PN ropes in singing doctor Gianluca Bezzina, university council president

Gianluca Bezzina was the star of the Nationalist Party’s general council as the singing doctor sprung a surprise and stepped in and addressed the meeting at the party’s headquarters.

Greeted to a rapturous applause, a nervous Bezzina urged Malta’s politicians to safeguard the country’s morals, warning that at present, morals are being “redefined and reinvented.”

“It really bothers me that the values and morals that have been in place for several years are not changing drastically. The mentality has become more liberal, and nowadays, whenever an individual feels something is right, he seeks to justify it by advocating a change in law,” he said.

Bezzina’s appearance at the party’s meeting sprung a surprise on several party activists who looked bewildered and amused at the singer’s appearance. But any surprises were short-lived as Bezzina - whose invite is seen as an attempt to mobilise young voters - ditched his soft-spoken approach and delved into the element of morality in today’s politics.

“Morals which have been enshrined in everyday life are being redefined and reinvented, while countries across the world are legislating in favour of these ‘rights’ to get more votes,” Malta’s former Eurovision representative said

The singing doctor urged political parties to do what was right, even if this meant losing votes. He said that it is very simple for a government to fast-track legislation in favour of controversial issues, taking abortion as an example.

“It is very simple for a government to introduce abortion in an effort to increase votes. It is very simple for a government to enact controversial issues to increase its votes, rather than think long term.”

“The Opposition should safeguard morals and should not seek to increase its votes at the expense of morals, even if it means spending another five years in opposition,” he added

Fellow guest speaker KSU president Gayle Lynn Callus called on politicians to embrace political honesty, and to take note of a changing mentality among youths.

“We are living in a situation where an individual’s choices and opinions are being questioned. Whenever someone comes out as in favour of the government, he is labelled as a Labourite, and if someone speaks against the government, he is labelled a Nationalist.”

“Politics should be an instrument to listen to the people. Votes should no longer determine action, but conversely, the politicians’ actions should determine the people’s votes,” he said.

“Political honesty means working for the interests of the country and adopting a politics of persuasion. Political honesty means the parties should have spoken on European issues during the MEP elections, and that the parties should have stayed out of the spring hunting referendum, just as they promised,” Callus underlined.

Callus insisted that it was wrong for students not to be consulted on the proposed university in Marsaskala, arguing that the students’ council only became aware of the project through media reports.

“Young people are not the future, but the present. Youths have much to contribute to society and not simply sitting behind party leaders at some mass meeting,” Callus said.