Dalli defends canvassers’ role of middlemen

Former European Commissioner John Dalli has defended the practice of allowing canvassers to act as middle-men with international lobbyists, insisting that no money is transacted in these liaisons.

In an interview published in The Times today he also discloses that many more Maltese canvassers took on this role after they were approached by foreign organisations to facilitate access to the former Commissioner.

"I have many other people in Malta, who have international organisations asking them to fix appointments with me. This is not just Silvio Zammit doing it, because it seems that people think that you have to go through someone to go to the Commissioner."

About his relationship with Mr Zammit, Mr Dalli said: "Silvio Zammit is a canvasser like many hundreds of canvassers that I have. That is my relationship with him. (With him)... I have the contact I have with other canvassers. When they need something and when they have some friend who needs something... It's the usual political game in Malta.

"The question is at the heart of the scandal that Mr Dalli has found himself sucked into after an investigation by the EU anti-fraud agency, Olaf, concluded that Maltese businessman Silvio Zammit asked for a bribe from snus producer Swedish Match to be able to influence legislation under Mr Dalli's portfolio.

Mr Dalli has strenuously denied this, challenging Olaf to publish the report. Mr Zammit also denied the allegation but has refused to comment on any mater related to this case after he released a brief statement with his denial.

Brussels accepts lobbying as a legitimate part of the political game, however, lobbyists as a practice are registered for the sake of transparency.

Mr Zammit was not and Maltese people acting as middlemen usually are not, Mr Dalli admitted.

Moreover, the exact parameters of lobbying have been called into the question following this case.

Asked if dealing with such unregistered middlemen, whose only qualification is likely to be access to him, Mr Dalli said insisted that similar meetings made over the past two-and-a-half years were done transparently.

"I have other people who have contacted me over the past two-and-a-half years, in the most transparent way, and asked me to have meetings with people and I did. So what?"

He also excluded that these would make themselves available for money, arguing instead that they are more likely interested in deriving satisfaction from the important position it puts them in."I would be such an evil mind to think that for someone to set up a meeting he would take money. All I say is that it usually is a feeling of importance (that these canvassers seek)."

See interview at http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121023/local/my-decisions-on-tobacco-directive-had-been-leaked.442224

61 Comments

Post comment

Please see our new Comments Policy

Comments are submitted under the express understanding and condition that the editor may, and is authorised to, disclose any/all of the above personal information to any person or entity requesting the information for the purposes of legal action on grounds that such person or entity is aggrieved by any comment so submitted.

At this time your comment will not be displayed immediately upon posting. Please allow some time for your comment to be moderated before it is displayed.

For more details please see our Comments Policy

Your User Profile is incomplete.
Please click here to complete your profile before posting comments.

John Zarb

Oct 23rd 2012, 16:10

Good point Mr. Lapira!!!! Biex tqanna bih John Dalli.

Francis Attard

Oct 23rd 2012, 17:10

Just to add another question.
Why didn't the PN kick him away also?

A Galea

Oct 23rd 2012, 15:33

And you really think this happens in Malta only? Are the US and the UK a developing country as well? Cos these things happen there as well, a few minutes on the internet will yield quite a few cases.

Alfred Dimech

Oct 23rd 2012, 16:46

@A Galea,

Well no, canvassing is done in the UK (though it comes in a vastly different form) and I would imagine it's the same in the US. However, canvassers don't work in exchange for "favours" in the way Mr. Dalli is so shamelessly hinting at. At least they make an attempt to pretend that they volunteer because they believe in the party's ideals or proposals.

Charles Grixti

Oct 23rd 2012, 16:20

It happens on a much large scale in Washington and Brussels too, were the stakes are in the billions. That is what the whole system of 'Lobbyists' is all about. In Washington for instance, lobbyists outnumber politicians 400 to 1. Kind of makes a sham of Democracy doesn't it and it is perfectly legitimate.

Mr Victor Borg

Oct 23rd 2012, 22:41

Charles:

You are wrong. Lobbyists are people employed by NGOs, companies, and other entities who perform a professional role in presenting, in the best possible light and most effective manner, the views of their employers. Canvassars on the other hand are shady characters who use their privelege of access to their political master as a tool for some sort of direct gain to themselves.

Frank Zammit

Oct 23rd 2012, 13:27

Or better still; The PN ashamed of YOU......the situation has really gone haywire for the PN now which is really not good for the country.

J Martinelli

Oct 23rd 2012, 13:58

If JD has hired lawyers preparing for his defence, they must have omitted giving their advice asking him to stop yapping.
On the other hand, now it was revealed that "there were two witnesses present when Mr Dalli offered his resignation". That in itself constitutes a verbal contract, duly witnessed and therefore binding. Contracts/resignations, etc. need not be in written form.

A Galea

Oct 23rd 2012, 15:39

Nah, he made dumb naive people like you ashamed of him!! People who because a foreigner said so will gulp it all down without question. Do try to keep yourself informed on the inner workings of this magnificent institution that is the EC and you will soon realise that compared to what other EC members do, Malta is like the little babe in the woods

Frank Zammit

Oct 23rd 2012, 13:17

Voting for AD? Don't think so, not yet. AD is still in its infancy and has been in that stage since the day it was conceived. It will be political suicide to VOTE AD at this stage before they learn to act and behave like a proper political party; not just a pressure group. AD never managed to make that crucial leap fwd and it is a great pity. There might be a time, but it's not that time yet.

B Attard

Oct 23rd 2012, 14:16

Could be there will be more parties and independent individuals contesting next election. You will have a wider choice.

Charles Buhagiar

Oct 23rd 2012, 17:10

So Alternativa do not have any canvassers as yet?? Wait till they get at least one seat in parliament and then you will see them flocking behind Alternattiva candidates!

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Oct 23rd 2012, 13:39

Frank, this has nothing to do with being a criminal. In public life, you must be whiter than white. Put simply, you must not only be beyond reproach but appear to be beyond reproach. Many politicians worldwide are required to leave public office because there may well be a perception of something being improper. Malta needs to reinventits politics. Canvassers should be banned.

N Zahra

Oct 23rd 2012, 14:04

Actually - yes you're quite right on this. What is acceptable in Malta could well be illegal elsewhere. And this is the case here. Mr Dalli was an employee of the EC, and so EC rules apply.

Mr Victor Borg

Oct 23rd 2012, 14:19

Dalli is political history, in Burssels as well as Malta. And he only has himself to blame.

Emanuel Curmi

Oct 23rd 2012, 12:27

Dear Mr. Borg. You are absolutely right. Confusing canvassers with lobbyists shouldn't even be a matter of discussion in Brussels. I'm surprised Mr. Dalli cannot even distinguish between the two.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Oct 23rd 2012, 12:52

Because they are hypocrites.

W Cassar

Oct 23rd 2012, 12:54

So right we are all citizens, this practice should be banned!

Richard Mifsud

Oct 23rd 2012, 12:06

I wonder why you are so surprised... Where have you been living?? On Mars?

Joseph Aquilina

Oct 23rd 2012, 12:20

Lejber media would have one of its glories very repetitive never ending day If gonzi or any one else from PN dared to say those words. Dalli said these words and lejber nothing ... indeed if you think about it lejber are more inclined to defend Dalli then PN ... why? Howcome those accused of any form of wrong doing always find refuge in lejber in some form or another?

Ben Agius

Oct 23rd 2012, 13:36

And all parties do the same! It's the Malta way.

alfred seguna

Oct 23rd 2012, 10:55

Fully agree.I am sure that they wouldn't have dared to make this move

alfred seguna

Oct 23rd 2012, 10:57

Fully agree.I am sure that they wouldn't have dared to make this move

Mike Hunt

Oct 23rd 2012, 11:48

I think it's time Maltese got over their persecution complex

paul camilleri

Oct 23rd 2012, 11:50

it is not because we are a small nation it is the actual post that Comm Dalli has/d one must compare it to swimming in the sea infested with sharks ( these being the tobbaco industries)

Emanuel Curmi

Oct 23rd 2012, 12:20

Dear Mr Farrugia, this is a purely speculative and just reflects an inferiority complex in our attitude. The German President was recently forced to resign on more minor accusations than this one. What Mr. Dalli is overlooking is what is acceptable in the Maltese way of dong politics is viewed with suspicion by the EC. Suggest you take the case of our party financing as a case in point.

A Galea

Oct 23rd 2012, 15:42

Your answer is a few articles away on this same site. Check out what the Swede MEP is up to. Obviously no one got wind of this, and then OLAF and Barroso want people to believe this was not a frame up. Dalli kicked out, Anti-smoking NGO offices ransacked, MEP selling illegal tobacco/drugs from parliament and the new smoking directive due soon. Ara veru hawn nies lesti jibilghu kollox Malta!!

Albert Spiteri

Oct 23rd 2012, 12:38

The louder Dalli defends his honour and integrity the less comfortable those who framed him feel, both in Malta and in Brussels. Should one decide on accepting Giovanni Kessler's nonsensical oxymoron then there's no way out from considering as substantial proof of cahooting between Malta, Barroso and the Brussels-based tobacco industry lobbyists.