Malta u l-politika
Ittri ccensurati u punti ta' riflessjoni politika.
1990
Il-partit nazzjonalista bhal kull partit demokristjan iehor ghandu kurrenti diversi gewwa fih.
Josie Muscat - L-Alternattiva 2.6.1990
Politikament l-iktar haga li forsi l-Partit (Nazzjonalista) bata minnha kien li fi snin sittin, il-Partit ma kienx japplika politika socjali li kienet bzonnjuza dak iz-zmien... kien gie njorat wisq it-taghlim socjali u l-politika socjali.
Austin Gatt, il-Gens 15.6.90
1991
The Nationalist Party may prefer to stab its enemies in the back then look around and say: goodness, where did all that blood come from?
Daphne Caruana Galizia, The Sunday Times, 27.10.1991
1993
The Nationalist Party has failed to update its own structures.
Dr. Austin Gatt, The Malta Independent 31.1.1993
The Nationalist Party's administrative council, meeting on wednesday, found that Mr. Ray Bondin was short on ethics, caused through lack of foresight and imprudence.
The Sunday Times, 17.10.1993
Carmel Cacopardo, deputy general secretary of the Nationalist Party, has been censured by the Party for implying that allegations involving a prospective candidate for the local elections, Ray Bondin, had been ignored by the Party.
The Sunday Times 10.10.1993
L-Partit Nazzjonalista hu l-partit tal-bidla... Li rridu nezaminaw izda... Jekk il-mod kif qed titwettaq il-bidla hux verament se joffri soluzzjoni ghal-htigijiet tal-pajjiz.
Lorraine Schembri Orland, kunsill general tal-PN, in-Nazzjon Taghna, 2.11.1993
Dwar il-budget, id-Deputat Nazzjonalista (John Vella) qal li l-budget ipprezentat mill-gvern ghas-sena d-diehla hu wiehed differenti minn tas-snin ta’ qabel. Hu budget li jhares b’visjoni lejn il-futur.
In-Nazzjon Taghna, 21.12.93
1994
We should be proud of our (PN) principles. Yet I fear that we take unclear stands so as not to offend anyone.
Dr. Austin Gatt, The Times 11.3.1994
Sakemm l-ghadu jigi minn barra ninghaqdu kontra tieghu u nfarkuh bhalma ghamilna (elezzjoni 1992). Imma issa l-periklu gej minn gewwa.
Giovanni de Martino, in-Nazzjon, 31.3.1994
Eddie Fenech Adami admitted at a forum in Rabat (last week) that there were liberal elements within his Party who wanted to identify themselves more with liberalism than christian values.
The Sunday Times 8.5.1994
Minn naha taghna ma ghandniex ghalfejn nohorgu dokumenti godda biex nirrevedu l-policies Nazzjonalisti.
George Bonello Dupuis, in-Nazzjon, 3.12.94
1996
Sa ftit xhur ilu jien kont naghmel parti shiha mill-Partit Nazzjonalista. Izda llum... hallejt il-partit.
Victor Mario Abela, il-Gens, 29.3.96
The campaign (mill-PN) against professor de Marco is no fairy-tale.
Editorjal, The Sunday Times 11.8.1996
At one moment we stopped communicating with the people.
Eddie Fenech Adami, The Malta Independent 24.11.1996
We were overconfident (of winning the 1996 elections) and this overconfidence made us insensitive to what people were saying.
Anna Catania fil-laqgha tal-Kunsill Generali tal-PN
The Malta Independent 24.11.1996
1997
For more than 14 hours I had to lie to the Party people at ta' Qali.
Dr. Austin Gatt dwar x’ghamel wara l-elezzjoni tal-1996 li ntrebhet mill-MLP
The Malta Independent 9.3.1997
The Nationalist Party is several thousand Liri in the red - some quarters insist the debts may even run into millions.
The Malta Independent 19.10.1997
2001
Il-partit taghna … waqa’ f’apatija li tkexkex.
Giovanni Demartino, il-Mument 18.2.2001
2002
The Nationalists are experts at downplaying losses or downsizings in performance.
Editorjal, The Times 4.4.2002
Fl-ahhar ghaxar snin rajt partit li b’certu tibdiliet ohrajn, anke fil-poter, ma rridx nghid tilef, izda sfuma dak l-accent li kien qawwi qabel, ta’ partit li ghandu ruh socjali kristjana, li fiha rispett kbir lejn il-principju tal-liberta. Dan naqas bil-qawwi, sfuma.
Richard Muscat, il-Mument 25.8.2002
2003
That something is wrong is as definite as it is palpable. At no point since the PN was elected to power in 1987 – except perhaps in the run up to the 1996 election – has there been so much discomfort with the fact that the country is being run by this Party.
Lou Bondi, The Malta Independent on Sunday 24.8.2003
Mill-elezzjoni ‘l hawn, sfortunatament, iltqajt ma’ numru ta’ maltin, fosthom anki Nazzjonalisti, li gergru bis-shih.
Joe Cassar, il-Mument 21.9.2003
Ghadni kemm qrajt l-editorjal ta’ In-Nazzjon tal-lum 20 ta’ Dicembru 2003, intitolat, “Fejn hi l-etika?” ... Ghalija u ghall-professjoni medika in generali dan l-editorjal huwa ta’ stmerrija u jista johloq certu sens ta’ sfiducja fost it-tobba Maltin.
Deputat Nazzjonalista Dr. Antoine Mifsud Bonnici, In-Nazzjon 22.12.2003
2004
The PN is now at it again. Information arriving at Pieta' has raised the alarm, as there are strong indications that many Nationalist Party supporters are so disgruntled with the PN administration that they are considering giving their vote to Arnold Cassola, the only candidate AD is pushing for the EP election. … there are a number of PN supporters who are prepared to risk not voting for their Party.
Editorjal, The Malta Independent 10.5.2004
Yesterday’s usual PN press conference was also characterized by new measures to limit the number of questions asked by journalists.
MaltaToday 30.5.2004
When the press conference was over, the Super One cameraman was asked to switch off his camera. He complied by pulling out the battery, but not content with the move, PN officials accosted the One News team and accused them of unethical behaviour. PN Information office Gordon Pisani went as far as reminding the journalists and cameraman that they were guests at the PN headquarters.
MaltaToday 30.5.2004
The PN’s campaign, including allegations that AD was pro-abortion, proved the panic the Party was in. …the PN wanted to destroy its allies. … The Nationalist Administration was shameful and the Party was showing monumental ingratitude.
The Times 12.5.2004
But what about the Nationalist Party? Will it take lying down Mr (John) Dalli's public statement that he did not rule out a PN “frame-up” against him?
Editorjal, The Times 5.7.2004
I sincerely believe that what Eddie Fenech Adami used to say is no longer valid today, (Albert) Rizzo told MaltaToday about what he sees as an injustice in his regards emanating from within the PN quarters.
MaltaToday 25.7.2004
The PN, under the leadership of Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, had a deep mistrust of journalists, especially those who wanted to be more than just a convenient mediator between the government and the public. Instead of trying to understand the media, the government made things worse by taking a “holier than thou” and “you don’t understand” attitude. Criticism was, in simple terms, not tolerated.
Editorjal, The Malta Independent 27.7.2004
There is a perception that the government is unravelling. And worse than the government, the PN itself looks like it is in a trance, out of touch and not even kicking up a fight.
Marisa Micallef Leyson, The Malta Independent 27.7.2004
Ironically, however, the biggest damage being done to the EU cause is coming from the PN. And, with the benefit of hindsight, one can also see that this damage started being done a long time ago and not only after the changing of the guard at Pietà, where the Party's headquarters is situated.
Editorjal, The Times 27.7.2004
Just over a month has passed since the EP election, and the PN has maintained its bulldozer attitude, taking decisions without prior consultation. It has happened at least three times over the past five weeks.
Editorjal, The Malta Independent 21.7.2004
As I already had occasion to make public thanks to The Times and PBS in my published reply, censored both by the (Nationalist) Party newspaper I ran for five years, In-Nazzjon, and the PN TV station NET of which I was its chief executive during its first two years, the libels filed (against MaltaToday) are no more than an attempt to silence.
Roger de Giorgio, Malta Today 1.8.2004
L-orizzont has claimed that the companies pertaining to the PN were Lm4 million in the red and I can confirm that when I assumed this role that figure was correct. Today, we've whittled that figure of debt down to Lm2.8 million.
Joe Saliba, PN general secretary, The Times 23.8.2004
The PN still doesn’t understand why it is so disliked at present, and as I said, not just among the puliti that it has no time for, but by very many former avid and not so avid PN voters.
Marisa Micallef Leyson, The Malta Independent on Sunday 5.9.2004
In the past I have often referred to the Mosta Nationalist Party club as an abandoned haunted house. And it certainly was. But now it is no longer haunted, because even the ghosts have deserted it! What a pity! What a waste of money - about Lm150,000. What a pity waste of energy, effort, goodwill and sacrifice by former minister Lawrence Gatt, past committee members and tesserati! Everything has gone down the drain. But who cares?
Mr Giovanni DeMartino, The Sunday Times 19.12.2004
2005
Alexis Callus, a 24-year-old Nationalist Party local councillor and deputy mayor of Safi, should resign his post in the council as well as from the party. Enough facts about his beliefs and activities have emerged to prove that he flirts heavily with racist ideas and subscribes to an extreme-right wing political philosophy. It is quite clear that this young man is not politically mature enough to realise the danger of the ideas he has been playing around with. Mr Callus jokes on the internet about beating up Sudanese refugees. He thinks that Benito Mussolini was “a visionary” and “a great statesman, the founder of Europe as we know it today”. He thinks that one of the proofs that Turkey is culturally unfit to become an EU member is that we have sayings like haqq it-Torok (curse the Turks) and ikrah daqs Tork (as ugly as a Turk). He uses political terminology straight out of an Italian fascist's handbook and worked on a website chock-full of Hitler quotes and racist comments. This PN councillor helped to advertise the Norman Lowell meeting in Safi on the internet and was present for it. ... Mr Callus is not just an extreme right-winger. He also embraces other views which are as colourful as they are despicable. NGOs who help refugees and illegal aliens in detention, for instance, are called “the new mafia”. Archbishop Michael Gonzi, in this PN councillor's view, was right to deny Labourites a decent burial three decades ago. And he opines that this government looks positively at such a view. Politically, this man lives in his own world. What has the PN done about all this? Joe Saliba, the PN secretary general, said that Mr Callus admitted his mistake and was “forgiven”. This is not good enough. It would have been acceptable had Mr Callus committed one foolish mistake. The facts, however, show that he adheres to beliefs that are clearly at odds with those of the Nationalist Party. For a party to forgive someone who commits a genuine mistake and be prepared to take the flak is a magnanimous act. To accept that the PN is represented in Safi by an extreme right-winger with racist views is not. Racism, xenophobia and neo-fascist beliefs cannot be treated lightly, particularly at present. ... Mr Callus, a deeply misguided young man, is free to join a party which shares his views. But that party cannot be the PN. He must go now before it becomes too late.
Lou Bondi, The Times 29.1.2005
While acknowledging the right of voters to decide who becomes mayor, the PN this year has deprived its voters in two major localities of the choice of who becomes councillor.
Editorjal, The Sunday Times 13.2.2005
Seven out of every 10 respondents to an online poll by The Times felt it was improper of the Nationalist Party to withdraw four local council election candidates, describing it as a “most cowardly act” and “undemocratic”. The move gave rise to strong criticism of the PN, which came under fierce attacks in the internet poll.
The Times 15.2.2005
I therefore feel very uneasy knowing that my own Party has demonstrated cowardice in the face of two difficult council elections this March, one in Zejtun, the other in Marsa. … As a Nationalist candidate in the third district, which includes Zejtun, I find it very difficult to explain to constituents any plausible reason for the action taken by the few reigning powers within the so-called strategy group. Even because so far the Party has not felt it wise to call us candidates to the headquarters and explain to us what they did. … those of us who love the Party, who gave many years to the Party, who have even shed our blood for our Party must react to such a cowardly retreat. …
Michael Mercieca (kandidat tal-PN ghat-tielet distrett, kunsillier fuq Wied il-Ghajn u membru tal-Kumitat Ezekuttiv tal-PN), The Times 22.2.2005
“From the start of the campaign, two PN candidates started spreading lies about me,” Caruana says without naming them, although he indicates they are a man and a woman. “They carried out a destructive campaign. I never said one word against my colleagues or against my Party. Whenever, during my house visits, I or the Party was criticised, I explained as much as I could without pointing fingers at anyone. But these two candidates were spreading lies about me.” … “At around 2.15pm I was given a list from Party headquarters. I was called by Angelito (Sciberras, the PN Assistant Secretary General).” Among the 67 lost sheep pinpointed by the Party, Caruana says 34 refused to speak to him. “They refused to discuss why they were going to abstain,” he says. “Others refused to open their doors. … Other Nationalists on the list complained of shabby roads and rats infesting their streets, drainage seeping inside their houses and unlit roads.
Michael Caruana (ex sindku PN St. Venera), Malta Today 20.3.2005
“Party activists are being treated as people with no intelligence. And it is evident that there are those who are unwilling to raise and discuss the issue because it reflects directly on their position in the Party.” When asked whether he was referring to PN secretary-general Joe Saliba, Mr Dalli answered: “Yes. This is the second election round that Saliba has been responsible for, and this is the second crushing defeat that the Nationalist Party has suffered. The non-campaign that we had in these elections, and the stupid campaign we had in June last year has shown the limits of the present Party administration. … Joe Saliba and his cohort preferred to concentrate on administrative changes to the statute which would strengthen their own position within the Party and did not give a hoot for the Party weakening its position in the country. This is unacceptable.”
John Dalli, Malta Today 20.3.2005
I am gratified I am interpreting the true feeling of the grassroots of the Nationalist Party. Many have stopped me in the streets and many others have come up to me to tell me of their concerns about the present state of affairs within the PN. They speak, as I do, because they love the Party and are loyal to the Party. They want the Party to grow as it did in the past and not shrink as it is doing today. They want the Party to be inclusive and hate to see the selective process that the Party management has embarked upon in placing friendly faces in positions that would determine internal elections.
John Dalli - The Times 28.3.2005
The main problem that has led to the present state of affairs is the fall-out from the leadership race last year. Whatever the party administration says, it is obvious even to the casual observer that the people in the administration were backing Lawrence Gonzi against John Dalli… this has led to the sort of bad blood that had never been evident on such a scale within the party.
Michael Falzon (Ex- Ministru Nazzjonalista) MaltaToday 3.4.2005
Nearly three-quarters of those who took part in a poll on The Times website believe the Nationalist Party is being insensitive towards the middle class. Seventy-two per cent of respondents gave the thumbs down to the way the Party is treating this segment of the population in yet another indication of widespread discontent with the PN and the government.
The Times 19.4.2005
2006
You don’t need opinion polls to tell you that the Nationalists are getting more unpopular by the day. . . . everywhere you go, the lack of enthusiasm for the PN in certain social circles is abundantly clear.
Marisa Micallef, The Malta Independent on Sunday 26.2.2006
Ever since a former PM became a President the PN has been hampered with a credibility problem.
Marisa Micallef, The Malta Independent on Sunday 26.2.2006
“Here I am, speaking at the PN’s highest organ,” said Peter Darmanin, with the theatrics of a high priest. “As a Party official, I turn to you, dear Kap, and promise you my unconditional loyalty. I am ready to follow you all the way until we reach our destination. I expect this loyalty from every Party official. If there are any Party officials who are not ready to give their loyalty to the Party leader, let them stand up and get out of the General Council. I expect this loyalty from every ministry and Nationalist MP. If you’re not ready to give your loyalty to the Party leader, stand up from you chairs and declare yourselves independent.”
MaltaToday 9.4.2006
Hector Bruno, the quintessential Maltese showman and comedian, once tried to make fun of Eddie Fenech Adami at a PN do. He had been making fun of KMB, Alfred Sant and the MLP for so long that his jokes had started suffering from over-exposure. So, one fine day he tried out an experiment. Hector decided to try to raise a laugh or two at the expense of the PN and its leader. The jokes fell flat – flatter than Fabrizio’s infamous two notes. Nobody laughed and everybody wondered what had gone awry in Hector’s mind! How could he say jokes about our own dear Party and our beloved leader!? It’s only the other side that is a good subject for jokes! Hector, of course, never tried this again.
Michael Falzon, MaltaToday 28.5.2006
2007
Charles Dimech ta’ 48 sena minn Ħaż-Żebbuġ ħalef ħalfa li ma jagħtix aktar wiċċ lill-Partit Nazzjonalista. Charles Dimech sostna li hemm 100 vot fil-familja tiegħu u tal-mara li mhux se jerġgħu jivvutaw f’elezzjoni oħra, u lanqas m’huma se jagħtu kas lil xi wieħed mill-kandidati tal-PN. “Użawni, wegħduni u rmewni,” sostna Charles.
Illum, 28.1.2007
Gonzi ma fehem xejn. Dan mhux il-Lawrence Gonzi li naf jien. Gonzi li naf jien hu umli u onest. Gonzi ta’ nhar il-Ħadd kien qisu t-tifel li jrid jipprova jixbah lil papà. Għax l-ironija hi li kien Eddie li kellu l-attitudni li wera Gonzi nhar il-Ħadd. Eddie kien jista’ jagħmel kważi li jrid. Anki meta kien jiċħad il-verità magħrufa u jiċħad ir-realtà, kien jibqa’ jippoppa sidru, qisu rebaħ. Anki wara t-tisbita ta’ l-1996 baqa’ xorta.
Vince Farrugia (Director Generali GRTU u kandidat PN ghall-elezzonijiet tal-MEP 2009), ILLUM 18.3.2007
He (George Bonello Dupuis) sees the signs of corrosion in the PN after being in power for two decades.
MaltaToday 13.5.2007
The malaise in our Party and the intransigence that is pushing so many people away as Dr Gonzi refuses the hands of reconciliation extended to him.
John Dalli, The Sunday Times 3.6.2007
For the past three years Malta has undergone a major surgical operation, especially in the Nationalist Party (PN). All those that oppose Dr Lawrence Gonzi are being victimised. I am talking through personal experience. I have voted for PN for the past seven elections but I will never vote PN until Dr Gonzi is the leader. He has caused havoc in the Party and hundreds of genuine Nationalists like me feel betrayed and disgusted by this leader.
Michael Woods, maltastar.com 8.12.2007
2008
M’għandna l-ebda dubju li l-PN se jipprova jisfrutta favur tiegħu l-istat ta’ saħħa ta’ Sant matul il-kampanja elettorali.
Editorjal ILLUM 13.1.2008
Carmel Cacopardo severed his ties with the Nationalist Party after 30 years on the same day Alternattiva Demokratika appointed him spokesman for sustainable development. In a letter sent to PN general secretary Joe Saliba, dated January 16 but e-mailed to the media over the weekend, the former assistant audit officer at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) had strong words of criticism for the Party he had served for so many years. “When I joined the PN, I had no problem identifying myself with the Party. However, lately, I've been making an effort to establish whether it's the same Party I joined in the 1970s. I've reached the conclusion that, if I had to choose today, I wouldn't join,” he wrote. He spoke of the PN's attempt to hush things up when people acted incorrectly, while he encountered obstacles and a million and one excuses when it came to continuing his work within Mepa. “The real reason (for this) is never mentioned: That intolerance against criticism and those who think independently has emerged. Whoever does not tolerate string-pulling is continually being sidelined,” Mr Cacopardo said. He added that it was useless mentioning names since the information has been available in the public domain for months. Mr Cacopardo said that in the circumstances, he felt he no longer had a place within the PN and was resigning with immediate effect. Mr Cacopardo was a Nationalist Party candidate in three general elections, namely in 1987, 1992 and 1996, and sat on the PN's executive council for 12 years occupying the posts of information secretary, assistant general secretary and president of the administration council.
The Times 21.1.2008
The heading of the report regarding the judicial protest I filed in court reads Self-Proclaimed PN Supporter Files Judicial Protest (February 2). It seems to me that the editor of The Times lives in blue wonderland. Who told him that I am a self-proclaimed PN supporter? Why does he spin anything that criticises the PN? Did he check with Joe Saliba to ensure that I am a self-proclaimed supporter? Or did he do his duty to find out for certain that I had been a member of the Nationalist Party for nearly 40 years and he rubbished this? Did the editor refer to me so as to show him my membership cards of old? No. So he insinuates that I am playing a Nationalist. What a cheek! And this cheek comes from a self-proclaimed virgin! The editor should go to their headquarters and see for himself that I was listed in their database as a paying member. To be precise, I resigned from the Party some three years ago and, therefore, I am not a PN supporter any more (even though the PN secretary kept sending me reminders to pay my subscription fee - but this is the way they think. Shady, isn't it?) I am still considering whom I shall give my support to, but I shall most definitely not form part of the blue Party and shall most surely not be voting for anyone on their band wagon. If the editor's mentality is to insinuate and to pressure, I am afraid that his independent claim has been stained by blue blotches.
Jo Said, The Times 5.2.2008
In a sworn affidavit, Jo Said recounted how Nationalist MP David Agius had admitted to him “that corruption runs deep in the Nationalist Party and the government.” Mr Said met Mr Agius at his behest on 17 January morning at Saracino’s in Attard square after they had met on a TV programme. On that day Mr Agius confessed to Mr Said that “corruption runs deep in the Nationalist Party and the government.” Mr Said asked him whether he would leave this matter on his conscience and told him that he would become corrupt by hiding away corruption.
The Times 5.2.2008
Azzjoni Nazzjonali deputy leader Angelo Xuereb yesterday accused the Prime Minister of arrogance. He was referring to a news conference carried on TVM in which Lawrence Gonzi claimed that people who did not vote or opted to vote for parties other than the PN would in fact be voting for the Labour Party. “This is the epitomy of an arrogant Party that has become so enamoured with power that it now deludes itself that it has some divine right to rule,” Mr Xuereb argued. “In one breath,” he added, “Dr Gonzi boasts that he has faith in the intelligence of the Maltese people; in another he feels the need to revert to desperate statements in an attempt to stop them from exercising their intelligence.”
The Malta Independent 21.2.2008
I was informed via SMS that I would not be a cabinet member. I think we were owed a more dignified dismissal, as we were part of the cabinet that contributed to a PN victory. We were at least owed an explanation as to why we were not reconsidered for a cabinet post, and a thank you.
Jesmond Mugliett, The Malta Independent 14.3.2008
As a PN supporter, I wish JPO disappears from the face of the earth. I think he caused enough grief already to the Party. PN should disassociate itself from him. The damage and the issues which are coming out of this are unprecedented in the Maltese history. It comes out, that JPO was pressurising officials to appprove the approval.... that in effect is already a good indication of “corrupt practises” when someone uses his power to “get unlawful” favours.
Paul Pace, timesofmalta.com 18.3.2008
I have no more doubt about it now! When we talk of deceit, manipulation, dirty tricks and a little tbazwir the Nationalist Party is second to none. … the Nationalists are real masters of deceit.
Giovanni deMartino, The Malta Independent 22.8.2008
The decision to include proposition 258 in the PN electoral manifesto was the most ill-thought out and misguided electoral proposal ever.
Michael Falzon, The Sunday Times 24.8.2008
2009
The Nationalist Party seems to want to find all possible excuses to attack Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat. ... the PN’s criticism goes beyond this triviality. Sometimes, it verges on being an attempt at character assassination, as was the case when, less than an hour after Dr Muscat finished his address during the PL mass meeting in Vittoriosa on the eve of Freedom Day ... This particular PN statement leads us into another matter that exposes the Nationalist Party’s arrogant ways – that is, their trying to influence or, worse, their trying to manipulate the independent media.
Editorjal, The Malta Independent 6.4.2009
Jean Claude Micallef hu wieħed mill-persuni li telaq minn Net TV wara li l-istazzjon waqqaf numru ta’ programmi qabel iż-żmien minħabba problemi ta’ flus. “Sakemm tinbidel id-direzzjoni mill-maniġment, jinbidel l-istil u jkun hemm rispett lejn it-telespettatur, l-isponsors u lejn il-kwalità tal-programmi jien ma nerġa’ qatt lura fuq in-NET, ... Aħna ġejna nfurmati li l-programm se jieqaf ġimgħa biss qabel. Ġie l-producer u nfurmana fic-changing room, ... Rajtha deċiżjoni redikola. L-aktar għaliex qisha għaddiet bl-eżatt l-elezzjoni u li kellhom jieħdu ħaduh. ... Kont ili għal xhur sħaħ niġbed l-attenzjoni ta’ diversi nuqqasijiet. Jien persuna li l-estetika naraha importanti ħafna. Kemm-il darba għamilt ilmenti. U fuq kull livell ta’ maniġment. Iltqajt ma’ ħafna nies viċin il-PN, inklużi minn kumitati lokali tal-partit u ħafna nies huma mdejqin bin-nuqqas ta’ servizz li qed jagħti Net TV. Ħafna nies jgħiduli ‘nagħtu regolarment flus fil-ġbir ta’ fondi imbagħad l-affarijiet mhux qed ikunu ta’ livell.’... Qed nipprova nsolvi l-problemi. Dak biss li nista’ ngħid.” Micallef kien wiċċ maħbub fuq in-Net tant li kien nominat għall-aqwa preżentaur tas-sena. Ironikament nominata wkoll għall-aqwa preżentatriċi feminili kien hemm ukoll Claudette Pace, li l-istess bħal Micallef, telqet minn fuq in-Net.
ILLUM 21.6.2009
These are difficult times for the party in government. Nothing seems to be going its way. Right from the time it won the general election by just a whisker, the going has been uphill all the time, as shown by the results of the European Parliament and local council elections in June. Party leader and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi appears to be losing some of the political pull he had in the first years of his election as leader and a number of his colleagues in Cabinet appear to be suffering from the wear-and-tear syndrome. In short, the party's popularity appears to be taking a battering and the outlook does not look encouraging as it struggles to cope with loads of old and new difficulties in so many areas of life in the country.
Editorjal, The Times 19.9.2009
Two Nationalist backbenchers engaged in a war of words yesterday during a parliamentary group meeting at Villa Francia in Lija. Robert Arrigo and Beppe Fenech Adami got involved in a “screaming match”, according to sources, which led to the temporary postponement of the meeting in the presence of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. Sources said that during one intervention Dr Fenech Adami told his colleagues that whoever was not prepared to toe the party line should leave. Dr Fenech Adami was apparently referring to three backbenchers – Robert Arrigo, Franco Debono and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando – who appeared on Bondiplus last Monday to talk about their statements of disgruntlement with respect to the party. “They were told that they didn’t do themselves any favours by appearing on the programme,” the sources said. Mr Arrigo got up and told Dr Fenech Adami that if he was referring to him then he would leave. The Sliema MP was, however, prevented from leaving by two MPs, according to sources. When contacted last night, both backbenchers declined to comment on the incident. Mr Arrigo said: “The exchange we had in the parliamentary group stays within the same group.” Dr Fenech Adami said: “I won’t comment on what has been said in the parliamentary group.”
The Sunday Times 11.10.2009
Michael Bonnici, who was Deputy Speaker for a number of years, said he often discussed with other ex-MPs about how some people got chosen for certain posts and others were left out. In a letter to the editor published today he says that “the duo from Castille and the trio DC Pieta' kicked many others out”. He adds that while some shepherds search for lost sheep, others let them go. … in 2005 Mr Bonnici had refused a medal from the Nationalist Party that was given to various former MPs to honour their service. He said certain moves were “strategic” while others were intended to reward “blue-eyed boys” and punish others. Many decisions showed “absolute preferences”, and he gave the example of the role of acting-President as something which should be shared and not given to the same person without alternating, just to keep them happy.
The Times 14.12.2009
2010
The PN was running out of time to repair the damage it has done to itself. “Labour today is not the same opposition it was two years ago. The Opposition is present, on ball, and reactive on many fronts, not to mention it has more intelligence than before,” he said. “The PN has a lot of homework to do.”
Philip Mifsud MP (PN)
MaltaToday 31.1.2010
(Michael) Falzon jikkonċedi li mhux kollox ward u żahar fuq il-bankijiet tal-Gvern… Fi kliem Falzon, … il-frustrazzjoni li donnha tħalliet tikber għax ħadd ma ta kasha, bil-konsegwenza li nfirxet sew fuq il-backbench tal-Gvern…. “Issa qed tidħol l-apatija, fejn numru kbir ma fadlilhomx aktar il-ħajra li jerġgħu jikkontestaw u dan qatt ma ġara fil-PN. … Il-fatt li hemm uħud li qed juru li ma fadlilhomx interess li jerġgħu jikkontestaw l-elezzjoni għandha biex tinkwieta lill-PN għaliex wieħed ma jridx jinsa l-impatt fuq il-bażi tal-votanti ta’ dawn in-nies, u jekk dawn id-deputati qed juru dwejjaq, bla ma jridu qed jittrasmettuh lill-elettorat, biex ma nsemmux ukoll kemm hu diffiċli li ssib kandidati validi u popolari llum.” ... “Hemm problema fuq il-backbench tal-Gvern u teħtieġ tkun solvuta b’għaqal,” sostna Falzon li żied li donnu l-PN qed jittraskura r-realtà li l-politika hi mibnija fuq il-perċezzjoni, jiġifieri ta’ x’jaħsbu jew iħossu n-nies. In-nies qed tara konfużjoni sħiħa fuq il-bankijiet tal-Gvern,” sostna Falzon, u jżid li jekk din il-preċezzjoni ma titbiddilx, se jkun ferm diffiċli għal PN meta jiġi biex jaffronta elezzjoni ġenerali… “Il-Prim Ministru qed jingħata pariri ħżiena u din ktibtha u ngħidha pubblikament. Għalkemm hu magħruf li l-Prim Ministru jieħu d-deċiżjonijiet hu, dawn l-istess deċiżjonijiet huma mibnija fuq il-pariri li qed jingħatawlu, u f’ħafna ċirkostanzi qed jirriżultaw li huma ħżiena. Nemmen illum li kemm il-preġju, kif ukoll id-difett ta’ Lawrence Gonzi huma msawra f’kontradizzjoni. Li tkun determinat fil-politika tfisser li tibqa’ ssostni d-deċiżjonijiet, li hi ħaġa tajba, iżda hu difett jekk dik ir-ras iebsa tikkmandak u ma tkunx flessibbli,” sostna. “Fil-politika teħtieġ ikollok il-kuraġġ ukoll li tagħmel u-turns jekk hemm bżonn,” sostna Falzon. “Jinkwetani – għax hekk iġġib il-kelma – hu l-fatt li donnhom il-Ministri m’humiex iffukati fuq xogħolhom, u wisq aktar, il-Prim Ministru hu distratt b’ħafna kwistjonijiet redikoli u mhux qed jitħalla jaġixxi bħala l-Kap tal-Eżekuttiv. Din is-sitwazzjoni ddejjaqni, aktar milli tinkwetani, għaliex kull Gvern immexxi mill-PN dejjem kien iffukat u pproduċa ħafna, Il-Prim Ministru fassal il-proġett ambizzjuż lejn il-kisba ta’ eċċellenza f’diversi setturi sas-sena 2015, iżda jekk wieħed isegwi sew, jinduna li l-Prim Ministru donnu abbanduna dik il-mira għaliex lanqas qed jitkellem dwarha aktar. Agħar minn hekk, in-nies mhux qed titkellem dwarha, u mhux qed tħoss li din il-mira hi tajba għalihom, bħalma kienet is-sitwazzjoni qabel is-sħubija fl-UE.” ... Kritika li jagħmel hi indirizzata lill-media tal-PN, li fi kliem Falzon qed tintilef fl-iżball li tittratta lill-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni u Mexxej tal-PL Joseph Muscat bl-istess metodi li bihom kienet tittratta ma’ Alfred Sant. “Dan hu żball kbir,” sostna Falzon, li jinsisti li l-karattri tat-tnejn huma differenti ħafna.
ILLUM 7.2.2010
It is not I who will bring the government down but it’s the pig headedness that seems to have taken Castille by storm ... the PN is totally out of sync with the people’s concerns.
Jean-Pierre Farrugia MP PN
MaltaToday 14.2.2010
Fairmount and BWSC are unlikely to move out of the political radar screen unless a way is found of neutralising the fallout that has arisen from the claims of corruption made in the two cases. Both are politically damaging to the Nationalist government and both will be taken as examples showing lack of good governance and political accountability. … Particularly worrying is the way the government has been trying to deflect the unfavourable impact on political responsibility resulting from, in the case of the Fairmount, the study made by an auditing firm, and, in the second, the report by the Auditor General ...
Editorjal, The Times 5.5.2010
Without a shadow of a doubt, the Nationalist Party is passing through what may well be considered as one of the most politically embarrassing situations for many, many years. Investigations into claims of corruption, irregularities or mismanagement are revealing glaring signs of administrative weaknesses or, in a number of cases, sheer ineptitude that have not been seen in Malta's administration for years.
Editorjal, The Times 12.6.2010
Mr (Nikki) Dimech (Sindku Nazzjonalista ta’ Tas-Sliema) accused Dr Borg Olivier (Segretarju Generali PN) of “framing” him to get him out of the way before the next general election and describes as dishonourable and disrespectful Dr Borg Olivier’s decision to “force” another Nationalist councillor, Sandra Camilleri, to sign a motion of no confidence in the mayor.
The Sunday Times 22.8.2010
(Sindku Nazzjonalista ta' Tas-Sliema) Mr Dimech said he could not work with the present administration of the Nationalist Party, clarifying that it was not the Prime Minister that was the problem but the party's "internal administration".
timesofmalta.com Wednesday, 25th August 2010 - 13:03CET
