What happens when a contractor used to offering “honey” to politicians is invited to dine with a “High Leader” at Girgenti Palace?

Why is a Minister advised to “go deaf” by a Prime Minister?

How does an importer keep his faith in a new Minister when things do not happen as he wishes?

In his collection of memoirs Jien u Ghaddej fil-Politika, Lino Spiteri the politician gave many a clue on what happens backstage in the world of politics. In L-Onorevoli, due to be released at this year’s Book Fair, Spiteri the author collects his best political novels in one book to breathe more life into these clues.

These short stories first appeared scattered in Spiteri’s seven literary collections, published over the last 40 years. This collection sees them revised and offered to the public as a complete text that runs in parallel with his memoirs.

Nevertheless, it does not focus solely on the Onorevoli found in Parliament, in which he was a representative for 21 years, since he was first nominated at the age of 23. In L-Onorevoli, Spiteri gives life and personality to the anonymous people the politician encounters when making house visits or in his office. These in fact populate the short stories.

The limelight falls on the pensioner who cannot understand why she has to be burdened; the sickly person who is worried that her neighbours might intend to burn her as they burn rats; the old woman who becomes ecstatic at the thought of having her name on the telephone directory for the whole world to see; the aged widow intent on being buried close to her favourite parliamentary deputy; the wife of a redundant worker who lost his job to a surveillance camera; and the man who lived in a derelict house but wanted nothing from the Minister except his willingness to enter his home and accept a drink.

In his introduction to the book, Spiteri says that the book’s title is indeed inspired by the minor characters, and not by parliamentarians.

L-Onorevoli is due to be launched in Temi Zammit Hall at the Mediterranean Conference Centre next Thursday at 6.30pm. George Peresso and Dr Carmen Sammut will be sharing their comments about the anthology; Matilde Balzan Cordina will read excerpts. Charles Abela Mizzi will coordinate the panel.

Printed by PEG Ltd, with a cover design by Pierre Portelli, the book will be on sale on the night at a reduced price.