ideal moments during which to ditch proven stewardship for a bunch of feckless amateurs and their bag of tricks,” Prof. Baldacchino says.

At the other end of the political spectrum the Labour message, re-branded under and around Joseph Muscat, will emphasise it is time for a responsible change of government.

The major parties will kick off their respective campaigns with rallies for activists and supporters tomorrow evening. But even as they stoke up enthusiasm so early in the day, party strategists will be fine-tuning their message in the boiler rooms at their headquarters in Ħamrun and Pietà.

Economist Lino Briguglio believes the PN will base its campaign on good economic governance of Nationalist administrations. The party will highlight the fact that Malta has performed much better than all the other EU member states in the Mediterranean region, he says.

This will be countered by the PL’s message that the incumbent administration is saddled by corruption, Prof. Briguglio argues.

He notes that on the economic front the PL will probably hanker on the high cost of living, the low participation rate of women in the labour market and the high rate of early school leavers.

As for Alternattiva Demokratika, Prof. Briguglio believes the third party, which surveys have shown enjoys the support of just one per cent, will emphasise the need to control political party financing, enhance civil rights and strengthen environmental governance.

But in an election campaign dominated by the personality of the party leaders and to a lesser extent the newly-elected deputy leaders – Louis Grech for the PL and Simon Busuttil for the PN – it is not only about what the parties will be saying that counts.

What they will not say and what they will minimise may be as important as the rhetoric they will spew out over the coming weeks.

Water and electricity bills, the Government’s handling of public finances, infrastructural projects, taxes and good governance will all feature prominently during the campaign as will the qualities of the leaders.

But Prof. Briguglio believes there are major issues that will most probably not be given the importance they deserve because speaking about them will mean “loss of votes and money”.

He lists four principle issues: Malta’s backwardness in terms of civil rights because of the excessive influence of the Catholic Church, the environmental damage caused by building contractors, the safety concerns associated with excessive use of fireworks and the strong hunting lobby that is giving Malta a bad reputation.

If the major political parties remain aloof from these thorny issues, fiscal health will be “the unacknowledged elephant in the room” of this campaign, according to Prof. Baldacchino.

With a debt of almost €5 billion, equivalent to 71 per cent of GDP in 2011, the party elected on March 9 would do well to rein in State expenditure to more sustainable levels, he adds.

“Responsible government requires this; even if political parties will trip up over each other in promising more largesse in their campaigns.”

The election campaign comes on the back of a tumultuous year for Parliament and the judiciary. Prof. Baldacchino says the election has been trumped by episodes that discredited the highest institutions and shocked the nation.

“One will expect political parties to address head-on the crisis that faces both the judiciary as much as the legislature,” he insists.

It is a concern shared by Prof. Briguglio, who says Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s good reputation was marred by the “unethical tactics” used to prolong the administration’s life.

Tomorrow marks the opening night of the electoral campaign. The lights are set, the curtain will rise and for the next few weeks the discussion almost everywhere will be hijacked by politics.

The country will come to a virtual standstill, waiting to see who will walk back onto the stage for the curtain call when everything is over on March 10.

[email protected]

Ignored issues?

Fireworks safety concerns, hunting and environmental damage caused by over-construction will probably be avoided by the two main parties.Fireworks safety concerns, hunting and environmental damage caused by over-construction will probably be avoided by the two main parties.
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Alfred Falzon

Jan 7th, 09:06

@ Victor Mallia

Jekk jitla' l-PL tkun tfisser vittorja fuq minn tilef il-fiducja tal-poplu ghax mexa hazin mieghu!

Mhux bilfors ghax il-PL huwa popolari bit-tahwid li qed ihawwad biex joghgob lil Alla u lix-xitan!

L-Ingliz jghid : "Victory by default"!

"The taste of the pudding is in the eating" u hemm qeghda l-prova ta' kemm hu kapaci min jaghti bi stallett lil siehbu stess!!

Alf A Falzon

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 7th, 18:44

Only a fool would take a bite out of a pudding that appears to be mouldy in order to taste it, least of all from a baker with a reputation for selling inedible pastry.

Alfred Falzon

Jan 7th, 08:59

@ Patrick Cutajar

Jigbed in-nies!

Min huma dawn?

U dawk li dejjem hadmu fi hdanu jtiehom bis-sieq! U jwarrabhom bi tbissima!!

Staqsi lil Dr Anglu Farrugia, Dr Adrian Vassallo, Dr Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, u ohrajn li rrezenjaw dan l;-ahhar minn dan il-Partit bla wicc u jghidulek malajr kif jahsbuha dwar min irid joghgob lil Alla u lix-xitan!

aaf

Michael Magri

Jan 7th, 13:18

Sur A..A Falzon. Jekk inti daqshekk politikament ghama li l-anqas biss triq tammetti li mal-PL, IVA, hemm nies godda, (ex PN), li hargu fil-berah favur il-PL ghax uhud minnhom sahansitra se johorgu kandidati mal-PL, allura wiehed jikkonkludi li inti tidher li qed ic-cicci wahda sew fuq il-`bajda tad-deheb`.!

Jekk issaqsi lill-JPO, J. Mulgliette, Franco Debono u issa H. Schiavone mhux ahjar.!

Alfred Falzon

Jan 7th, 20:04

@ Michael Magri

Qabel xejn jien m'inhix moghmi bl-ebda Partit u nghid dak li hu minnu fix-xena politika, biz-zewg Partiti ewlenin u l-imsehbin taghhom DEJJEM ghandhom ragun!

Il-poplu mhux gwejjef fil-kotra tieghu u jaf kif jistghu dawn it-tnejn jistmawh huwa u jara l-MP taghhom stess imkasbra u mwarrba ghaliex riedu li s-sewwa jirbah!

Jien m'ghandi l-ebda privilegg ghax nahrab il-klikek.

aaf

Alfred Falzon

Jan 7th, 09:12

@ Charles Flask

"Labour is looking more sexy,.."

Indeed, what should one expect from a "feminist Party", a concoction of superficiality, showbusiness and silly gimmicks like the latest midnight serenade!

Is this the new PL?!!

Alfred A Falzon

Ronnie Callus

Jan 6th, 20:46

Sew qed tghid Sur.Muscat, Jekk ma';tbidilx tqammel jghidu. U joqghodu jghajtu bil-progetti! kif tista tikkompara ma' li ghamel Mintoff li ghadna ngawdu minnhom sa'llum.Air terminal gdid bi twaqqif ta' l-Air Malta, SeaMalta,Freeport,Bini ghal gharajjes/familji,Xandir Malti,Banek Maltin,toroq godda,SGS,Armata Maltija u ohrajn.Dan trid tqis il-bsaten li ghamlulu ghax kieku kien isir ferm izjed.

Ronnie Callus

Jan 6th, 20:52

Ma'dan issa wiehed jista jikkompara li sar taht Gonzi pn.Tkomplija ta'toroq (li xi kultant jinqalu ghal darba tnejn tlieta), tindif ta'swar,Pont li ma'jehodna ghal imkin,Tejatru bla saqaf bil-Parlament ma'genbu, Skejjel godda,Power Station li tidher bazwija,Gaming Services (ghax deletant tal-loghob bi flus il-poplu, barra id-diskors) u cekcik iehor li f'hafna minhom hadem Zaren li stess kuntrattur

vincent Lia

Jan 6th, 22:37

If an entity can borrow 5 billion euros it means that it is able to pay it back as it is invested wisely, in this case to create jobs, build schools, roads leisure parks etc all at 50% discount, or else it is bankrupt. Malta has a health balance sheet while other countries are begging for bail outs. Get your fact right pat muscat, and do not be a parrot.

Joseph Bugeja

Jan 6th, 19:45

You don't work where I do so why should you care? Or if you do you must be one of the 'boys'...and I am not talking of the extra €5 or 10 but 3, 4, 5 promotions and in some instances a staggering 9 in just as many years. And no I am not talking either of any prodigy or re-invented Einstein!

John L Galea

Jan 7th, 08:39

@J Micallef: "The PN, with all its defects, has throughout its existance in government been a governemnt that gives space and opportunities to all those able to do what they do best." - Lol ask those who were kicked in the butt like FD, JPO, HS, etc, etc. They only gave opportunities to dumb donkeys like Manwel Delia to make a mess out of everything he did.

J Micallef

Jan 7th, 18:44

@ Joseph Bugeja - shall I name my two uncles (both staunch labourites) who never got a promotion under MLP but instead wer eput aside. Then, between 1987 and 1988 they were promoted because they had talent?

For your info (but it's none of your business, really) , I work for a PRIVATE company, and work my fingers to the bone. I live in a bejta tal-labour and I hear few complaints from them!

J Micallef

Jan 7th, 18:45

@ John L Galea

Please read my post again. I think you have too much red dye in your eyes and must have missed my point.

J Micallef

Jan 7th, 18:49

@ Joseph Bugeja

Would you like me to give you the names of labour bazuzzli who became VERY wealthy thanks to the Governemnt and private entities tenders? Yessir! Despite all the corruption PL talk about, labourites still manage to win good tenders and get financial aid from MIMCOL and Malta Enterprise. Good luck to them, but please use your grey matter to reason things out!

Mr Anthony Briffa

Jan 6th, 18:34

The PL had to golden opportunities to come forward as a decent political outfit but on both occasions failed to deliver because of internal cliques who don't want change. In 1992 they chose Sant instead of Spiteri and in 2008 they preferred Muscat for Abela. Had they made the right choice in any of the instances the MLP would have gained particularly whilst Malta would have gained in general.

Godwin Vassallo

Jan 6th, 18:27

Ghandek x'titlef sur-Aquilina kemm int inkwitat bil Labour fil-gvern? Li hu ZGUR li ghar min kif qedin ma nistux inkunu.

Eddy Privitera

Jan 6th, 19:02

Nenu: Fi zmien il-PL rari kont tisma li xi medicina kienet out-of-stock. -waiting lists ma kienx hemm. It-tobba ma kienux mkeccijin , kienu huma li ghamlu strike , imxewxin mill-PN, li kienu qed jaghmlu kollox biex jimminaw lil gvern laburista. Sa xi hadd wasal biex qatel lill-Karen Grech b'ittra bomba li ntbaghtet lil-Prof. Edwin Grech, wiehed mit-tobba li gie minn barra biex jghin fl-isptar !

ronald mifsud

Jan 6th, 19:07

anke t-teachers kienu out of stock ghax kienu gew locked out, mela insejna?

Alfred Falzon

Jan 6th, 18:24

@ Francis Saliba MD

Sweeping statements of the kind you delight in making cannot be taken seriously, as if only the PN did some good to the Nation!

You need to update your political history & acknowledge that other parties, foremost among them the PL (then MLP) in Government were instrumental in pulling out Malta from the poverty & medieval mentality that was rife in the pre-war and 60s era!

Alfred A Falzon

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 6th, 22:16

@Alfred Falzon

Please challenge facts quoted by me by other facts not your gratuitous opinion. It is a historical fact that the PN has governed Malta practically continuously for the past 25 years whilst the LP adorned the opposition benches. Except for a blip of less than 2 years the NP was the sole party that governed Malta. That is the authentic political history that YOU need to update.

J Micallef

Jan 6th, 18:16

That was good!!!!

GL Calleja

Jan 6th, 18:00

Mr Ganado this country needs a change, if not of parties it needs a change of leaders and a change of direction especially when it comes to crime and corruption. The first and most urgent is a change in our incompetent courts who have become the butt joke of the EU. Overhauling our archaic laws would not be a bad idea, either.

Godwin Vassallo

Jan 6th, 18:28

What Class? Biex jighbatna ghand tal Grocer niggieldu?

Donna Parnis

Jan 6th, 22:57

Joe Borg, yes and Simon also failed big time in sorting out the illegal immigrants with the EU which he promised to do. He has now lowered himself to joining the clikk of Gonzi Simon has reached the bottom of the class and really ? nr equivalent, I would put Grech way above simon, Simon has shown what he really is, another one full of lies

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:59

Twanny. Lill-partitarji PL dak hu li dahhlulhom f'mohhom, generazzjoni wara l-ohra, li jekk jitilghu huma, jiehdu l-ahjar postijiet. Infatti, Helena Dalli diga' 'sabet skuza' ghal dan, ghax semmiet l-'audit' li 'hemm bzonn' isir fic-civil. Imsieken, dejjem ghal 'Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox' hadmu. Sakemm Malta tkun PL.

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:49

Jason. They have been promising that since 1998, remember?

T Mifsud

Jan 6th, 17:30

Jason it will probably be 35000 but it will be once that they will vote labour. They will learn their lesson.

J Micallef

Jan 6th, 18:23

Probably 13,501 vots actaully.

Being mainly 13,500 nationalists protesting (and NOT voting, hence the gap), and one that switched from PN to PL.

Then, PL can afford to lose one MP a year for the whole legislature.

And yes, we'll all learn our lesson. Especially the PL supporters who had a good time under the PN and who will be trashed by the new PL Klikka.

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:52

Daniel, Eddie keeps forgetting that in PL's time, Colour TV's were out of stock, except for friends of friends; good chocolate was out of stock, except in Sicily; computers were out of stock; places in the University were out of stock, except for those with 20 points; water was out of stock, until the water tanker came into Grand Harbour. Bemensia, probably!

Mr Anthony Briffa

Jan 6th, 18:44

I don't know why you bother to react to comments posted by Privitera and his ilk. They think that the election is a walk over because of these petty reasons. The PL tries to impress those people who want everything for free without being proactive to improve their standards on their own steam. This is the tier of society which will be most disappointed under a labour government.

Eddy Privitera

Jan 6th, 18:51

Joe M Borg: Quite obviously you had no answer to my argument , so you resorted to the usual GonziPN stupidities !

Donna Parnis

Jan 6th, 23:03

How come when someone gives a valid point you PNs all resort to way way back, just like gonzi you live in the past. Your so afraid to realise even tho the pn have stayed in the past the Labour party have moved forward. How easy you forget all the pn mistakes, no responsibility, lies upon lies, a bridge to no where, 500 euro in their pockets.bswc, arriva, = gonzis future,

Joseph Bugeja

Jan 6th, 16:41


Blind trust in political parties is tantamount to political suicide.

You are still 'politically' alive!!!

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 17:01

The VAT question was 'answered' by Sant back in 1996. He KEPT his promise, and slashed VAT, but, had to introduce CET and 33 other taxes. That's PL's ways. Don't excpect any change.

Alfred Falzon

Jan 6th, 18:35

@ Joseph Bugeja

Of course I have survived the onslaught of empty promises & tit-for-tat politics of our political parties.

I happen to be one from among thousands who are not led by the nose.

Calling a spade a spade is what Malta needs not YESMEN too ready to know how to ruling parties or those in waiting!

Their number is on the decrease & now fewer are those who still think that the Party is SUPREME!

aaf

Alfred Falzon

Jan 6th, 19:00

@ Joseph Bugeja

3rd line should have read as follows:

Calling a spade a spade is what Malta needs not YESMEN only too ready to kowtow to ruling parties or those in waiting!

aaf

Joseph Bugeja

Jan 6th, 20:03

Mr Falzon you are not a floater (or whatever it should be politically correct to call it). If you were you would dump P.N. even if their only fault was arrogance.
Even still if we had a crystal ball and found that P.L. would match them. At least it would show that in-sensitiveness has zero tolerance.
As to the myriad of other faults (under GONZIPN and EFA) the P.N. should get no votes at all

Donna Parnis

Jan 6th, 23:06

Joe Borg, how quickly you forget, Gonzi promised Jobs were safe in 2008, and sent letters out confirming this, Now these jobs dont exist, the people who trusted him were laid off, promises from Gonzi mean nothing, and you trust this man.

J Micallef

Jan 7th, 18:52

When an election comes, people tend to forget that Malta forms part of the World.

Obama made promises, Cameron made promises, Berlusconi and Monti also made promises, just as the french PMs did...

We managed to ride the storm - of course, thanks to the hard working Maltese, but also thanks to the PN Government.

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:06

You should wake up before you write, Sue. PN copying PL?? Are you serious. Let me remind you: Local Councils; VAT; EU; Euro; MEP Deputy... In ALL of these, PL trailed behind, EVEN the MEP DEPUTY. About the earthquake and unity, why not ask Anglu for HIS opinion? He is the FIRST victim of the earthquake, and himself, together with his mother, et al, don't feel that UNITED! Keep dreaming!

Wally Vella-Zarb

Jan 6th, 16:36

Mr Borg, not surprisingly you fail to mention compulsory education, old age pensions, equal pay for women, minimum wage, minimum pensions, free state hospitals....and a host of other social services. I don't know how old you are but it is well to remember that all of these were opposed by the PN when they were first introduced. Now they try to give the impression that they were always for them.

N Azzopardi

Jan 6th, 15:35

Sur Massa il-poplu mhux lanqas sa jinsa: Sptar tat-tielet dinja, airport li lanqas jaghmel gieh lill Malta, roundabouts tal-concrete u issa qieshom gonna, fuel ta'kwalita inferjuri, tal-linja kienu biex indahhqu lit-turisti bienha. Issa hanna waterfront il-Belt u Vittoriosa, Cruise liners, lift tal-barrakka, xoghol ghaz-zaghzah, restoranti u hotels mimliejja, nista niqba sejjer sa ghada. U halluna

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:10

Charles. Lanqas mhu se jinsa. il-poplu, Lufthansa Technique; SR Electronics, 20,000 jobs; rekord fit-turismu; sptar 'State of the art' A Sant; u Cruise passenger terminal. U tant hu sabih dat-Terminal, li PL ghazel propju lilu biex jibda l-kampanja elettorali. Minn hemm, jistghu jaraw ukoll il-LIFT, il- Yacth Marina; swar restawrati; u l-PONT tal-breakwater, KOLLHA progetti PN.

Eddy Privitera

Jan 6th, 15:27

Rodney Bone: Are you seeing the new faces in the PL's candidature, including a number of ex-PN members ??

Alfred Falzon

Jan 6th, 16:03

@ Eddy Privitera


Please be specific if you have placed your trust in them and tell us who these prominent turncoats happen to be and how they could enhance the image of the new PL, sorry "Movement"!

Small wonder that the PL has today become a faceless Party ready to sell its soul for the sake of power!!

Alfred A Falzon

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 6th, 16:10

Get your facts straight. It has just been disclosed that a third of the NP candidates are not even presenting themselves for the next election. Watching today's LP leadership line up it is difficult to believe that it is not something from the past "glorious" MLP days until you notice that the one with the pipe and big belt buckle is not there.

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:15

Rodney. May I remind you of some of PL's 'new faces', as well! Joe Debono Grech; M'Louise Coleiro Preca; A Sciberras Trigona; the 2 Brincats; Helena Dalli; ...need more? Some go back to Sant, KMB, and even Mintoff! New PL? My foot! The ONLY old face which changed (er, sorry, was stabbed in the back), was ANGLU. Get it? The only new face is Louis, because they copied PN's idea! New idea!

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:19

Eddie. The 'newest' face in PL, so far, is Louis, which is a 'copycat' style of getting their equivalent of Simon. Poor Anglu, who was literally kicked in the backside to make place for him. This, according to PL 'unity'! I believe one of the ex'PN member that was fired from his position as a mayor, and accepted with open hands by your PL, was 'dusted' away very hurriedly. Remember?

Eddy Privitera

Jan 6th, 18:54

Alfred Falzon: Dr. Deborah Schembri, Dr. Manwel Mallia, Mr. Hili of Burmarrad, Pharmacist Spiteri of Cospicua, for example !

Alfred Falzon

Jan 6th, 19:10

@ Eddy Privitera

You forgot to mention others like, for instance, Engerer who is now a PL spokesman.

What made you leave him out?

As regards the ones you referred to, I don't recall them as PN activists though they may have been sympathetic towards the PN just like some within the PL today who lent their support to Pellegrini of the defunct Christian (sic) Workers' Party!!

aaf

Alfred Falzon

Jan 6th, 15:15

@ Francis Saliba MD

Speaking about messing around:

the Delimara Power Station outages
the ARRIVA bus service saga
the deep hole in the Public Coffers
the SMART CITY carrot-hanging project
the back-stabbing of Dr Franco Debono, etc

seem to suit your tastes!

Everything's fine as seen through wine!


Alfred A Falzon

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:23

A Falzon
Speaking about messing around:
Anglu Farrugia.
"audit among civil servants" Helena Dalli.
"one can play with health and education spending so that tariffs can be lowered" the Profs Scicluna.
And, I believe, the VERY FIRST PL activity will be held at the Cruise Passenger terminal. Good, they can enjoy the Terminal, lift, yatch marina, restored bastions, and breakwater. All PN projects!

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 6th, 16:33

@AlfredFalzon.
Not one of the "messing(s) about" you mention remotely approaches in heinousness the deliberate suppression of fundamental human rights due to Malta's citizens throughout the years of the MLP's reign of terror by burning down printing presses, ransacking the Curia, the law courts, rival political clubs, private residences. That is the palpable change by the NP

Alfred Falzon

Jan 6th, 18:51

@ Francis Saliba MD

If you want to go down memory lane then there are some dark chapters in Malta's history that should turn red the face of your former PN!

The Fascist era & italianisation of Malta by the pro-Italian PN!

The "balilla" or so-called Fascist scouts!

The ugly 60s with their fire & brimstone, innocent people buried in "il-mizbla" (dunghill), peeling of bells to muffle MLP meetings, etc,

aaf

Alfred Falzon

Jan 6th, 23:12

Penultimate line should read "pealing of bells" not "peeling"!
Spelling error regretted.

By the way, which party has no skeletons in the cupboard?!

But it's fair to make reference to them and desist from adding more!!

aaf

Ronnie Callus

Jan 6th, 14:38

That's too much Joseph.

Daniel Vella

Jan 6th, 14:50

Thanks to this GonziPN which according to you has to be sent to the bottom of the dustbin, we are a well reformed country with everything we need available. If unemployment is your issue, I realise that it is only those people who do NOT want to work that remain unemployed. Otherwise, there's a job for everyone!
I believe such comments are still made after being in opposition for so long.....

Eddy Privitera

Jan 6th, 15:30

Daniel Vella. " With everything we need available ". have you never heard of the words : " these medicines are out-of-stock" ? Does that mean " available " or "not available " ?

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:27

Mr Micallef. Your language shows that PL supporters HAVE NEVER changed. Their ways are to bully, humiliate, and show off. The PL supporters who are feeling 'every success' at the moment are Anglu Frrugia's family. Why don't you ask THEM their opinion about this SUCCESS? But again, THIS is the ONLY way PL do their things!

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:31

Eddie. Yes, we have heard that phrase before. Back in the 70' and 80's, it was common to hear: 'Colour TV's are out of stock (unless you know some minister)!"; "Good quality chocolate is out of stock, unless you go to Sicily"; "water is out of stock, until it comes by tanker"; "places at the university are out of stock, unless you have enough points"; "Zejtun is 'out of bounds' for PN'.

Paul Giordimaina

Jan 7th, 08:02

Sur Falzon int ma tafx xint tejt Jekk il PN kien mat T^aljani Il MLP ried lintegraion ma linglizi u fuq is 60 xandu xjaqsam il PN intom mal knisja kelkom xi tajdu mela halina

twanny borg

Jan 6th, 14:50

Jekk il-pajjiz ghandu bzonn nies friski u tmexxija mhux partigjana allura zgur m'ghandux jivvota lill-pl.

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:34

Kirsty. From your comments, it seems you have been living in Greece for far too long. You should come over to Malta, because life here is different. Your 'fresh people' include Joe Debono Grech, Alex Sciberras Trigona, the 2 Brincats, and others. And about 'new ideas', Pl is copying PN's budget, and has JUST COPIED PN's idea of new deputy. Who has NO new ideas? Nothin 'new' in PL!

T Mifsud

Jan 6th, 17:35

BLA IDEAT? Inti tghix f'Malta? Dawn il-progectti kolla, l-edukazzjoni, u l-ispatrijiet, u gej tghid li bla ideat? Is-swieq li nholqu bhal tal-avjazzjoni, u t-turizmu jiffjorixxi ... u int tghid li bla ideat?

Vera huwa car li nies li jikkumentaw bhalekk ma jaraw xejn hlief negattivita laburista u jghamlu min kollox biex jifirdu!

Ghix go Malta u kun kburi li kisbet Malta u toqodx tkun negattiv!!

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:37

Before writing your ideas about infighting, corruption....you should have asked Anglu's opinion about his stabbing in the back. If he is NOT available, ask his mother. PL is ending, BEFORE even starting. The latest new face, Louis, came about because all PL can do is to copy all that PN does. Since Pn got an MEP as deputy, Joseph wanted one as well., Pity Anglu was in the way. Viva United!

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 6th, 16:46

Isn't it also "more of the same" rejected MLP policies of the past, that Joseph Muscat is offering today, when he recalls into the LP leadership cabinet members from the Mintoff-KMB days, after they had been put into cold storage by Alfred Sant?

Alfred Falzon

Jan 6th, 18:55

@ Francis Saliba MD

Remember once and for all that Alfred Sant was given the Order of the boot by none other than the PEOPLE themselves, and just after 22 months!

Blunders, blunders galore!

aaf

J Micallef

Jan 6th, 19:58

More of the same? well, if the engine is working right, why mess with it?

There are plenty who would be quite content with "more of the same" - jobs, quality of living, peaceful life, great healthcare...

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 7th, 18:55

@AlfredFalzon.
You still fail to understand that the people gave the order of the boot to the entire MLP and subsequently the MLP itself took the hint and gave the order of the boot to its leader and ex-prime minister Alfred Sant.

Ronnie Callus

Jan 6th, 14:44

Simon anke wieghed il-kacca u l-insib lin Nassaba u l-Kaccaturi, imma mur staqsihom xi gralhom, kompli ghidilhom Joe.Kien qalilna Gonzi fuq dak li nghamel iggudikawni u mhux fuq dak li nghid. U hekk se' jghamel il-poplu bil-qalb bhalma kien ghamel hu rigward il-prezzijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma. Ippruvajnih bizzejjed nahseb.

Joe M Borg

Jan 6th, 16:42

JGA No, PL is credible! In spite of all the countries foundering around us, Gonzi kept Malta on a healthy economy, as credit ratings say. Your wise Joseph suggested to Gonzi that he should follow Cyprus. Luckily for Malta, Gonzi is much wiser, and did the opposite to Joseph's advise. If he had not done thin, Malta would be another Cyprus, thnks to Joseph. Credible Joseph??

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 7th, 19:01

"We" did not run into a crisis; all of Europe and most of America did. We did not just "speak about it". We actually did something constructive and managed that external crises supremely well earning the admiration of foreign financial authorities. That is what makes GonziPN so credible whilst the PL remains, at best, an unknown quantity with untested abilities.

Marion Storace

Jan 6th, 20:45

@ Lawrence Calleja - mela veru ma seggwejc id-dibattitu sewwa ghax hlief Simon jinterrompi lil-Grech ma ghamilx - Anglu kjien u qadu relevanti. Meta ikun hemm dibattitu politku fuq Xarabank ma thossokx li jkun hemm zewg prezentaturi u hlief Peppi jinterrompli l-avversarju tal PL ma jaghmilx????? Ejja inkunu sincieri jekk nafu !!!!!!

Mr Evan Camilleri

Jan 6th, 14:40

I do not agree on get public approval for major project... But there should be on major decisions. No need for more prison spaces, better more education and forget about sea Malta... We do not need more government operated companies.

Add more privatisation including public health. Else I agree.

Else I agree.

Tonio Bone

Jan 6th, 15:08

Evan, you deserve some clarification which 400 word limit may not allow!
Major projects - plan to spend Lm 110 million on Mater Dei end up spending Lm 290 million +/-!
Sea Malta does not need and did not need to be government owned!
Not more prison spaces, but prisoner separation yes. After all our prison is supposedly a Correctional Facility, at present it isn't!
Hope that will suffice!

stephen koludrovic

Jan 6th, 15:16

More referenda on major issues.

carlos ellul

Jan 6th, 14:16

It speak volumes from a supporter of a party whose budget had been torpedoed and has yet to write their political manifesto

*Joseph Brincat

Jan 6th, 14:19

J. Pace
By any chance do you use the yellow pages if you need something??

joseph demicoli

Jan 6th, 14:42

pace under the PN we had the highest emigration during the 1960's and under the LP in 70's we had the highest immigration . Do you think that these were 'cwiec' Maltin . PL =no ideas PN= Wrong and Bad Ideas

Noel Abela

Jan 6th, 13:44

So you Hope and so you say. Just give the PL some time and byh D-Day you will know how wrong you are. The best is yet to come.

twanny borg

Jan 6th, 13:39

@j vella - l-ghasafar ghandhom dritt jghixu kullimkien daqs kull hlejqa ohra inkluz il-bniedem. il-pjacir li toqtol ghasfur biex tara d-demm hiereg hija biss kattiverja meta dawn iweggu bhalna.

C Borg

Jan 6th, 16:04

@twanny borg
Sur Borg qed turi kemm ma tifhem xejn fuq kacca.

Rigward il-kumment tas-Sur Briguglio, nahseb ikun ahjar jara sewwa min qed jipprova jaghmel il-hsara, bizzejjed nghid li l-irregolaritajiet dwar il-kacca naqsu drastikament mentri il-hmieg kontra Malta dejjem jizdied

G Schembri

Jan 6th, 13:37

Int bis-serjeta?

twanny borg

Jan 6th, 13:49

@g. schembri - iva anglu farrugia kien mar ahjar minn loius grech.

joe muscat

Jan 6th, 14:40

Iva Twanny Borg ezatt qieghed tghid , imma nsejt issemmi ukoll li skond Simon il-Gvern qieghed jaght i sussidju ghax ma jifilhux ihallsu lil aktar min 30.000 familja , dan ifisser li hawn kwazi 100.000 ruh f`riskju ta faqar , Simon qal ukoll meta semmewlu dwar il-pinnoli out of stock li gieli anke tal-grocer ikolli xoghol out of stock , ghal simon pinnoli u pizelli l-istess ?

joseph demicoli

Jan 6th, 14:46

twanny issa hekk jaqbillek li tghid. Jien nipparagunak ma bandiera il-fejn ir-rih ikun tperper u int hekk qed taghmel

Seamus Riolo

Jan 6th, 16:51

Ma jien ma l ebda partit minnhom, minix naga, naf il koruzjoni li hemm mil giex nahat. Id dibatitu rajtu, U nista najt li kien dibatitu civili hafna hdejn dibatiti ohra fejn it tnejn tkellmu sura ta nies avolja Simon prova jniges kemm il darba, Louis ma waqax out of line u zamm il karatru tieghu kalm, U it tnejn l huma f hin minnhom ghamlu zbal zghir fejn ma halewx il xulxin jitkelmu To be Continue..

Seamus Riolo

Jan 6th, 16:52

Continued.. Pero Hdejn dibatiti ohra... Kien wihed mil isbah, li anka lili li ma nisaportja l ebda naha ma nistax nikritikom fuq id dibatitu.. ma nafx fejn sibt il logika li tmaqdar il louis u l istess najdlek kieku tmaqdar il Simon, Trid tkun vera biased u tara ahmar/blue biex tmaqdar il xi had minom b dan il mot fuq dan id dibatitu!

twanny borg

Jan 6th, 18:02

@sesmus riolo- naqbel hafna malli ghidt pero fl-opinjoni tieghi simon kien ahjar. Naqbel mieghek li d-debattitu kien civili hafna. Prosit lit-tnejn. Louis grech huwa gentleman bhala karattru anki jekk ma taqbilx mieghu fejn nahseb jista' jaghmel gid lil pl.

D Borg

Jan 6th, 13:02

problem is that that will not change anything - as either the PN or the PL will gain an absolute government - with more of the same after a few months.

The real change would be if a third party manages to garner enough votes to make it to parliament - and the whoever becomes PM will let just say, have the excuse, to deal with long drawn out issues that have not been responsibly addressed.

Mr Duncan Scerri

Jan 6th, 13:24

So one will win by default. You think they care if they win on the back of a turnout of 1%? Of course not. You only hurt yourself by not voting. If you really want to send a message and hurt them, use your vote. Heck, read the manifesto of a fringe party and vote for them! Alleanza Liberali is a good place to start.

James Abela

Jan 6th, 13:44

@ D Borg

That would be like having a Franco Debono all over again.

This is not good for any party to govern and not good for Malta.

twanny borg

Jan 6th, 13:12

Minn got tagen ghal gon nar..........

Joe Busuttil

Jan 6th, 13:15

Lovely pic. But it,s not moving.

Alfred Falzon

Jan 6th, 13:28

@ *Joseph Brincat

D odds r against d PN even though its power of incumbency may help 2 narrow d gap between d 2 main Parties representing d ESTABLISHMENT!

There r still many important issues 2 broach during d electoral campaign. They cannot b swept under d carpet by any of them!

Yet, in all probability, d PL may clinch a victory by default!

That won't b to its credit!

We shall see!

aaf




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