Sunday, 11th January 2009
AWGURI, SUR PRESIDENT
I’m writing this after having seen the headlines on most papers while picking up mine at Joe Cini’s in Xaghra on Sunday.
As I write, the nomination of Dr George Abela, an old friend, and great adversary in our professional lives, to the Presidency is still technically speculation, though I doubt there’s much that remains doubtful. In any event, while this blog is on the web-site, the story will have been confirmed or otherwise officially, which means that either a number of editors will be left with egg on their faces or they will have been proved right in deciding to run with the leaks and whispers that clearly were going their way.
I’m pretty confident that the latter will prove to be the case.
So, all the speculation about who is going to get the nod is coming to a close – no more discussion on whether it should be a poet, a baker or a candlestick maker, a politician or a non-politician, a man or a woman.
One could, of course, have a bit of a post-mortem about whether this bloke or that bloke would have been a good nominee – but it wouldn’t really be fair.
Or would it?
Would it be fair to ruminate on whether Prof Oliver Friggieri, for instance, would have carried popular sentiment and made a “good President”? Leaving aside this gentleman’s probity and intellectual stature, both of which are manifest and virtually unparalleled, would he have made a good choice?
A discussion – while always verging dangerously on the ad hominem – of this question would lead to a discussion on the nature of the Presidency, which is always a conversation worth having.
A “good President”, it is said, needs to have the respect of the people.
But does he, or she? A look at the citizens who led us over the years will give cause for dispute, perhaps not out loud, over the universal application of this platitude. Given the polarisation of the country on political lines, a phenomenon losing starkness but nonetheless remaining potent, it is difficult to accept that with the exception of Sir Anthony Mamo, and to an extent Mr Paul Xuereb (though he was Acting President, a slightly different kettle of fish) the other incumbents were the recipients of universal love and respect in the bars and corridors of the country.
Would someone from the non-political field get the love? Perhaps, but would the Presidency then become merely a ceremonial job, even more than it is already. Without the touch of controversy that political baggage always brings with it, would the role pale into insignificance, a result hardly to be wished for?
The mere fact that the question of the nominee is discussed so much renders it important, so maybe we need to keep the question prickly.
Judge Giovanni Bonello was mentioned, as someone outside the direct political sphere and with the credentials and bags of them to spare. Again, there is no question that he would have been an excellent choice and the simple fact that he has been mentioned makes him a tough act to follow for Dr Abela.
Judge Bonello is a tough act in many contexts, not least of which is the political arena, where he has fought the good fight through the Courts, both as litigator and, more recently, and spectacularly, as judge.
It’s unfair of me to be putting it this way, because it might be taken as implying that Dr Abela is in some way a second choice or something like that – I have no knowledge of the order of the nominees in the PM’s mind, or even if there was such an order,
After all, the speculation all came from us, the great unwashed, none of whom have the PM’s ear.
Along with the two intellectual leaders I’ve just referred to, we had the usual crop of political heavyweights being given a nod by the commentators. Dr Louis Galea and Mrs Giovanna Debono, both Big Beasts of the Nationalist Herd, were mentioned, as was Mr Lino Spiteri, though perhaps he was being touted as “the acceptable face of Labour” in the context of his animosity towards Dr Alfred Sant and the way his (Spiteri’s) various memoirs portray him (Spiteri) as being perhaps not so antagonising to the Nationalist camp.
Would they have made “good Presidents”?
Well, again, the question, which must be directed away from the persons to the issue, is whether a politician, who then becomes an ex-politician, and permanently so, is appropriate in the role. On past experience, it seems that it hasn’t been a bad experiment, so is it time to change?
Well, perhaps the nomination of Dr Abela is a step in this direction. Perhaps it is not, as there’s nothing to say that it constitutes a trend, much as a single swallow doesn’t make a summer (sorry) and anyway, you can hardly accuse Dr Abela of being not a politician, for all that he has many other claims to distinction.
Talking of politicians as nominees, I almost choked on my morning egg and fried slice of dead pig when I came across Alfred Mifsud writing in the Independent on Sunday about how the PN owed Dr Alfred Sant the honour of nominating him as President.
I was about to hit the keys and pound out a resounding skip-load of effluent in the general direction of Mifsud, but his closing paragraphs, about how it was thanks to Dr Sant that the PN were in Government for so long and how grateful they should be, made me think again.
If anyone ever needed a lesson in when to clam up, it’s Sant.
But, getting back to the Presidency, there’s much to be said for making the point that, whoever is nominated should once nominated be accepted as the only possible nominee, so important is it for a nation to have a single focal point for some basic unity.
When someone like Dr Abela gets nominated, it’s so much easier for this to be the case, though.
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Comments
Take my word for it. CJB's comment. in Maltese would not gain in cogency by being translated into English.
With apologies.
Translation from Maltese :-
During an interview on Radio XFM, JPO revealed the anger for Laurence Gonzi which existed within the PN Parliamentary group.
JPO “It is a fact that besides Simon and I there were also others who opposed George Abela (nomination’s) – it could have been that there were selective leakages- however the media mustn’t be used for the appointment of a president before it has been discussed by the parliamentary group” JPO confirmed that in this case there were selective leakages that left the PN Parliamentarians facing a decision already taken by Laurence Gonzi.
The PN Parliamentary group’s reservations reached their heights owing to the fact that the nomination for president wasn’t discussed before it was leaked to the press.
JPO “There were others and we are not media analysts...it had first to be discussed”
In spite of the strong opposition within the PN Parliamentary group, Laurence Gonzi preferred not to take a vote on the nomination for a new president.
Gonzi decided for himself because he was conscious that the vote within his parliamentary group would be split. During the meeting which Laurence Gonzi communicated his decision, five MPs were absent.
The NP governments built a bridge so large and so long that no architect/engineer could ever accomplish. Thanks to the NP, last government built a bridge all the way to Europe to the North and soon one hopes that it will take a Southern direction all the way to North Africa.
This bridge will ensure stability, jobs, wealth and other benefits which the MLP never had the courage to even dream about because it never had faith in itself and in the Maltese in general. Not only it did not dream about Europe, but challenged those who dared. The rest is now history and I am a firm believer that the likes of you will not try to alter history in thirty years from now trying to argue that had it not been for the LP, Malta would never have joined the European Union! Our youth today are much more open minded than those of a few generations ago.
I think that LP diehards are so vigorous in defending their party's past because of a guilty conscience which they are unable to suppress and get over it.
I am in no way denigrating the Maltese language but not all readers of this blog are familiar with that tongue and arguments are sometimes difficult enough to follow because of the employment at times of rather idiosyncratic English.
Please remember that foreigners, particularly Brits, are not as gifted as the Maltese in sliding between languages.
There is a huge difference between a categorical pre-election promise to build the Cirkewwa-Gozo bridge that was recanted immediately after being elected and a proposal to improve communication between the two islands during the life of a legislature.
Yes Sir you either deny the matter or keep quiet; the use of Maltese language has nothing to do with it. At any rate it’s not like I am the first person to use our language here and if it were unacceptable the caretaker had all the right to reject it.
The man from Mellieha is a resemblance of a frequent visitor on this blog who had once insisted that he had seen the Chinese engineers actually building the bridge and still insisting. Now our other friend from Mellieha is telling us that the project was just a Labour electoral promise which never took off. I also endorse that as a fact. It is also a fact however that in 1968 GBO made the same promise and presented plans, costs and target dates to parliament.
This goes to show that former PN Prime Ministers weren’t amateurs when it came to selling pies in the sky, and the present one is very good at that too, his latest being the promise of a craft village at Ta Qali not to mention the helicopter service to Gozo, the Opera House.......... under Gonzipn rule, everything is possible!
@ Dr. Francis Saliba & Mr. Martinelli.
The other one was a joke this one is a ‘historical fact’ as Mr. Martinelli would call it.
Breaking News!
By Sabine | April 29, 2006 - 10:42 am - Posted in Sabine's Blog
Now this is a really beautiful piece - “I’m lovin’ it” :D
________________________________________
Letter to The Times of Malta - 29th April 2006:
A bridge too far
Charles J. Buttigieg, Mellieha.
I read in the last edition of Il-Mellieha, a monthly periodical, that the government had announced its plans to erect a bridge joining Marfa to Gozo.
The bridge will be built on the seabed, 300 feet wide and 36 feet above sea level. It will boast a 20-foot pavement adorned with ornamental trees. It is planned that the bridge will be built on two levels allowing the lower level to take on another road with shops, restaurants and other facilities.
If all goes to plan, the project shall cost Lm3 million and take two years to be completed.
The announcement was made by the late Nationalist Prime Minister, Gorg Borg Olivier, on Saturday, November 23, 1968.
The Cirkewwa-Gozo bridge link was no joke. It was a pie-in-the-sky pre-electoral MLP promise to the Gozitan community that was immediately written off on the advice of Japanese experts! They should have been consulted before the electoral promise was made.
Me? Deny what?
BTW, is this your latest fling at practicing the Maltese language on an English newspaper? Your attempt has no rhyme (nor reason). Surely, you are not finding translation a bit awkward?
Your attempt to humour us regarding the Cirkewwa - Gozo bridge can only remind us of all the pastizzi and qassatat which Mintoff was so remarkable for. Thanks for the reminder!
With regard to 'the man from Mellieha' one can only conclude that whoever it was, had too much time on his hands and which could have been more productive in the next two decades since, under Socialist rule, everything was possible!
I totally agree with Mr Buttigieg were the facts are one thing :
The prime minister is trying the role of the cool guy , but all he did was he created chaos in his own party .
I am not surprised of hearing about Alfred Sants decision but definitly I was never expecting to hear JPO's qoutes .
This is the pure truth when Dr Gonzi said - Flimkien Kollox Possibli
'Malta l-ewwel - qaleb kollox’ he he he you almost got me there, it took me a while to see the sarcasm. It’s a good one, sarcasm isn’t always the lowest form of wit after all.
Having said that I don’t think that you used a bit of good humour to suffice a plausible denial, I therefore expect one from you
I do not need convincing that differences of opinion exist in any group consisting in more than one person. What you need to convince me about is that you have a genuine admiration for what JPO says and for what he does and that you do not quote him in the same way that the devil quotes scripture.
Did you know that the Maltese pastizzi have become part of the Chinese diet and that is thanks to Dom Mintoff and a man from Mellieha? When the Chinese Engineers were building the bridge from Cirkewwa to Gozo, at tea break, the government used to provide Pastizzi with their tea and they use to lap them up. A man from Mellieha, who used to go watching them work on the famous bridge, gave them the recipe and encouraged them to start making and selling them when they return back to China. In China they call them ‘chic choc’
Maybe this would convince you.
Gonzi qabad u ddecida hu ghaliex kien konxju
li l-vot fil-grupp parlamentari
nazzjonalista jkun maqsum.
Since you are having problems following who wrote what, here is the original post by Joe Martinelli addressed to you. As you suggested to what one should do when quoting others, I did used quotations marks as well. So no excuses.
"J Martinelli (2 days, 18 hours ago)
@ Charles J Buttigieg
Read my response to similar comments elsewhere.
The NP did NOT reject valid individuals who would have made fine Presidents but we all know how George Abela was very politely rejected as Leader of the MLP. Such is their delegates' foresight ! Other qualified individuals are young enough to have a go at a future date - unless, of course, a Labour government would resort to past practices. But that is quite hypothetical since such event is probably in the very distant future.
If a Nationalist NP votes against the nomination (which I do not condone), s/he would not be voting against their own."
Thank God the majority can read Maltese!
Is it a case of 'Malta l-ewwel - qaleb kollox?'
Old habits die hard.
Your statement, “a couple of others objected, not to the choice of Dr George Abela as the next President of the Republic, but about its premature leakage to the media!” is not an honest one and you know it.
JPO “Huwa fattwali li opponejna ghal George Abela mhux jien u Simon biss imma
haddiehor ukoll - jista jaghti kaz li kien hemm leakages selettivi -
izda l-media m'ghandiex tintuza ghal hatra ta' president qabel ma
kienet diskussa mill-grupp parlamentari”
If you are still in doubt about the apathy within the Gonzipn camp about George Abela’s nomination by Dr. Gonzi, maybe Father Peter Serracino Ingot’s recent article in The Sunday Times might erase them for you.
JPO is nobody’s paladin except for the Nationalist voters’ of two electoral districts, for Joe Saliba and his former strategy group, for Dr.Laurence Gonzi and others who offer him sanctuary for protection. There were also occasions when you gave credibility to his puerile defence of the Mistragate Scandal and now, ironically, you are trying to discredit his testimonial.
Don’t get too amazed as I did not change my opinion and I am not transmogrifying him to give an appearance of a paladin for the PN parliamentary group. Notwithstanding it was him, supported by Simon Busuttil, a more virtuous person, who spilled the beans and it is you who is spinning the event to water it down.
Any denials?
Intervistat fuq l-istazzjon XFM,
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando zvela r-
rabja li kien hemm ghal Lawrence Gonzi fil-
grupp parlamentari nazzjonalista .
JPO “Huwa fattwali li opponejna ghal George Abela mhux jien u Simon biss imma
haddiehor ukoll - jista jaghti kaz li kien hemm leakages selettivi -
izda l-media m'ghandiex tintuza ghal hatra ta' president qabel ma
kienet diskussa mill-grupp parlamentari”
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando kkonferma li f'dan il-
kaz kien hemm leakages selettivi, bil-grupp
parlamentari nazzjonalista ikun iffaccjat
b'decizjoni diga mehuda minn Lawrence Gonzi.
Ir-rizervi tal-grupp parlamentari
nazzjonalista ghad-decizjoni ta' Lawrence
Gonzi lahqu l-qofol taghhom quddiem il-fatt li l-
hatra ta' President ma kinitx diskussa qabel ma
kienet ‘leaked’fuq il-gazzetti .
JPO “Kien hemm hadiehor u ahna mhux analisti tal-gazzetti ...l-ewwel kellha
tigi diskussa”
Minkejja l-opozizzjoni qawwija li kien hemm fil-
grupp parlamentari nazzjonalista, Lawrence
Gonzi ghazel li ma kellux jiehu vot dwar il-
hatra ta' President gdid.
Gonzi qabad u ddecida hu ghaliex kien konxju
li l-vot fil-grupp parlamentari
nazzjonalista jkun maqsum.
Fil-laqgha li matulha Lawrence Gonzi
kkomunika d-decizjoni tieghu kien hemm ukoll
hames deputati nazzjonalisti assenti.
@ Joe Vella.
One day and three hours ago you made a public statement in writing, it got printed on this blog for all the world to read and it’s still here on this very same web-page and in spite of all the evidence, that leaves no shred of a doubt, you had already denied it twice. Moreover you are saying that I’m slipping.
When people quote others they start and end the quotation with double inverted commas which is the proper way to represent speech in prose and single inverted commas for thought. In the absence of which the text matter becomes the writer’s statement. Very elementary.
I don’t think that I ought to bother anymore; it’s all a waste of time. Adios Sur Vella.
Can you tell us who from our PN is a better nomination than George Abela?? If there is a better candidate within the PN. Why didn't PM Gonzi pick him?? Isn't he suppose to pick the best candidate for the Maltese people?? Until this nomination that threw so off guard. Did you ever mention George Abela as being a good public servant for the Maltese?? Did you ever mention any politician on this blog that wears a different party pin other than a PN pin as being good for the Maltese people?? If yes WHO??
You come across confused to the extend that you are contributing to me what others have posted.
The following is what you posted and addressed to me.
"Charles J Buttigieg (19 hours, 17 minutes ago)
According to Mr.Joe Vella.
“The NP did NOT reject valid individuals who would have made fine Presidents but we all know how George Abela was very politely rejected as Leader of the MLP. Such is their delegates' foresight! “ "
You are wrong Charles, the above quote is nowhere to be found in any of my posts.
You slipped Charles.
When you said that “The nomination of George Abela threw you so off that you are contributing others posts to me.”, I think you were assuming that I’ve been put off by my friend George Abela’s nomination for president. Is that right?
If that is what you meant, could you please tell everybody how you came to that conclusion. No rhetoric please please, just how you came to that conclusion.
I hope that you are aware that when you fail to substantiate an allegation you’ll be running the risk of being sued for defamation of character.
“The nomination of George Abela threw you so off that you are contributing others posts to me.”
Then who wrote this? : -
Joe Vella (23 hours, 52 minutes ago)
@ Joe Martinelli
"@ Charles J Buttigieg
Read my response to similar comments elsewhere.
The NP did NOT reject valid individuals who would have made fine Presidents but we all know how George Abela was very politely rejected as Leader of the MLP. Such is their delegates' foresight ! Other qualified individuals are young enough to have a go at a future date - unless, of course, a Labour government would resort to past practices. But that is quite hypothetical since such event is probably in the very distant future."
The nomination of George Abela threw you so off that you are contributing others posts to me.
50% of people who cared to vote last April are not insulted(you might call it relative majority) well it's a majority anyway. Some strong party you're going to have if whoever is dissenting on this or that is insulting. Joseph realized that votes he wants are on the other side that he even flashes a bright Blue tie sometimes. The way I see things, there is a great competition between party leaders who smiles most, who is most positive. Sticking to ABC's blogg me think the following shown here speak for themselves.I'm sure Dr. G Abela will be an excellent President!
Roll on Bocca
According to Mr.Joe Vella.
“The NP did NOT reject valid individuals who would have made fine Presidents but we all know how George Abela was very politely rejected as Leader of the MLP. Such is their delegates' foresight! “
Rhetoric is cheap and generally dished out generously. Sadly, so sadly, some people are not so generous when it comes to dish out the true facts of the present of the recent past.
Herbert Ganado, George Borg-Olivier, Censu Tabone, Ugo Mifsud- Bonnici, Guido Demarco,Louis Galea and John Dalli – what do these valid individuals have in common?
@ray spiteri: Please don't give the government any stupid ideas!!!
sahha and thanks
Quote : so important is it for a nation to have a single focal point for some basic unity. unquote
How true. Dr Abela will be a force for unity that will be reflected in a society that will become fairer and more equitable. Dr Abela's role is mostly symbolic but may also be iconic if it translates into a fairer more inclusive Government.
It is Government who has to do the hard work. Dr Abela will certainly stand as a beacon to a just. fair and all-inclusive society. It is Government that will need to then deliver in the few coming years that may prove to be the most difficult post-war years yet.
If Government fails, then this move may been seen as being one made by an opportunistic Government focused on spin.
I am confident, very confident, that this will not be the case.
"@ Charles J Buttigieg
Read my response to similar comments elsewhere.
The NP did NOT reject valid individuals who would have made fine Presidents but we all know how George Abela was very politely rejected as Leader of the MLP. Such is their delegates' foresight ! Other qualified individuals are young enough to have a go at a future date - unless, of course, a Labour government would resort to past practices. But that is quite hypothetical since such event is probably in the very distant future."
Joe Martinelli, wasn't our self proclaimed "Smart One" friend that said the MLP delegates are not a smart bunch after all?
You obviously did not understand the first sentence of my comments you refer to.
Allow me to respectfully ask to be considered within that 50% of the population that do not (contrary to Ray Spiteri's 50%) find your regular contributions / blogs, absurd, nonsensical or insulting. On the contrary I look forward to your Saturday tongue in cheek outlook on the local socio / political scene. I even get a free guide to Malta's (and Gozo's ) eateries to boot. What more can a man want of a weekend. Pity you spoil it all with your pro Chelsea ravings on occasion. BTW these seem to have dropped in recent times. Wonder why !!!!!
@ Ray Spiteri
Like the man said, if you don't like his write ups just don't read them . Its a free world after all.
Oh and BTW, to my mind a ' write up ' is always written !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Told you that the REAL STORY is yet to start. It indeed started when "Your Rooster" made public his views about Dr G Abela's nomination. Much more fun is to come and you better take heed of my suggestion and DO NOT JUMP TO ANY CONCLUSIONS! Prevention is better then cure!
Try to read between the lines when I wrote about being 'more intelligent' and do not take it literally! Is it to heavy for you that I need to spoonfeed you?! I think not!
Not where I come from. We reward our horses by allowing them to pass the remaining years of their lives in peace enjoying a well earned rest in green pastures. De gustibus .....
“I do not see any irony in any political party seeking to change its most respected veteran leader who had reached a venerable age.”
They shoot horses don’t they?
Precisely! I was referring to your own heading "More irony" before you irrelevantly dragged in the replacement of an ageing Dr. George Borg Olivier but only after he had given long and sterling service to the party and to the whole nation as leader of the PN and as Prime Minister. It was you, not I, who invented the heading "More irony". I simply challenged what had been written by you. After all, your recent comments abound with your fancied detection of "irony" all over the blog.
@ Charles J Buttigieg
Read my response to similar comments elsewhere.
The NP did NOT reject valid individuals who would have made fine Presidents but we all know how George Abela was very politely rejected as Leader of the MLP. Such is their delegates' foresight ! Other qualified individuals are young enough to have a go at a future date - unless, of course, a Labour government would resort to past practices. But that is quite hypothetical since such event is probably in the very distant future.
If a Nationalist NP votes against the nomination (which I do not condone), s/he would not be voting against their own.
“I do not see any irony in any political party seeking to change its most respected veteran leader who had reached a venerable age.”
Simon wants Joe Borg as that would make way to make RCC a Commissioner and that would make way for........ Who said that ta-Gonzipn aren’t right chuffed with George Abela?
Updates will follow.
Please be relevant. It was you, not I, who raised the subject of irony, so please stop criticising yourself.
I do not question Dr George Abela's undoubtedly superior merits for selection as leader of the MLP/LP. You should have directed your appreciation not at me but at those MLP delegates who discarded him for that post - very democratically, of course.
I apply the Pauline criticism of a dog lapping up what it had just vomited to the MLP incongruity of rejecting Dr George Abela's unquestioned superb qualifications for its leadership but not for the higher office of President of the Republic. Democracy has no relevance - only wisdom. It is generally accepted that man has every right to exercise his free will and even to act foolishly if he so desires - but he would also be expected to suffer the consequences!
'Counting chickens before they are hatched?' The chicken - a rooster at that, is not only already hatched but well mature and admired by the vast (not relative) majority.
I am at a loss however about your comment that Dr. Abela will "will do credit to the office of the President much more then any of his predecessors ever did". Please explain!
"...we can discuss and judge this ‘intelligent choice’ by Dr. L Gonzi and much ‘more intelligent acceptance’ by Dr. J Muscat". How can the acceptance of an original idea later agreed upon by someone else ever be 'more intelligent'? It's like every time you switch on your radio, you expect more credit than what is due to Marconi!
Votes against Dr. Abela's nomination are insignificant. A simple majority will suffice, however if any negative votes are cast, chances are, they would be from the Labour MPs who could never stomach Dr. Abela.
It would be extra nice, however if the choice is unanimous.
I am personally convinced that Dr Gorg Abela will do credit to the office of the President much more then any of his predecessors ever did! But let us wait till that time comes and then we can discuss and judge this ‘intelligent choice’ by Dr L Gonzi and much ‘more intelligent acceptance’ by Dr J Muscat.
Let us see who is to vote for or against when DR GORG ABELA is to be nominated/ seconded for the Office of President in Parliament. Let us see who is to absent himself/herself from voting on that occasion.
The REAL STORY starts then!
Now the political climate in Malta has totally changed and now it is easier for me that I feel more comfortable to go and vote for any of whom that I think they are good at that moment . Thanks to the positive attitude of our primeminister now he showed us that we should not be born nationalist and die as nationalist and vice versa . Now I am realising that I can consider that I can choose PL for once for the interest of our country .
Awguri Dr Abela !!
...and drink plenty of liquids too.
Dr. Saliba was a tad faster than me and I do not wish to add to a perfectly good answer he gave you!
"@ Joe Vella
"Perhaps you would like to entertain us and enlighten us who is going to fill Georg Abela's shoes in the PL. After all Joseph Muscat said that he has Grandiose plans for George Abela'"
You"
Me. no thanks. Why would I join a Party that likes to self destruct and.
I leave that to you. i am sure you would feel more at home than I would.
George Abela is a personal friend and I believe that he would have made an ace party leader yet if I were a party delegate I would have voted for Joseph Muscat as I feel that, all things considered, Joseph Muscat was the ideal candidate. No odious comparisons here, a simple choice between a numbers of contestants. And I truly admire George Abela for his understanding in this regard. I have not the slightest doubt in my mind that George Abela shall be the best President we can ever have. This is democracy at its apex and very sadly you see it as “the dog that returned to lick up the food its stomach had rejected!” Mamma mia!
I doubt whether St.Paul would be very pleased with the way he was projected tonight.
“I do not see any irony in any political party seeking to change its most respected veteran leader who had reached a venerable age.”
Of course you don’t when the ‘any political party’ happens to be the one that you always defend. Mind you President emeritus Guido Demarco has a different view. Vide my previous comment.
“The same cannot be said of a political party that rejects a most valuable contender for its leadership but soon afterwards sponsors him for the higher office of President of the Republic.”
Dr. Saliba do we really believe in the game of democracy? The mechanism which elects our party leader democratically chose Joseph Muscat. Our leader and the majority of our parliamentary group agreed with the nomination of George Abela. What’s ironic about that?
Yet more irony.
“I will take what you said with a grain of salt. You should go ahead and take a pill.”
The irony is that when some people get themselves cornered they resort to..........
Call me privately on cjbutti@maltanet.net and I’ll tell you what you can do with a pill.
I do not see any irony in any political party seeking to change its most respected veteran leader who had reached a venerable age. The same cannot be said of a political party that rejects a most valuable contender for its leadership but soon afterwards sponsors him for the higher office of President of the Republic. This reminds me vividly of the description given by St Paul of the dog that returned to lick up the food its stomach had rejected!
More irony.
.”............volte face by accepting as the next President the very same person that its delegates had recently rejected as its party leader! What consummate skill!”
Perhaps a case of history repeating itself Dr. Saliba after Ugo Mifsud Bonnici,Censu Tabone and Guido Demarco and John Camilleri putting all his weight behind your party’s sections that worked for the removal of George Borg Olivier. Guido Demarco’s autobiography would refresh your memory well. Try Chapter 21. Page 115. “Changes at the Top”
"Perhaps you would like to entertain us and enlighten us who is going to fill Georg Abela's shoes in the PL. After all Joseph Muscat said that he has Grandiose plans for George Abela'"
You.
"-The irony is that Dr.Louis Galea was officially sidelined by the electorate, however, to their chagrin, Dr. Gonzi gave him the central seat as president (speaker) of that same parliament that a two districts' majority wanted him to stay out of..."
Is this the best you can come up with.
There are many who can fill Louis Galea's shoes in the PN. There are no shortage of Talented people.
Perhaps you would like to entertain us and enlighten us who is going to fill Georg Abela's shoes in the PL. After all Joseph Muscat said that he has Grandiose plans for George Abela.
I will take what you said with a grain of salt.
You should go ahead and take a pill.
The irony is that the PN tried to sideline a valid individual from Qormi who in many people's opinion would have made a great party leader but to their chagrin he emerged at the very apex of the Gonzipn Cabinet. .
The irony is that the PN did not try to sideline a pretentious environmentalist who in many people's opinion is a thorn in the side and to their chagrin he emerged as a winner in two electoral districts and at the very apex of strength in the PN parliamentary group.
she would take you back
Are you that naive? Are you not reinforcing my argument?
You wrote (not me),"...Dr Abela's political career hasn't taken off yet, now it won't."
Just who ' is thrilled with the decision' in the Labour Party?
Oh yes, Dr Sant, Jason Micallef and a bunch of other e-mail senders who effectively made sure tha Dr. Abela's political career would not take off.
Dr. Abela does not have to worry about a divided party, or the next election. At 60, a five year term as President will get him to retirement age with full honours and benefits while the LP will still be hoping for their turn at Castille.
As of April 4, Dr. Abela will be a 'former' politician and totally above politics as all former Presidents bar one.
The irony is that the PN sidelined two valid individual who in many people's opinion would have made great party leaders but to their chagrin they emerged at the very apex of the Republic's hierarchy. They had also sidelined one of their former prime ministers and after his death they refer to him as the Father of our Nation.
Awguri George,my president,my brother.
"but to their chagrin he emerged at the very apex of the Republic's hierarchy. "
What chagrin? I'm sure the Labour Party is thrilled with the decision. Dr Abela's talents are too good to be wasted on cutting strings and sitting demurely at St John's Co Cathedral - he's been put in the position of string-cutter which is only a prestigious one AFTER a long, hardworking career in politics, like Dr Fenech Adami's. Dr Abela's political career hasn't taken off yet, now it won't.
"...does this mean that Joseph Muscat has very neatly and unexpectedly got rid of a thorn in the side?"
The irony is that the Labour Party sidelined a valid individual who in many people's opinion would have made a great party leader but to their chagrin he emerged at the very apex of the Republic's hierarchy.
All the names mentioned up to the surprise announcement were of valid individuals who would also have made good presidents, but no doubt, the Prime Minister must have discussed the possibility with them individually through private meetings thus having an opportunity to assess their willingness and eagerness to serve.
In the end, however, George Abela can never be labeled as a candidate of the last resort for the position of President..
Dr. Gonzi made a good choice, without much fanfare and with successfully holding the cards close to his chest.
When scribbling this I am sure that il Bocca was not really concentrated on the subject in question. I Bet he much more mesrmerised by the CLEANING of our famous PJAZZA tal-Vitorja ( ABC ..your comments pls!) or maybe he was getting ‘seasick’ on his return trip.
@ ABC …Apart from the Sunday Times I saw in your hands a RED coloured paper.I wonder if it was that an English famous tabloid or Il-Kulhadd!! Anyhow, at least you returned my Bongu!!
N.B>Dr. Gorg Abela will certainly have much more support and be loved much more them most of those who occupied/occupy the highest post in our beloved country.
I like Dr Abela too much to want him to be president - i was hoping he'd beat Joseph and create that much needed earthquake.
I hope he won't be voted for president tomorrow, just because i think he'd make a great Labour leader. Darn, i think Lawrence Gonzi nominated George so that Joseph would remain blundering therefore ensuring more PN election success.