Most leaders have their own ambitions in life. Some succeed while others don’t.

Since the beginning of the year it has been long evident that GonziPN’s sole objective was and remains that of clinging on to power at all costs.

In spite of the fact that he hardly has any vision to offer. Many undelivered promises to catch up with. And much of his credibility going up in smoke as time passes by, with hardly any positive movement being registered in his favour either by way of popular support or poll results.

Bearing in mind that some of the GonziPN closest collaborators and consultants  could somehow or other be very close to the mega contractor sector one cannot exclude that financial considerations re government funded projects – not necessarily from his own end – could be at play. Even within his own carefully chosen circle of friends. One can only speculate about such a matter but rumours to this effect are rampant indeed. Not solely within PL social circles.

Were this to be true then one can understand with greater ease why there could be some with vested interests who have every reason why to milk things dry and stretch their life line as much as possible.

The other week I not only came across an interview in a colourful magazine that was evidently intended to kick some fire into the fading image of the Finance Minister, but apart from an unintended farcical comment that ended up as the butt of many a joke when Fenech claimed that he would have loved to be an epic movie director (The Titanic, Armageddon, The Day After and other disaster movies instantly came to mind!) we also came across an even more worrying remark.

That in order to hype up Fenech he was described as Gonzi’s safe pair of hands.

This goes to prove that even the PN friendly media no longer perceive Gonzi himself as the party’s safe pair of hands.

A view that reinforces the true reasons behind his decision not to run again on the 9th district where his level of unpopularity seems to have reached an all time high (or low!)

Last weekend was rather low key in terms of political content.

Due to an event attended by the President of the Republic commemorating the highly respected former Minister Freddie Micallef, the PL moved its customary Sunday morning political event to Saturday evening, while there was very little to write home about regarding Gonzi’s intervention at Ta’ Giorni, particularly about the content of his speech.

Even so the political timelines that emerged from Gonzi’s speech still provided much food for thought. Reinforcing our long held views rather than springing any real surprises.

The ‘sudden’ forced resignation of Commissioner Dalli and the resultant need for the appointment of an EU Commissioner, have now given Gonzi the opportunity to take what ostensibly looks like a logical step forward.

That of not only hoping that Borg’s grilling will be cleared by the third week of November, but also that of linking the presentation date of the budget around the time of Minister Borg’s resignation from parliament and the election of a parliamentary substitute in his stead.

All things being equal, this seems to suggest a December budget with the possibility that even were Government to end up with a defeated budget there remains a strong probability that elections could be held in March. Even mid or late March.

Thus giving the GonziPN enthusiasts (but hardly any of the level headed electorate) the satisfaction to claim that they will have lasted five clear years at the helm of the country. In spite of the internal strife, turbulence and in-fighting.

This time line will make things evidently clear once again.

That they will show that GonziPN’s sole interest is not that of kick starting the economy and or ensuring political stability or peace of mind, but rather that of solely ensuring that there will be no elections held before March at the earliest.

While the PL is strongly committed to support Tonio Borg’s candidature as a Commissioner regardless of any turbulence that his grillings might bring to the fore, particularly in the European Parliament, I also sincerely believe that for Malta’s credibility’s sake, the earliest the Dalligate issue is also resolved the better. No matter which way.

I am not only inclined to agree with all independent editorialists who feel that the OLAF report should be published earliest to let everyone reach his own conclusions, but also that the matter should be satisfactorily wound up with the same speed with which the air had been cleared about another parliamentary colleague of mine – Minister Chris Said. Something which if my memory serves me well had been done in record time.

As the old adage goes, justice delayed is justice denied.

Whether the Dalli saga is as he intimated the beginning of a long and as yet untold story or not, only time will tell; but judging from the vibes in the international media, and the feedback that I have had from people close to Brussels, including members of the various political groupings, it could be that the boat rocking could well extend beyond our shores regardless of whether any local involvement was linked to the saga or not. Prudence dictates that one should not comment on the merits or demerits of the case as well as on the various twists and turns that have evolved these past few days and hours.  Particularly in this instance, I will opt for prudence too. The same way that the PL has done wisely. When the time comes and the issue is debated in Parliament then Joseph Muscat will stick to his word. And give his own account and interpretation  of the whole telenovella.

Which brings us back to GonziPN.

Regardless of whether the Budget will be approved or not one cannot expect them to go to Parliament fielding one parliamentarian less.

This would be as illogical as others tend to be when they lobby us as they have been doing privately to vote FOR the budget in the national interest.

Apart from the fact that no Opposition Party is known to have ever supported financial budgetary estimates in Parliament, this time round there is even less reason to do so since Gonzi himself has publicly gone on record claiming that this year the Budget vote/s will be linked to a vote of confidence.

Where Gonzi was weakest on Sunday was in his handling of questions on the BWSC shambles.

If he was reported correctly he merely stated that criticism of Government’s handling of the power station extension damage went against the national interest.  According to him such criticism could undermine Malta’s position.

The reassurance that government would insist until the very end that it will accept nothing short of a fully functioning power station that is able to meet the demands of the country is far from enough.

That we needed a power station extension was a given. But this in no way justifies the type of extension that we went for.

It was like replacing a former East German Trabant with a spanking new Lada!