Last week's "protest" marches organised and dominated by (no less, whatever the "moderates" may say), the Labour rabble par excellence, led by no other than the "moderate and progressive" leader Joseph Muscat, brought back nasty memories to those of my age who witnessed the Labour rabble in the 1970s and 1980s. They want to rule from the pjazzez (squares) just as our old, well rid of compatriot Dom Mintoff wanted to do. At least, I believe that shops in Republic Street remained open. In the past, they would all close and many would board up their glass façades. The blood-thirsty rabble would be keen to destroy and beat and without restraint from Labour politicians and the police.
Those were times of violence, torture and even political killings. It was significant to see Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici at the "protest"; the man who "presided" over the Tal-Balal and Rabat episodes as Prime Minister. Oh my God! Does the GWU want to take us back to that? It was a bitter memory, sealed and stamped by Tony Zarb's pathetic performance on Bondiplus. There is a man who shows utter disrespect for democracy by not only ignoring but criticising the vote of 35 government MPs. A man who lives in the past. A man who has lost every crusade he has undertaken. A man who has lost all his credibility time and time again. He should have been thrown out ages ago.
But what is sadder is the figure of John Bencini, who is more than a decent man, yet, he has been drawn fully into the GWU trap. There he was ranting on the GWU platform on Sunday. It is not his style.
He provided a sort of credible platform for the Labour Party. I am so glad he was disgusted by the typical Labour rabble's insults on Monday and went home to follow the Parliamentary debate at home. I believe Mr Bencini has time to redeem himself and regain the confidence of so many teachers who have lost faith in a man who seemed so fickle and so weak under the GWU's thumb. But he must hurry or else resign. He must say "mea culpa", I made a mistake and I apologise. I am sure the members of the MUT will forgive him. After all, he is a good man.
But back to Dr Muscat. His dismal performance on TVM's Dissett a couple of weeks ago must go on record for all times. If ever there was a man who was as slippery as an eel it was him. No commitment. Sweet talk. Total irresponsibility in facing the problems the country has. No concrete solutions. Mind you, a nice smile and a firm pair of hands gripping the side of his chair in a nervous state.
Is this the man to lead our country? He has no idea what he will do in the face of adversity if and when he is in government. He says, proverbially, that "the proof of the pudding is in the eating". But his problem is that he has no pudding in the first place (no concrete policies), so how can he eat it? It is simply a case of empty words.
But now onto the Prime Minister and a comparison with Dr Muscat, can we not? The Prime Minister seems to have got his house somewhat in order recently. He seems (and I stress "seems") to have rallied his troops. He seems to have placated his backbenchers by offering some sort of pairing with ministers. Mind you, it has been reported that some ministers, at least, are not terribly pleased with this proposed arrangement. But then we must remember that, rightly or wrongly, the prerogative to assign ministerial responsibilities in any democratic country lies with the Prime Minister.
Yet, I for one, am not totally convinced with Dr Gonzi's strategy (and it would be interesting to know who has advised him - we have heard of a foreigner; totally unnecessary in my opinion). All MPs must learn that they are there as elected representatives of the people but are subject to the control and designation of the leader of the majority in the House of Representatives, the primus inter pares (first among equals) of both the Cabinet and the Parliamentary Group. Their loyalty is obviously to their constituents but also to the party on whose ticket they were elected. And that party is led by its leader who is also the Prime Minister. It is he who decides! Having said all that, I feel that, following the Prime Minister's move vis-a-vis his backbench and Dr Muscat's hopeless performance on Dissett the scales must be weighing differently. I would dare think that the Prime Minister and, indeed, PN, have gained ground in the polls.