Monday, 9th March 2009
Vince Farrugia for MEP
I was shocked to read about Vince Farrugia deciding to contest as a Nationalist Party candidate for the European Parliament Elections in June, 2009.
I have nothing against this person. I have met him only once, several years ago, at a meeting on agriculture to discuss the impact on this sector if Malta were to become a member of the European Union. To say that I was impressed with him is almost an understatement. The man is an intellectual giant! I can still recall how interesting, deeply-analytical and intellectually-stimulating his conversation was. My lasting impression of him is that of a real professional.
However, Vince Farrugia is not an ordinary man in the street. He is a well-known public figure as Director-General of the GRTU.
Now a trade union should serve the interests of all its members, irrespective of their political colour. To be taken seriously, it cannot openly espouse the cause of any particular political party. Therefore, the decision taken by Vince Farrugia to contest the European Parliament Elections on the Nationalist Party ticket is highly irregular and downright unethical.
It is ridiculous to bring forward the argument that Mr Farrugia is highly competent and will be a voice for the members of the GRTU in Brussels. That would be a very valid argument if Vince Farrugia were to contest as an independent candidate or in the name of the GRTU.
As it is, he has tied himself to the Nationalist Party bandwagon and, whether he likes it or not, he will have to follow PN policies. I find the GRTU’s support for Vince Farrugia’s candidature as nothing less than obscene.
In effect, a Trade Union is openly throwing its support behind one particular political party to the detriment of the others.
Let’s not play games, “vote for Vince Farrugia” means the same as “vote for the Nationalist Party”. Is this fair? Is this democratic? Is this the action of a serious, politically-impartial trade union?
The audacity of the Nationalist Party is incredible. First, they berate the General Workers’ Union for its allegedly close ties with the Labour Party, then they accept as an MEP candidate the Director-General of another major union! The usual two weights, two measures of the PN.
No, my friends, such things are just not on in a democracy. The GRTU has exposed itself to the ridicule of the whole nation and I am afraid that Mr Farrugia has now lost a lot of his credibility as an impartial public figure.
The Nationalists, on the other hand, have once again shown that they will always put partisan political interests before the best interests of the country. At the end of the day, politically-neutral trade unions are in the national interest. Destroying this principle is an attack on the very basis of democracy.
RSS
Comments
According to you the PL’s “........current representatives voted in favour of welcoming terrorists in Malta. That's not funny!! Your MEP's can't be trusted.” Seriously now, do you expect any level headed person to believe such a ridiculous suggestion? You could have used some brain power to convince that the Guantánamo resettlement might pose inconveniences or a degree of danger if the PN Government accepted one or two inmates to keep them in our prison, as making such an exaggerated equivocal accusation nobody would believe you.
Who can imagine, in their wildest dream, seeing Louis Grech, Glen Bedingfield’ and John Attard Montaldo welcoming terrorists to Malta.
Mr. Mifsud, yours was not spin doctoring, it was a statement of an amateur.
I'm voting for Profs. Edward Scicluna out of the MLP candidates because he's a calamity.... I dread thinking what our situation as a country would be had some of his advice been followed....so if he's elected, maybe he'd have a bit more on his mind that would make his irresponsible contributions less frequent.
Alan Deidun, a Nationalist candidate for the European Parliament elections, launched his electoral campaign today, in a quarry in Siggiewi.
He said that his commitment remained towards the environment and where the PN deserved to be criticised, he would do so. In fact, he said, the launch of his campaign was being carried out in front of the quarry owned by a contractor who has been linked with the PN.
So now they got a Green one after the Metsola White,the Farrugia Red, the Portelli True Blue and the JPO Gray.Dr.Gonzi did say that his party has all the colours of the rainbow.
The problem is, that a blinkered donkey`s vision is blurred on both sides.
Charles, as I have already commented on another blog today, `Goverment who robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul`. In Roberta`s case, tailored strategies went out of the window. Daniela are you listening?
Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas a Nationalist candidate for the European Parliament elections, said today that she disagreed with the government on the imposition of VAT on vehicle registration tax.
They have honest ones too. It’s not all black thank God.
The NP does things when it deems fit, accepts candidates who it thinks best serve the country, and leaves it to the voters to decide.
The LP plays to the gallery, makes larger things out of not so large issues, appoints candidates for the European Parliament who are proven to be anti-EU and then tries to convince the voter that having an anti-EU MEP is the best thing for the country! Go figure!
Of course the NP does certain things on purpose - that is called strategy which the LP lacks now, never had for its own party and much less for the country.
Meta nara lill xi hadd mill UHM u l-GRTU id f'id ma Lawrence Gonzi f'xi meeting jew dimostrazzjoni (jew pellegrinagg) tal-Partit - naqa w mmut zoptu!
Sant - Zarb - Mercieca -Muscat ....
We used to have two privileged Unions, GWU and UHM and now we have the third,the GRTU. Mela issa wara li tara l-oxxenita tat tielet -Union privileggata u xorta titkaxkar fl-elezzjonijiet ta l-MEPs x'taghmel? Taqa' u tmut zoptu?
3-2-1.
What you are trying to say is that Vince Farrugia would be the FarrugiaPN for Europe-is that right? What’s the big deal about Farrugia anyway, don’t you guys always say that there’s no talent in the PL? Isn’t ‘The Intellectual Giant’ a product of Labour’s extreme left? Perhaps Gonzi might consider Jason Micallef to run on a PN ticket too and become your PN MEP darling. Would you vote for Jason Sur\Sinjura\Sinjorina Vassallo? Of course you would!
Sorry, I meant DZM not Alfred Grixti.
Error is regretted
That is why JM of the PL wanted Vince Farrugia to run for the EP elections on the PL ticket.
In your usual complicated way of expressing your thoughts, are you impying that the 'old sauce' represents Vincent Farrugia?
In that case, why don't you come out saying that Alfred Grixti was talking from the wrong orifice when he described Vince as, "... an intellectual giant!"?
Yet another case of sour grapes?
"MaltaToday quotes Vince Farrugia saying that Joseph and Michelle Muscat had asked him to stand for the European Parliament elections as a Labour candidate."
...and the pity is, that all the LP apologists (how I like that word - their favourite, too) just refuse to ponder their precarious situation, sit comfortably back in their familiar chairs on the Opposition side, and not take a bit of time to get serious and care for the future of their own country.
They are masters of negativity, doom-and-gloom, not realizing that they are demoralizing their own people. The LP and the NP are like night and day. The LP relishes in shadows and darkness while the NP, even in difficult times look towards a brighter future.
The MLP fostered an atmosphere of instability, depravation and stagnation, while the NP, without much fanfare kept their nose to the grindstone and pushed the country forward. Foreign investments poured in, new jobs found, unemployment diminished and so on and so forth.
Now, when the whole world is in a mess, Malta looks like it is one of the few countries effected to a lesser extent, and yes, things can get rougher but at least our Treasury is not being depleted just to keep our banks afloat.
The NP relishes in diversity - the LP reaches back to have-beens!
JMartinelli - DZM shooting himself at the foot (I loved the way you put it!!!) why, that's MLPL's hobby.
But MLPL have gone a step further, not just shooting themselves in the proverbial foot, but they shoot their own friends.
While PN tries its best and succeds to attract towards it all those that are critical of the PN and of the PN governenemtn if the PN feels these have a good contribution to make (like Deidun and the subject of this opinion), the PL shuts the door in the face of all those that seem able to use their grey matter with some good effect.
I need not mention all these people, they are probably too many, but why does the PL take so long to learn? Even from their own stupid mistakes.
But it's no use for the likes of DZM to come out attacking the contestors for the MEP, and will probably do more harm to the PL then good. Instead, DZM should mention the good points (if any) of PL canditates.
Morna l-bahar u ghadna niggvernaw!
Mela dawk li ilhom ghoxrin sena fl-oppozizzjoni inkaljaw? Anqas l-akbar grigalata ma taqlahhom!
Desperate times require desperate measures hoping that, in spite of the inconsistency, the end might justify the means. Labour had a formidable pack and the new recruits, Prof. Edward Scicluna and Marlene Mizzi presented a great risk for the PN to elect two MEPs and to save that disaster Dr. Gonzi opted for a lesser embarrassment. Bad choice due to lack of numbers as the good available quality are reluctant to take the plunge for obvious reasons. And Dr. Gonzi had to settle for second hand machinery. Any denials?
Had the same Vince Farrugia contested under a PL ticket the PN wouldn’t have even mentioned Farrugia’ position in the GRTU. No denial I’m sure.
Mortu l-bahar PN u b’ Vince tal GRTU ser teghrqu
Handling guns is certainly not Desmond's forte and one wonders whether he has any toes left since he continues to shoot himself in the foot.
OK, now Vince Farrugia has come under his guns, although Vince should be quite safe from erratic bullets fired by Desmond.
So, let's begin: "The man is an intellectual giant!" I didn't say that, Desmond did and for that I am sure that Vince will be grateful. Now I confess, Vince was not always my favourite since as others have said 'he tells it as it is' and sometimes he was quite critical of government actions. But praise coming from Des convinces me that the NP acquired a set of brains and therefore I wish Vince the best in the election.
"Therefore, the decision taken by Vince Farrugia to contest the European Parliament Elections on the Nationalist Party ticket is highly irregular and downright unethical". This statement has already been countered by Dr. Saliba - no need to expand.
"Let's not play games, "vote for Vince Farrugia" means the same as "vote for the Nationalist Party". Is this fair? Is this democratic? Is this the action of a serious, politically-impartial trade union?"
Continued
Now that statement takes the cake. If Vince chose to run under the Nationalist banner, is it not natural to assume that he finds Nationalist policies preferable to other parties'? So, yes, a vote for Vince is a vote for NP principles. Assuming that Vince is elected, then he will abandon his role with the union and the GRTU returns to neutrality - no problem. If on the other hand he fails to be elected, it rests with him and the GRTU to settle the matter.
"The audacity of the Nationalist Party is incredible" - of course it is! The NP is not the party of the 'status quo' and constantly seeks renewals (without any earthquakes). It is not the 'Partit tal-LE' but looks to the future and not reach for policies of the past.
"The GRTU has exposed itself to the ridicule of the whole nation" Funny how the GWU, in Des' mind is still regarded as a serious union! Maybe the GWU should counter with Toni Zarb!
Continued
"The Nationalists, on the other hand, have once again shown that they will always put partisan political interests before the best interests of the country". Now Des has to have some cheek to make such a statement and should have given his advice to Dr. Joseph when he nominated Sharon, an anti-EU activist for the MEP elections!
Desmond has every right to his own political beliefs, but when he contradicts himself and makes loose statements which are easily rebutted ends up doing more of a disservice to the very party he supports.
Desmond could be more useful to the Labour Party hierarchy if he can convince them to move forward and abandon the policies of the past which caused the party to be firmly anchored to the Opposition benches. The national interest will be better served by a progressive opposition which is seen to be credible and capable of assuming a government role.
We seem to be still far off that ideal situation.