Political survival is Gonzi’s over-riding objective

Article from Malta Indepednent.

While many were expecting the so-called Cabinet reshuffle to send a signal that government was going to get its act together and weed out its inefficiencies and dead wood, we had to settle instead for a cosmetic exercise that made it manifestly clear that rather than being interested in economic renewal, Lawrence Gonzi’s over-riding objective and concern was political survival.

When he was quoted by this newspaper as having told the media that Cabinet changes were aimed at enhancing stability, what he failed to clarify was whether he had the country’s stability in mind, that of his own government or else his own as party leader – given that we have reliable information that at a point in time there was even talk of having him pushed aside by some of his colleagues.

Where I am inclined to disagree with your editorial of the 11 February is regarding the summary conclusion that Gonzi has sent out a strong signal to each and every member of his Cabinet to not only work harder and more efficiently but also at the same time telling his backbench that foot stomping will not take them anywhere.

The fact that no new blood was introduced into the Cabinet is indicative of the contrary. That due to renewed fears of further turmoil and dissent from the backbench he chose by design not to introduce any new blood into his front bench team out of fear that even the slightest gesture could rock the boat further among the known dissidents who have been raising the decibels of their dissent by the hour in recent weeks.

Gonzi’s smug comment on a local station that the Cabinet reshuffle showed how off target certain speculation was, holds no water.

No matter how hard he tried to squash any suggestions that at no stage did he ever consider changing Giovanna Debono’s portfolio, it is interesting to note that although the PM denied being pressured by her family to keep her in the post, at no stage did he deny that he might have been pressured by her to stay put. What tends to reinforce this view is the so far undenied Times of Malta claim that she was seen leaving the PM’s office a few minutes before he went off to Parliament on the Cabinet reshuffle day, when the changes involved did not affect her in any way. We have now been told by the PM – some 72 hours after The Times and PBS revelation that after all the PM had sent for all Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries too!

If my memory serves me well, and a number of Nationalist MPs and contacts of mine will surely confirm this, when the first ever original Gonzi line up was being put into place until a few hours before the Cabinet was announced, Tonio Fenech did not even feature in the line up, and is reported to have been asked to take the oath as Parliamentary Secretary less than two or three hours before the collective swearing in ceremony, after Prof Josef Bonnici was reported to have turned down the offer of a Parliamentary Secretary post.

While last week, Gonzi was quick to call a media conference to ‘explain’ and ‘justify’ his reshuffle, no reasons were given either why he shed MEPA and the environment from his direct responsibility or else why he decided to lump MEPA, sustainable development (as I had predicted), together with the environment, and culture with tourism when calls by the trade for a fully fledged Tourism Minister have long been heard loudly in tourism linked circles.

It is equally baffling why with such a vast portfolio Mario de Marco was not made Minister against all expectations. I suspect that even this was intended to ensure greater ‘harmony’ in house.

One might argue but by the same norm, Dr Joe Cassar WAS appointed Minister. But that is a totally different issue. With Dolores Cristina unable to also take on health in addition to education and social policy (with the latter euphemistically tagged as family affairs) it was virtually impossible to do so. So that can easily explain it all.

Equally unconvincing is the argument that Tonio Fenech was given responsibility for the WSC and Enemalta since the Finance Ministry are handling most of the negotiations regarding the easing of the burden of the new rates. It is commonly accepted that Austin Gatt’s wings have been clipped after the arrogant and insensitive manner in which he has handled the whole utilities issue as well as the way Enemalta under his helmsmanship as Minister tended to flout the most obvious issues like the climate plus health linkage as well as its conflicting signals on emissions and precipitators vis-a-vis positions publicly taken by MEPA.

We also still have to find out whether WSC has responded to MEPA’s calls to take legal action against the waste oil pollutant company that was known to have been caught red handed discharging such residue in sewers in the Hexagon House area.

With all this in mind the spin that the PM chose to retain a lean Cabinet does not hold any water, when until recently commentators close to government were seriously questioning whether this formula had worked or not.

Lawrence Gonzi has been caught dishing out unsatisfactory statements on many issues of recent.

As in the case of Mr Speaker. One moment we were told by Gonzi that Louis Galea had actually asked for the job at the European Court of Auditors only to be told by Dr Galea himself that this was an offer that had been made by the PM and which he had to consult his family about before even accepting it.

If the ploy of sending John Dalli off to Brussels as a Commissioner will work or not still has to be seen. I am not implying that Dalli will make a mess of his job. On the contrary I am more than confident that he will rise to the occasion as expected. But apart from the fact that it is often that Commissioners have been known to resign to rejoin a Cabinet or else to go back to the political fray, a recent interview given by Minister Dalli must have surely gone down badly with the Galea Curmis and Gordon Pisanis at the OPM.

Particularly when Dalli was reported to have said that he will not be calling it a day from local politics, and that he will remain PROACTIVE in the PN to ensure that the principles of democracy, solidarity, inclusivity and subsidiarity are upheld. He even came forward with a loaded statement in the sense that he promises to remain part of the PN so long as those who run the party reflect these principles. Dalli apparently does not even plan to relinquish his self-appointed role of father confessor to Nationalist backbenchers.

Gonzi’s talk of a small and young Cabinet does not apparently seem to have convinced people like Minister Dalli – even though the latter was interviewed prior to the reshuffle – since John Dalli is reported to have said that much of the collective memory of the government has been lost, particularly since according to him, much of what the PN has today has its roots in past rationale. Particularly since there are according to him many people who were part of the rationale who can give an input if they are asked.

Meanwhile if you feel in the mood for some pathetic humour after these dismal attempts by the Gonzi regime to give the impression that it is now back to business as usual, please do look up the comments by the Commissioner of Police in the wake of a massive letter of protest signed by over 50 eminent writers and artists that questioned the police decision to ask the bands performing at the Nadur carnival to submit their planned repertoire for vetting.

The Police Commissioner who is known to drop frequent clangers as he did over the lap dancing incident some months back, this time told us that although they asked for the name of the songs and groups but not the lyrics, they now withdrew this directive, since initially, his officers thought that this could be helpful to keep public order only for them to realize later that from the name of a song, it is difficult to ensure public order. To do that the Commissioner suddenly realized that one would need the lyrics but he admitted that they never asked for them.

If writers and artists expressed their dismay at the police action I feel even more compelled to express further dismay at such incompetent replies that literally insults one’s intelligence. Perhaps IQ tests in the Police Corps should be carried out more frequently!





A WORD OF APPRECIATION FOR LINO BUGEJA



I have always known Lino Bugeja as a man of principle since my school boy days. A man without a political agenda who always had culture, heritage, sports and the environment very much at heart. His recent decision to stand down from the chairmanship of the RAMBLERS’ ASSOCIATION will leave a big vacuum although I am sure that he will be well served by his equally committed colleagues. I wish him well in his ‘retirement’ and while hoping that he will continue writing on heritage and historical issues as is his custom, he will not allow those who came down on him like tons of bricks in the most unwarranted and unjustified of manners, to hinder in any way his years ahead in society.

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