In our political scenario any politician who takes to task one's own party gets a prepossessing black spot besides his or her name, so there you go, forget Clementia.

Political parties consider themselves performing well as long as the loyalty of their MPs is categorical.  They call devotion what to me is fickleness and falseness. 

Anchoring Ghandi xi Nghid, gives me the privilege to speak tête-à-tête with so many people in politics, MPs, MEPs, candidates, party officials and some or many would be dying to give their thought on some matter or other, which might not be in line with their Leader's mind-set and maybe even more so with the party direction and they choose not to speak up. 

How dull! 

An effective parliamentarian is one who rests on the principle of being a representative of the people, of being grounded and of trying to respond to citizen predicament. 

How can one be a dependable elected official if what matters is appeasing the Party? 

Whilst at times I have my own struggles with MPs who might be criticizing for the sake of being laborious, I still think that as evidenced in the past, a number of issues that were relevant and that had a meaning were raised by out of favor MPs, people who were eventually booted by their own. 

With people in Cabinet I concur that it's different.  These have a collective responsibility.  They are ethically duty-bound to function communally - but this does not absolve the back benchers.

Because politics, the way I see it, is when you say and do something that has a bearing on others. 

Now how does Hon Dr Marlene Farrugia feature in this argument? 

Marlene has been accused incessantly during this last year and a half, of being a renegade and a turncoat, of being  bitter after her partner was scapegoat-ed when things weren't looking too rosy in the health sector.  She has been blamed that not being given a Ministry annoyed her and made her sour. 

If you ask me I really doubt any of these suppositions hold water. 

I have known Marlene for years. 

She really doesn't need me to say this but I have always been impressed by her ability to give the highest importance to everything she commits herself to.

I consider Marlene to be enterprising, creative, assiduous and conscientious in both her professional and political life. 

Like a virtuous politician, in my opinion, she is adaptable to circumstances and always willing to give her maximum in whatever she is engaged with. Apart from that her eagerness to listen to people, to make you feel at ease are qualities that should not go unnoticed. 

She is a colorful person that's for sure and just savors the moment when she notices a small fry and you will see her flying to keep guard.  That's her nature, she wants to champion the 'little guy's' cause.     

 

She takes pleasure in criticizing and pointing out when things go faux pas. 

 

I don't think working in a team, within the political context, is her forte.  She is directive, straight and self-assured.  

I know that some or many will get hairs standing up on their back when I say this - but she has unfailingly demonstrated herself to be the politician that I think makes a strong impression, impact and possibly transform more than the hushed ones at the back. 

Once her political mileage is over, it's true, she will be forgotten, over and done, elapsed. But I think that at the moment she is the best whip the Government could have. 

If the people close to the Government were to listen closely to Marlene and remove their defensive posture, they would soon realize that Marlene would be able to be a good indicator indeed of where the electorate stands. 

In other words, unlike what many might think, I feel that Marlene is not a millstone but an asset.

Being inquisitive, critical and probing in our political spectrum is as rare as a rainy day in July here in Malta. 

With all fairness she is consistent, dedicated and interested in exploring beyond the boundaries of what the traditional political scenario is telling her.

And the unfortunate thing is that the party in Government can't see the wood for the tress on this one and whilst the PN are rubbing their hands, giggling every time Marlene has a dig at the Government, the Government reacts by snubbing her. 

How gloomy.

Let Marlene' speak.  Listen to her. 

Mr Government, you won't stop Marlene Farrugia by pretending she doesn't exist.  With some it will work to ignore, with her it doesn't. 

And apart from that in politics silence is not golden. 

If she is talking crap, flush her arguments with facts. 

I know her enough to say that she will take 'no' for an answer and if she is wrong on the specifics she will admit it.

She will go on till all the tress turn pink if she believes in a cause and will remain true to the details. 

To add to this, if I had to think what she has said so far, I can't think of any argument where she has not positioned a good case and a decent line of reasoning and which wasn't worth 'taking a look at'.

So whilst the main political parties are having a go at each other's line-up (which if they had their way would mean half the Parliament would be out of the building by sundown), we price 'good' politicians, 'loyal' politicians because they toe the party line blindly. 

That is not the political set-up I dream about.  Those are not the politicians that deserve my revere.

Sad. Cheerless, indeed poignant.

Marlene is not a perception - who knows, maybe people like her are good news to a Party?

 

Andrew Azzopardi presents Ghandi xi Nghid and lectures at the University of Malta