The barbeque season is not yet over but grilling is still on everybody’s mind.
In Karmenu Vella’s case, the order went from medium to rare but never well done. It was a far cry from his predecessors’ performances.
How credible can you be when you told your audience, in writing, that you voted for Malta’s accession to the EU, even though you actively and publicly campaigned against it?
Vella’s experience helped him slip out of a couple of very sticky moments but the overall verdict was that he was poor on the environment.
Vella has passed the committee hurdle and should also pass through the final one. Once he becomes Commissioner, however, all the environmentalists’ eyes will be on him. His portfolio is very sensitive. It’s top priority for many EU member states, particularly the Green movements in Germany and Scandinavia.
Malta will not be the only country to sizzle this week. Several nominees will be in the spotlight, particularly those from Britain, France, Spain and Hungary who will face stiff interrogations.
Sales gas
You really have to hand it to Labour. They know how to sell. They don’t know how to govern. But they surely know how to sell.
The price of gas goes up... but the headlines are that the price will remain stable till December.
Rewind to January 2011 when Joseph Muscat was the Opposition leader. The headlines read: “PL to hold national protest over gas price increases”. Muscat’s sales pitch then was: “My appeal is for all people of good will to join a movement so that in a peaceful but firm way they can show their disapproval of the price rises.”
What do you suggest we do now, Prime Minister? Let us for a moment switch roles here. If Muscat were in Opposition today, what would he do and say?
First, he would attack the Government for spending too much money on the large cabinet, on wives with abundant salaries who live elsewhere, doing a mysterious job, out of reach of the very people in business who she is supposed to serve.
He would attack the Government for ignoring the rising issue of poverty.
He would criticise the Government for disguising real unemployment by employing too many people within the public sector.
He would pour scorn on the promises about a roadmap which is non-existent, on selling our country to foreigners in secrecy, on not having solved major problems like the public transport while its cost for the taxpayer is trebling.
He would find the time to laugh about a ghost power station which seems to be coming from thin air. All just for starters.
Then, of course, he would organise a major protest. Tony Zarb would appear by his side and they would take to the streets. Muscat would feel good not just because protests tarnish the undisrupted, day-to-day work of the Government but because his photo would have been on the front page of all the papers and made headlines online.
Let’s be honest. People are very forgiving with Muscat. Deep down, many know he is set on an unsustainable course. They still prefer to look the other way. Some say it is a matter of time. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Killing me softly
The atmosphere of fear is spreading. More people are becoming afraid of their own government. Open character assassination, or at least, subtle political bullying, have become the order of the day.
Several persons have been in touch with me to tell me their heartbreaking stories. These are not just core PN supporters. Those have already been dealt with by this Government.
Now the attack is on people who do not express their political affiliations openly.
I promised to keep their stories in secret. I will keep my word. But do not be fooled. Behind the Taghna Lkoll smiles, bombastic speeches, photo opportunities and fashion events, there is a dangerous, underhand effort to shut any potential critic up.