Nationalist MP Toni Bezzina has lost two libel cases he had filed following press reports that he had ordered government employees to carry out work on the Żurrieq PN club.
The stories in l-Orizzont and KullĦadd broke in 2012, just before local elections in Żurrieq. At the time, Mr Bezzina was responsible for the PN club in the locality and was an employee of the Works Division. According to the judgment delivered by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, the workers ordered to do maintenance at the club reported directly to him and he had forced them to declare under oath that the work on the PN club was done on a voluntary basis.
Mr Bezzina contested the allegations when first reported and still does, even after the court found in favour of the newspapers, saying what was reported was proven correct. Mr Bezzina has given notice of appeal.
Still, the judgment leaves him in an awkward position as a politician and, more so, an aspiring minister in any future Nationalist government. However, the consequences do not lie solely with Mr Bezzina. The case also has a direct bearing on PN leader Simon Busuttil’s rallying cry to clean up politics once and for all.
For starters, Dr Busuttil could start by addressing the Bezzina case head-on. His response so far has been very legalistic; he will wait for the outcome of the appeal. This is far short of what many have understood is his way of interpreting political correctness.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat also came up with a whole array of ‘reasons’ to delay taking action against Manuel Mallia, Michael Falzon, Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri. Dr Busuttil was very keen to criticise the Prime Minister’s delaying tactics in each of these cases, insisting that political correctness went beyond the realm of legalisms.
What is good for the goose is not good for the gander, it seems.
Dr Busuttil’s inaction can only be interpreted as condoning the practices which, the court concluded, Mr Bezzina was responsible for when government workers were told to carry out work on a party club. This is a far cry from the moral high horse the Opposition leader has been trying to ride over the past three years.
Still, this is not the only case to reek of political hypocrisy. Just days ago, the former PN mayor of Victoria was found guilty of drink-driving. Samuel Azzopardi had been suspended from the party when the case happened, an admirable move in itself. However, hot on the heels of Magistrate Joe Mifsud’s judgment that included a statement that this case should not ruin Mr Azzopardi’s political career because he had shown regret, the PN was quick to reinstate the man.
It may have been the case of reintegrating Mr Azzopardi back into the party, especially if he has shown regret for his irresponsible actions. However, did the PN have to put its foot into it and also nominate him again to become mayor?
The transition from bad boy to good is too quick for comfort.
It is not out of this world for politicians to be rehabilitated, especially if they show regret for their actions and seek a public apology. But couldn’t the PN have waited for the next local elections before putting forward Mr Azzopardi as their preferred candidate for mayor?
Upholding high standards of political correctness is a fine ideal. However, Dr Busuttil had better ensure those standards are first applied internally.