Monday, 9th February 2009
Will Lawrence Gonzi survive?
It is crystal clear to all Maltese citizens that Prime Minister and Nationalist Party Leader Lawrence Gonzi is fighting for his political survival. Otherwise, how can one interpret the actions of a leader who is fast losing the support of the vast majority of Maltese citizens?
Starting with his own political party, there is a lot of anger at the way Dr Gonzi does things. The way he handled the nomination of Dr George Abela for President and the resulting cracks that appeared within the PN Parliamentary Group showed that all is not well in the Nationalist Party.
Dr Gonzi’s popularity is going down on a daily level. Citizens are already angry with the PN government because of the exorbitant utility tariffs which have proved to be too heavy a burden for many families. Then, among other things, there is the inefficiency in the health sector and the terrible state of the roads.
One would expect that a Prime Minister whose power-base rests on a wafer-thin majority would behave with restraint and caution. The opposite is the case as is evidenced by the Nationalist government’s procedural motion to regulate the timetable of the House and its voting procedure, a motion described as “fascist” by Alfred Sant. Labour Leader, Dr Joseph Muscat, was quite right to tell Dr Gonzi to forget about a pairing agreement after this motion was presented. Being progressive and moderate does not translate into being weak in the face of actions which are seen by many as being a threat to democracy.
Furthermore, was the PN Parliamentary Group consulted about the controversial motion presented or was it again Dr Gonzi alone who decided about it?
I was astonished to read that at a Sunday morning political activity, reacting to what he said were incorrect reports about his already having decided alone on the nomination of Malta’s new European Commissioner, Dr Lawrence Gonzi was quoted as saying “Jien il-Prim Ministru, jien il-Gvern” (“I am the Prime Minister, I am the Government”). These words are not worthy of a Prime Minister of a democracy.
If Dr Gonzi continues like this, I believe that his days as Prime Minister and Leader of the Nationalist Party are numbered.
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Comments
Joseph was against EU membership and did a U-turn. Joseph was anti adopting the Euro and did a U-turn. Joseph was against privatization and did a U-turn. Joseph wants to be the Prime Minister in four years time. The electorate will make him accept a U-turn and remain Leader of the Opposition. Gonzi is on the right track... Prime Minister in 2013 and beyond.
There is only one leader of the opposition - Dr. Joseph Muscat. The achievements of the last months (the latest one, the one of today) are the clearest example. One cannot say the same about the PN. And I will just refer you to the same newspaper you are reading: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090211/opinion/editorial
[SIC] On the other hand, the Prime Minister could intervene and order the ministry/minister to stick to government policy, which, really, Dr Gonzi has no option but to do if he wants to show he and nobody else is in command.
With regards the panic.. well well... once again I urge you to read more carefully this newspaper: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090211/local/st-johns-museum-project-to-be-dropped
If that is not panic.... what is?
My dear friend...PN is afraid to face a vote in parliament, even after pushing its MPs to vote in line with government.
Funny you call this democracy!
In the 1980s, Nationalist MPs had boycotted Parliament for two whole years and during the 1996-98 legislatures, the Nationalists had withdrawn from the pairing agreement so that Labour ministers would not be able to attend to government business overseas.
Recorded facts without twisting phrases. ‘One liners’ show wit and intelligence only when recited by professional comics.
Mintoff, when in government, could have easily decided not to change the constitution and in 1987 he would still have been elected. BUT, as the Labour Party is a democratic party, he changed it and the PN won. Although I'm a Labour supporter I admit that in 1981 the MLP should not have governed.
The PL is not putting spokes in the wheels, anzi, I think it's the other way round. The Opposition has the right to discuss motions in parliament when it deems fit. GonziPN, because he's scared of his backbenchers' votes, decided to change the parliament's timetable - first time in 30 years. Is this democratic? And in 1996, Eddie did not give pairing to the government which had only 1 seat more than him although obtaining a 6k+ votes majority! (...and the PN apologists complain about the 1981 districts).
As for panic, it definately takes more that this to induce PN to panic, these are times when leaders step up and take control of the situation not chicken out, Malta's Prime Minister is ready to take decisions and all the flak that comes with it and not pointing fingers.
Tomorrow watch Bijografiji on TVM. It's the second part of a programme on the greatest prime minister Malta ever had, and never will have.