Sunday, 7th June 2009
AND THE RESULT IS IN ...
I'm writing this at about 4:30 pm, bored almost to tears by the coverage I've been watching. I'm in Gozo, too, which is good because there's only been one carcade to disturb the peace, a couple of minutes ago, consisting of a few cars. It seems that the bulk of celebrations is going to be in Malta.
So there you have it, the Labour Party has creamed the PN, by what appears to be 55% or so of votes cast to about 40%, which will mean they're about 30 to 35 thousand votes ahead. By any definition, that is a right royal whupping, and the PN needs to take a long hard look at what made so many people stay at home and not bother to vote for it. Given that the turnout was only (only!) 79%, this means that Labour got 43.55% of the popular vote: I won't insult our intelligence by applying Santian logic (logic?) to this but it remains a fact that the drop in turnout seems to have hit the PN vote more than it hit the Labour vote.
Which means that Labour need to take a look at the situation too, because while they got an excellent result, a landslide unprecedented in Maltese polling history to be sure, there is a message for them there too. The message is that not enough voters were moved to vote positively for them, preferring to stick two fingers up at the PN but not loving Joseph Muscat enough to cross the voting floor.
In fact, this was reflected in the comments made by Marlene Mizzi to Net TV.
Admittedly, she had only just got to the Counting Hall, she said, when she was buttonholed by Net's reporter, but her response to the question about what the voting showed was true to the negative playbook that Labour have been sticking to slavishly all along. Instead of demonstrating what would have been understandable glee at her own personal result, which seems pretty good as I write, and at Labour's very good result, she played it straight down the line: "this shows how people were fed up with the PN in Government".
It doesn't seem to have occurred to her that here was the chance for her to make a positive statement about how she, and the Labour Party, were looking forward to working for Malta in Europe. Equally, it doesn't seem to have occurred to her, and nor has it to the hundreds of people out celebrating (and quite right too, they have every reason to celebrate) that tomorrow morning - indeed, this very minute - the Nationalist Party is still in Government and will be for the next four years or thereabouts.
I have no doubt that hers will be the message we're going to have rammed down our throat for the next few weeks or so, and far be it from me to begrudge the Labour Party the right to do what they will, given the result, but I hope they will keep their feet on the ground just as much as I hope the Nationalist Party will get the message and get their feet back on the ground.
Leaving aside the not completely unexpected result in party terms, as I write the only candidate that is sure to be elected from the PN side is Simon Busuttil, which was to be expected and is justly deserved. When the labyrinthine process of sorting second-preference votes is completed, I'm predicting that David Casa will come in second, if only because of the alphabetical effect, and if the PN get the sixth "Lisbon" seat, which appears quite possible (for all that it's weird that you can get whupped and still end up with equal seats) I'm wondering if it's going to be Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas, though when you get that far down the process, it's not easy to predict from first count votes. She's had a good run at the test, though, whatever happens.
From the Labour side, there's no out and out front-runner yet, from what I can see, but Louis Grech, Edward Scicluna and Marlene Mizzi are showing well. They wouldn't be a bad trio to represent us, from a national point of view, I suppose, as long as the latter two can get their policies straight.
Much thought will have to be given to the result from the Alternattiva Demokratika's side of the spectrum. Having cosied up to the Labour Party of late, though they deny it, this was a classic case of the minnow being swallowed, almost in passing, by the whale and they will have to have quite a good think about where they're going next. Perhaps a reversion to being the national conscience, outside and above the vulgar throng of daily politics? It's their call, anyway, and I dare to presume to give an opinion, I've no doubt that their groupies will dump all over me, as usual.
I've no real idea what the various other parties - if you can call them that - did. If Lowell, for instance, got more than one vote, and apparently he did, then that's worrying because it means that there are people who think his brand of xenophobic vitriol is worth voting for, even if in protest. The same applies to the AN and the other assorted peripherals, though frankly, that's all they are, peripherals and should be treated as such from now on by the media.
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Comments
"By the way I have always been a trendy sexy and fashionable guy all along. This is why my parents brought me to New York City and not Canada".
Your crap boggles one's mind. What an expose'. Now we have an idea where the gremlins call home. You must have rented out the upstairs apartment to the wrong tenants. Enjoy the penthouse, gremlins.
"I sympathize with the Maltese, for what they had to put up with..."
You refer to the 'Maltese' like being some foreign race. Where is your favourite 'we' or is it that since you are an American citizen now, it is you the American and them the Maltese? 'They' - obviously meaning the Maltese are not putting up with anything other than a government which is facing a world recession started in your own back yard by your famous Bush and limping along putting you, your children / grandchildren into a hole so big, you may never emerge from it in your lifetime.
Too bad your adopted country has pushed the rest of the world into a disaster and yet by some miracle and with responsible fiscal policies, Malta has suffered minimally and will be among the first to pull out of the recession.
Malta is in transition, but you would not understand that, along with others who preach and promise that once elected they will wave their magic wand and make bad things disappear and shower Malta with gold.
Well, if you believe it, go for it, but please don't say you are Nationalist.
So, you do not consider me worthy of a response from YOU ?
You know the famous Maltese saying - Is-skiet risposta ghal min ma jafx jaghtiha.
You could at least explain (not to me) where at the beginning of a paragraph you quote Mintoff in full control, almost a dictator and in the very next sentence you destroy your argument by saying that Mintoff lost control. How could you? Was Mintoff in control or wasn't he?
@ IM Dingli
No matter how you read Buttigieg - his contradiction is there for you to see as well unless you are reading another version of the Times of some other date.
@ Denis Catania
So you are 50ish and by any conclusion I am a bit older than you, experienced the bitter days of Integration/Independence when you were still in diapers so, in Maltese - tippruvax taghllem l-ommok tbennen. I don't know at what age you left Malta, probably before you could even vote, so you are supposedly Nazzjonalist without any conviction, no wonder you are torn between supporting the NP and Joseph. Good for you.
Good for America too, to have people like you. Democrat-Republican?
I’m having a slight difficulty to get your gist. In the outset you refer to the PN as ‘Their Party’ and then you move on to you being ‘A PN supporter for Joseph Muscat. ‘
Dennis what you refers to as ‘theirs’ can’t be yours. Our PL is one big united party led by Joseph Muscat-how can you support a leader and giving your allegiance to his political adversaries?
@ J Martinelli: If coffee is not your thing. Hot tea with lemon might help you.
You’re trying to flog a death horse. Concentrate your energies on something more tenable.
I said it a thousand times, some people when they get beaten on grounds of logic resort to insults and useless innuendos.
@ Denis Catania.
Why do you find it difficult to admit that you are now a Labour sympathiser? Gonzipn is going out of fashion; supporting Labour is progressive, trendy and sexy.
I think you should read what Charles J Buttigieg has written but this time try a bit harder to understand his message.
To those that haven’t as yet noticed.
I am resolute to ignore those contributors who, to my mind, do not merit the courtesy of my reply.
I ignored you for months, but I couldn't resist anymore. Watching you make a fool of yourself. I tried to come to your rescue by opening up your eyes.. I'm sure you have coffee in London Ontario. Now try to smell it and wake up. YOUR PN lost with a landslide. Not that it was a big surprise. But I guess it took you by surprise. Mr.Martinelli you enjoy your sun in Canada while collecting from the system. We haven't had any sun in a week in New York / New Jersey. I'm sure glad my pool is heated.
Eureka! "The PN's glorious and monumental victories since 1987 came about due to the PL's past mistakes and its organisation weaknesses at the time". Some revelation! Is it not the stronger who usually wins and the weaker loses?
"I can never see the PN winning the next general election as the only way to reform a political party is by sending it to opposition". True and then the public will be able, one more time, to make comparisons.
"45,000 former PN voters said no to Gonzi and yes to Joseph" - the trick is to get the 45,000 to say yes to Joseph in 2013.
No one has disputed the importance of the MEP and Local Councils elections, but only how the LP think the sky has fallen on the NP. It is not that this same thing had not happened before and yet, the NP has sent the LP to the Opposition consistently. The LP had 20 years to reform and yet, it is still a carbon copy of the old style and people are sensitive to the constant truth twisting and mud slinging and will not go for that garbage again.
Continued
"Mintoffpl won the 1971 election with a promise of sweat, tears and tightening of the belt. He did what he had to do and after five turbulent years he got re-elected with a stronger majority because he was in total control, almost dictatorial".
" Unfortunately however that era also saw the bulk of the cabinet ministers getting fat and arrogant and some even corrupt, good old Dom was no longer the Boss, he lost control"
This really begs an explanation. The two quotes appear back to back in the same paragraph. Was Mintoff " in total control, almost dictatorial" or "Dom was no longer the Boss, he lost control"?
Charles, I am surprised at your candor. Mintoffpl ? Since when?
What it really boils down to is that everyone under the sky is human, subject to weaknesses, strengths and poor judgments from time to time. No dictator has ever had a happy ending. Not Saddam, not the Shah of Iran, and not Idi Amin. Thank God the days of dictatorial rule are over in Malta and we should always ensure that they do not return.
Conclusion.
The next four years will only serve to show that the once glorious PN has become a mere party of the past and that the future is back to Labour.
.......past mistakes and its organisation weaknesses at the time. Labour was also most unfortunate with its electability problem of its leaders. If we want to be true to ourselves we would agree that KMB and Alfred Sant gave the PN their Victories on a silver platter.
Things have now changed and the situation has become irreversible for the PN, the Boss is no longer in control, arrogance is rampant and insensibility is the order of the day. Three PN MP’s who allegedly voted Labour with another massive 45,000 former PN voters said no to Gonzi and yes to Joseph. Would they change their minds again at general election time? Will others join them? Anything is possible but to hope for a total reversal is a bit too rich, remember that only 750 PN voters were required to give a majority to the PL.
I can never see the PN winning the next general election as the only way to reform a political party is by sending it to opposition.
Whether or not one supported the politics and style of Dom Mintoff one has to admit that he was the strongest leader Malta ever had. The social, economic and legislative reforms we’ve seen were unprecedented. Mintoffpl won the 1971 election with a promise of sweat, tears and tightening of the belt. He did what he had to do and after five turbulent years he got re-elected with a stronger majority because he was in total control, almost dictatorial. The era 1976-81 was monumental in terms of financial stability and saw the paupers and the underprivileged rise to their merited station. Unfortunately however that era also saw the bulk of the cabinet ministers getting fat and arrogant and some even corrupt, good old Dom was no longer the Boss, he lost control and practically each and every ministry became an entity on its own. 1981 was payback time and the majority of the voters said no to Labour because Labour became incurably sick and helplessly weak. 1981-1987 gave the mortal blow to that administration.
That is history and history has a tendency of repeating itself.
The PN’s glorious and monumental victories since 1987 came about due to the PL’s........
Did anyone of us ever state that the General Election wasn’t more important than the EP elections? No. Or can any of us ever state that a foreman has a better position than the CEO? No again.
On the other hand did you try to diminish the value of the victory which LP has just achieved in the EP election (and now also Local Councils)? Yes, as always since it involves the LP.
Do keep in mind though that it is the CEO who has to respond to the Board of Directors if he messes things up. Something which is happening right now with the present administration.
With regards to your reply to Denis Catania, finally the truth has been revealed...... ‘As far as I know the sun still shines in New York and London, Ontario’…… ‘I collect in my retirement, from Canada pension’…. that is why you can never be credible since local (Malta) things can never have any direct consequence on your life style. That is why your perception is always inexistent.
Denis who's "we"?
When I mention the Nationalist Party which needless to say I support, I do not refer to me and the NP as 'we'. Neither do I refer to the LP as 'them'.
I am in denial? There is nothing to deny when the evidence is in my face and yours. One 'denies' something when it is just a rumour or when the truth is twisted around as you and I have seen done by both sides but undeniably to a much greater degree by the LP (not them).
'We' have lost nothing, at least I haven't, have you? As far as I know the sun still shines in New York and London, Ontario except when a few welcome clouds give us some precious rain.
Again, in 2013, if the LP wins "we" will lose nothing (you and I) since you collect from the American system and I collect in my retirement, from Canada pension. So, please, in future, if you lose something, don't include me with your loss.
Every time you write you declare yourself as a Nationalist supporter of Joseph Muscat, and every time, you lose your credibility by a few notches.
I guess I'm not the only PN supporter for Joseph Muscat. The PN supporters for Joseph Muscat keeps growing and growing.
It is like this:
A large corporation has a Board of Directors.
Which position would they be more concerned with, that of a CEO, a foreman or a messenger?
All three positions have an important function but the BoD will hardly get involved with who fill the messenger and the foreman positions, but sure as hell they will have a say with the CEO's.
To explain it to you three slowly and in the simplest of terms; the LP fills (partially) the roles of foremen and messengers, but the position of CEO is still in the NP's hands and has been for 20 out of 22 years.
Be happy with your roles and let the Board of Directors decide whether to extend the CEO's term come 2013 for a further 5 years. In the meantime, just make the CEO as happy as you can because he signs your paycheque.
If the CEO and foreman switch roles, the foreman will probably be out of depth and screw up just as happened in those 2 fateful years.
And that's the end of my comments to you on this subject.
I don't need you to understand me, thanks. I'm not obsessed with consistency, I vote according to what I think is best. About the 80s , wow that's a real fresh argument. I was a toddler then...
You’re wrong my friend.
Apparently you didn’t follow the part where Vince Farrugia (first and the rest of the herd followed at a later stage) stated that NP will have 5 seats out of the possible 5 in the latter EP elections. These things were broadcasted on all media, be it newspaper, TV or meetings. And by the way, most prominence was given on the NP’s media. I thought you said ‘I probably read more papers from either side of the political spectrum than you do on a regular basis’.
Wrong again!
An LP victory was a foregone conclusion much before the result was known.
That is why in victory or defeat, unlike Labour, the NP does not get as excited as the victory starved LP and its supporters.
Yes true, everyone felt the public pulse last weekend especially when the results came out. Since it is no rocket science than I expect the present administration to be more coherent.
@ IM Dingli
You constantly widen the circle of your beefs just to go on.
Regarding Sant'Antnin - funny how both the Prime Minister and the President of Malta live in the area and I am not aware that either has a sinus problem which prevents him from smelling the foul odors. How worse were the odors then, before the plant was modernized and furnished with modern equipment?
Had my comments been solely on observations during and after my visits, then you would only put up with me once a year or so, but I probably read more papers from either side of the political spectrum than you do on a regular basis and one doesn't need to take too long to feel the public's pulse. This is not rocket science, you know, it is called analysis.
With regard to Victor Scerri's project part of which lies on an ODZ you tell only half of the real story:
The permit was issued four years ago even before the ODZs in the area were revised.
At the time of application all requirements were met.
The replacement structure will have less impact visually than the existing one
‘It's not the that the majority thinks your way, it's the minority which didn't give a toss, which made LP's 'victory' notable’……. Please note that since you left Malta, indoctrinated persons such as yourself which fall within both the PN and LP ranks are always decreasing giving way to floating voters (I’m one of them), th
I agree that PN are still in Government and it shows since during the first week following the EP elections we saw another blunder by MEPA in favour of who of all persons...... the PN President Victor Scerri. These are the reasons why PN has lost the EP election, people want results and not talk and words written on documents.
You feel part of the Maltese because you visit Malta once a year (maybe) during the summer period and feel as if you are part and parcel with our everyday lives. You see all those people having fun by the sea or walking in Sliema and think.....’Oh Malta is such a heaven’....but then you don’t keep on saying the following words ... ‘how stupid of me to leave this Eden, I should come back to Malta for good’.
What a cheek to mention the Sant’ Antnin recycling plant, of course you mention it; definitely you’re not one of the persons living in the area and having to deal with all kinds of bad odours on a daily basis.....heqq you're sitting comfortably in your couch back in Canada!
Full marks for consistency. You demonstrate your political savvy by first voting for EU membership and now you vote for a party which is still not convinced EU membership is good for Malta and whose leader did his very best to wreck Malta's chances of joining the EU.
So utterly convinced now and so fast is his sudden conversion that as late as two years ago while serving as an MEP (what cheek!), he desperately tried to persuade the EU not to fund the modernization of the Sant' Antnin recycling plant! Terrific!
A 'tired and inactive government'? Just utterly amazing how some people always look at the empty half of a glass. Of course I must remember the Socialist days when the glass was overflowing. Oh, the good old days!
The opposition 'is so fresh' - makes me wonder why Joseph recycled those cast aside for so many years - nothing fresh about them.
It's not the that the majority thinks your way, it's the minority which didn't give a toss, which made LP's 'victory' notable.
The majority will decide who deserves to govern in 2013
You're right I don't know you much less understand you.
How sadly mistaken you are! The sun rose the next day, the NP still governs and despite all, I feel no pain.
Actually, a swift kick in the pants is the medicine needed at times to motivate and point someone in the right direction. Most probably unbeknown to you, the PM and most ministers have been at their job and at the same time campaigning for the MEP elections. Joseph had no official duties, schedules and negotiations to worry about - no Cabinet meetings, so he had ample time to visit Super 1 studios and snip and edit a few tapes. If that is the kind of leadership he is able to provide, then heaven help Malta.
What's an Opposition to do or say? If Gonzi diid this, we can do it better? When? How? The LP has to be elected first and Joseph's antics are setting it back not forward. If you think for one minute that the LP has next election all sewn up, I shall not disturb your reverie. Keep on thinking that way.
Do not take much notice, J. M. is experiencing a post-election trauma.
You are quite mistaken for you don't know me personally. I voted "yes" in the referendum and no i did not rejoice at the mlp celebrations then.
Yes i did celebrate PL s success now because I firmly believe that the present Govt is tired and inactive, whilst the opposition seems fresh, pro active and inviting. Looks like the majority of voters in this election share my views.
True, 4 years is an eternity in politics and I hope PL will continue its good work as it deserves to be in office the next time round.
I hope that LP's four MEPs will do something worthwhile this time around, like agreeing with the rest of the MEPs and display a common front not like what happened last term when three Labour MEPs voted three ways!
Malta comes first and Malta is comprised of Nationalists, Labourites, Green and all other hues. The LP who accuises the NP government of not listening to the public, should practice what it preaches and act in the common interest such as making sure that when government ministers are required abroad, no wrench is thrown in the works by the Opposition making it impossible for them to attend important meetings.
If you want to rejoice at Labour's 'success' go ahead, I find nothing wrong with that. You also rejoiced when 'mistakingly' your friends took to the streets and celebrated a lost referendum and a lost election in 2008.
The LP is an expert at making their supporters happy even when the light at the end of the tunnel is a speeding train heading towards them.
If the LP plans to win in 2013, it had better prepare an error free manifesto.
Four years is a long time in politics.
In fact you gave me a clear example of your ability to discuss matters when you opted not to reply to straight forward questions which I had posed to you directly a couple of blogs (ABCs') earlier, prior to the latest election. But again you only choose what suits you best.
You are right, Simon Busuttil deserved being elected and in fact I did include him in my ballot, something which you (an indoctrinated PN supporter but living far far away) would never do should there be a Simon Busuttil within the LP.
Get a life Martinelli
Hi missed you there, yes PL's deceit only managed to convince 55% of the voters.
You two must read only ABC's blog.
I had plenty of comments elsewhere, so I will not repeat them all here. If you made the least effort you would have found me, but then again, typical of minds like yours, you want everything the easy way.
For your information, elsewhere I congratulated the six elected especially Simon Busuttil who obtained more votes than anyone else. (68,000) but certainly not the LP who conducted a campaign full of deceit, as usual.
By the way Simon 'jiswa daqs ghaxra' (one Simon is worth 10 LP elected MEPs).
I never knew that Joseph specializes in tape editing. I should have known however, after he had spent so many years at Super 1.
Good show! Now be quiet until 2013 and then ....2018?
Remember all your predictions in 2003 and 2008? NP wins when it counts and rules Malta. The LP rules the glass house at Mile End. At general election time, voters like it that way.
I did pose that question to myself ..... you'll find him roaming in the letters section since he's too proud to share some comments in ABCs' blog
Very well said indeed.
...in the meantime the donkey keeps spiting its tail regardless!!
@ Laurence:
I am fortunate to still be alive and occasionally lucid in my mid-eighties.
John Lane is of the group of we foreigners who are fascinated by Malta.
@ Kevin:
I take your joke and hear your laughter:
@ All;
With the present state of the "Mother of Parliaments"
I am in no position to be critical of Malta's politics .
I live in a suburb of Barnsley,
a long-time Labour stronghold that now supports BNP.
Words fail me.
I recall the saying that great minds think of ideas whilst midddling minds
consider events and small minds deal with people.
You are absolutely right, Professor John C. Lane is an authority on anything to do with Malta, elections is only part of his study of the Maltese Islands.
LOL! Buffalo NY ... I know :)
@ Kevin Zammit:
I may have got hold of the wrong end of the stick but I think the joke is on you Kevin.
Professor Lane is recognised as possibly the world's greatest authority on Maltese elections but then, like myself' he is not Maltese.
Important aspects are:
1. The vast majority ( 55%) doesn't trust GonziPN any more and are fed up with the way the country is being run! That is the verdict of the majority of the electorate.
2. After nearly 54 years the majority of the Electorate in Gozo voted for the PL. Incredible as it looks it is the truth. It is a FACT!
3. I wonder what ABC and his likes are to say if ( I repeat if) the NP with just 40% are to elect the 3rd EU MP, the same number of Eu Mps elected by the LP with nearly 15% more then the Pn!! Isn't this outragious??? FOOD FOR THOUGHT!!!
We shall see.
PN have got a bunch of journalists spread around in the independent media which always try to picture everything the PN government does as 'needed' and 'immaculate'. I'm sure that the people paying the hefty energy bills, the hunters, and everyone who during this last year was deceived by the PN administration had other thoughts. Thus the heavy defeat in last Saturday's poll.
"In any event, when you look at the ranking of PN first preference votes, there is absolutely no alpabetical effect "
Wow John! What a stupefying and enlightened observation! You should go for a Ph.D. thesis with that!
Rewind 15yrs ago.......check what AD was harping on
Come back now..........confirm that the major long-term issues that are just about to be belatedly (and thus expensively) tackled now were the warning shots that AD expressed then.
Tree huggers indeed!
So what you are saying is that PL only needs 6% from the 20% who did not vote to get elected .
PN needs 28.6% to get it's 50% . I think the figures speak for them self.
A vote of confidence can only be based on the %of votes in favour. I and my family did not vote and I can vouch that this was done in protest. However, if Muscat shows us that he can deliver what we expect from a government then our protest vote could soon be translated into a confidence vote for PL.
@J.Borg
You are hallucinating! AD is finished. The people do not really share its green vision.
Analise the AD results together with the results of other candidates from PL and PN who uphold the same strong beliefs and boast environmental credentials. These results speak for themselves.
People are fed up of hearing you preach on how the protection of every other living creature or element in nature has to take precedence on every demand by human kind! You have taken sustainability to extremes and people are fed up of all the apocalyptic talk - the electorate is after other more pressing and important matters!!
How else can you explain the results?
I was one of those few who protested against the election results of 1982. I obeyed the call made by EFA not to go to work on jun 29 1982. I suffered for that. When my colleagues and I reported back for work the following day we were tipped off by colleagues inside to be careful as we were going to be beaten up. Charles J Buttigieg knows this very well he was there. We asked for police protection and a bus load of police officers was postioned at KM head office. We were summoned to HR. We were told that we were being sent home for our own protection. We were suspended for 5 wks. The following year I was arrested and held for 48 hrs because a bomb was placed behind Albert Mizzi's door. Those KM employees who had protested the previous year were all prime suspects.
Nothwithstanding all this unless I see a change in the arrogant stance the PN has embarked upon I will never ever vote PN again. Who knows perhaps even labour next time
Applying the same logic PN only got 31.6%
"the Nationalist Party is still in Government and will be for the next four years or thereabouts."
In other countries decent and honorable Prime Ministers resign and call for general elections.
Legal immigration cannot be controlled, and it cannot be other than embraced.
As Joe Muscat said, this result is just a beginning of a process in which the PL has to convince more and more people that the PL is the only natural alternative to this stale, arrogant, dictatorial government which is falling to pieces and choked with corrupt practices.
This result is an encouragment to all those of good will to join Labour and make this new coalition a much bigger success for the future of our country.
@ ABC ... Pls note that both the PN and LP knew just 5 minutes after " closure of P/Booths" who abstained! It is a fallacy even in thinking that 'drop in turnout hit the PN vote more'. To give you a good example ,the drop in turnout in Gozo tells us a very different story then that you are implying.
Your logic is indeed pityful ( remember???!!)
@All... The final result is NOT a protest vote ( as PN biased minds like to misinform) but a VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND TRUST in the PL and JOSEPH.
This is just a start of a new era and much more is expected in the near and distant future.
Globally.
1) A clear message to both parties though no doubt we will have apologists interpretting results as suits them best.
As always.
2) Throughout the EU, the right wing obtained better results than the left wing.
....apart, it seems from Malta.
Another clear message that will no doubt be poo-pooed and, needless to say ignored (yet again!!) by those who should be doing otherwise, methinks.
3) the PN (with all the costs involved to the general public?!!) managed to get:
- the same number of seats as the BNP (UK): a far right, reputedly ultra-racist party that makes our home grown equivalent boys look like choir boys.
- the UK Independence Party (equivalent to our CNI) with (in my opinion) VERY sensible policies, got more Seats (13) than the PN & LP put together!!
http://www.ukip.org/content/ukip-policies/1014-campaign-policies-euro-elections-2009
etc etc
I know its TOUGH on this blog(sic!) to have some logical and impartial analysis but ...
Sensible (unemotional and unblinkered!!!) comments on these conclusions, anyone....?
As evidenced in the last two general elections and EP elections, the PN prefers to hand victory to PL rather than having AD break the PNPL duopoly.
One trusts that with these EP elections results, the “supposedly democratic” PN does not try to sweep the overdue reforms concerning the electoral law and effecting transparent party financing under the carpet.
AD – will remain Malta’ Green Party – and the PN can continue to persist in their self-defeating attacks and Machiavellian tactics on AD.
Malta already has a handful of dedicated NGOs who are striving to make a stand against the onslaught on the environment – and eventually Malta will realize that our environment can be effectively protected by having the accommodating main political parties being held accountable for the abuses they allow during their (till now) absolute “reigns”.
" ... the other assorted peripherals, though frankly, that's all they are, peripherals and should be treated as such from now on by the media."
You call this DEMOCRACY Andrew ?
God !
Jo
PL will win by 20,000 votes.
Its true but you also miss the other side of the story. HOPE. These people are celebrating the fact that the PL is not dead and has managed to resurrect itself from its ashes. This is good news for everyone!! Democracy is alive and kicking. After the Sant era we now can truly say that we have a choice.
The PN just got a wake up call that they can't continue to ignore the people. They have to work hard to win the next election and I'll be quite happy if this leads to a good PN legislature. The Winning of two MEP elections is a proof of the fact that the maltese electorate is convinced of the PL vision for europe.
...thats the time you still have to enjoy your gravy-train and the spoils of your PN apologizing in the most unashamedly and bare-faced manner (even if it was all in vain and nobody was listening to your predictable preambles).
'then that's worrying because it means that there are people who think his brand of xenophobic vitriol is worth voting for, even if in protest.'
...In the meantime spare a thought for the people, who like me, voted for the FAR-RIGHT parties to emulate what many voters in the UK, Italy and the Netherlands did. Shame on you to ridicule and attempt to spite them. Forget the AD, the Right has added some more fuel to haunt you.