What I find repulsive and despicable is the contemptible act of those who are political switchers from one camp to the other. I am referring mostly to those front liners who devotedly formed part of the rank and order of a political party. Those miserable turncoats deserve to be called quislings. (Vidkun Quisling, a Norwegian politician, collaborated with the Nazi invaders in his country and ruled Norway for Hitler. He was charged with treason and his name now means traitor, especially one who serves as a puppet to a government.)

It is commendable that a politician differs and delivers arguments to express his views on various issues and make his voice heard, but that is as far as one should venture. If disagreement persists and if one does not feel comfortable to continue toeing the party line, the only alternative is to call it a day. One does not do the deplorable act of crossing the Rubicon of forgetting all his political background but knows quite well that there will be paybacks and personal rewards.

These hooligans (incidentally, the word hooligan has its origin in the English parliament in 1910-1914 when a group of Tory MPs  known as Hooligans or Hughligans after their leader Hugh Cecil created mischief for their own party leaders), and there are quite a few who crossed over just for personal gain, seem to think that their deeds will be forgotten. They are mistaken since the only thought that comes to mind when their image appears anywhere is ‘there goes that quisling’.

It is clear, when one considers how fiercely they criticized and found faults as if they were the epitome of righteousness, why they have suddenly gone mum and resemble the three monkeys, I see not, I hear not, I speak not, being confronted with wrongdoings and misconduct of all kind of nature. Hail to the papist.

Francesco Simon Mercieca