Change of the guard. Is it enough?

To be fair to the man who was once referred as Bob the Builder, Saliba has a good sense of what really matters. He was the person who specifically suggested to Lawrence Gonzi that the only way the PN could possibly win the election would be to have Simon Busuttil as a sidekick. 

He would have been more sincere had he told him to his face that many PN folk had lost their faith in the leader, and that a change in leadership would ensure victory.

Richard Cachia Caruana was also all behind Simon. What do you expect? The Cardinal is of course always concerned about his future.

Joe Saliba, in his role as the virtual secretary general in the absence of a real secretary general, remains very influential in the PN.

I have my views of Simon Busuttil, which to say the truth are rather irrelevant. But you can Google them and appreciate my feelings for the man.

The last time I met him he explained (or rather justified) meritocracy by referring to my position as a government consultant over nine years ago as proof that all the spoils did not go to Nationalist dickheads.

Dickheads, by the way, is my word.

Needless to say, I did not reply since I would have valiantly explained to him that in 2003 I voted PN because I was a firm believer in Europe. In 2003 - and remember this - Simon Busuttil told me in the presence of other people that if he militated in politics he would work in a social democratic party. But I guess that does really matter anymore. 

David Casa would understand. Before 1987, I cannot ever recall Casa militating in the PN.

Now back to the contest. Tonio Fenech must be feeling bitter. Well, Mr Fenech must remember 2004, when he personally phoned up councillors to tell them they should not vote for John Dalli because of this, that and the other. 

Today he can be assured that the same thing happened to him.

A new posse of people did the same by reminding councillors of Fenech's history his private jet escapade and the Borg Hedley case, of course, come to mind.

In the very end the councillors voted for the man they think will or could win them the next election.

In the process the ministers have been ignored and ridiculed: Giovanna Debono, Austin Gatt, Mario Demarco, Chris Said, Jason Azzopardi, Dolores Cristina, George Pullicino and so many others have been ignored by the councillors.

Everyone knew that the Prime Minister wanted Simon Busuttil and everyone did what they had to do.

No one really understood why someone like Mario de Marco supported Tonio Fenech, well the answer can only be found in the long-term strategy of de Marco.

He knows that the next election will be very difficult, if not impossible, to win.  Surely he knows that Simon Busuttil will reduce the gap with Labour but it will not be enough.  And he knows that Busuttil will be blamed like Gonzi for the election result.

Then and then alone, the guns will be turned onto the leadership. And it will be next to impossible for Lawrence Gonzi to hang on to his post. Though I do not put it past him that he will try to stay on.  Yesterday as he spoke, I really was about to puke to hear him talk of 'MY' minister of finance, 'MY this,' 'MY that.'  I have yet to see someone so self-centred. It is not all about him. If it was then he should suffer some of the flak like most of his ministers do.

Gonzi's demise is what Mario de Marco of the Strickland Foundation, and supported as always by the Sunday Times and The Times, will be waiting for. He will then go for the top job, as others such as Jason Azzopardi and Chris Said will do.

On Friday evening Simon Busuttil was full of cute buzz-words to describe this wonderful glorious party: but really we must all concur that all these people who waste their lives thinking there is nothing greater than the party are not seeing the bigger picture.

Simon Busuttil is a better communicator than Fenech, but Fenech is not as superficial as Busuttil.

When I met Busuttil last week for an interview I was extra careful not to appear too nasty. Indeed I was a pussycat compared to my usual self.

At one point, when I asked him about the Whistleblower's Act, he said that it had been enacted, when in fact it was not. I opted to keep his ignorance out of the print.  Next time I will not be too kind.

His talk about empowering people with an energy policy in the absence of the government having an energy policy, is also a whole load of bullshit.

When you dig deep, Simon Busuttil is not as prepared as Tonio Fenech. He has the looks and the charisma, but really local politics does not have the frills and 'space' of being a Europarliamentarian.

In Brussels, you talk for three minutes, raise your hand and lower your hand and pretty much nothing else.

In Malta Simon will have to learn to say 'no' when he is expected to say 'yes'.

The real battle that lies ahead now is how he will bring all the cabinet ministers who stood by Fenech on his side.

As one minister told me: "Gonzi joħroġ ifuħ dejjem, aħna qisna bħejjem, dejjem bl-intiena."

***

I said last week that I will give the principal permanent secretary Godwin Grima the benefit of the doubt.

I have to rephrase that statement.

I will not give Godwin Grima the benefit of the doubt anymore.

I have absolutely no idea what other evidence needs to be produced to prove that Rita Schembri is not fit for her job as head of internal audit.

I would however ask Grima one question before we decide that civil servants with minor offences get treated with an iron fist and suspended or kicked out, etcetera.

Rita Schembri seems to be to me more equal than others. And that is not only my perception, but that of many others also.

In the latest news story with whistleblower Joe Borg, I have to say that my use of the description of an overzealous police is really an understatement.

To Fenech Adami, Joe Borg was an important asset and the ultimate clue in understanding the rot that had taken over the Mintoff government.

I would not be too surprised that Joe Borg is unknown to Lawrence Gonzi and his bunch of sycophants who turn to an exorcist every time they see MaltaToday.  Even new comers such as Simon Busuttil would not know Joe Borg.

He is a determined man, and at age 75 he should never have ended up in jail.   That no one, not even Dardir Malta or the queen of bile dared utter a word about Joe Borg and Consuelo Scerri Herrera is a story in itself.

Joe Borg's testimony will be useful for all those who would want to comprehend the intricate involvement of land deals and political influence in the seventies and eighties. 

It happens to this day. I am sure it happened when the ODZ schemes were being drawn up.

But there are few Joe Borg's with the metaphorical balls who come forward nowadays.

When Rita Schembri phoned up the Commissioner of Police, John Rizzo did his duty and acted.

Chief Prosecuting Officer Inspector Pullicino went further - he argued that if given bail Joe Borg would contaminate evidence. What bollocks!

When I see cases like these, I really start to question whether we should start talking about trimming the powers of the police.

What evidence could have been contaminated?  That Borg alleged that Rita Schembri's husband was threatening to kill him?

But it would be appropriate that when Joe Citizen visits the police station and makes a report, he would face the same enthusiasm and swiftness. The last time I made a report about a threat, it took the police four friggin' months to issue a citation.

Joe Borg is one of those people who should be given a Gieħ ir-Repubblika.  Someone who should be an icon for young budding politicians, the fact that he is not is because people and politicians have short memories... and cannot remember how bad it was in the past.

***

That it was bad in the past, does not mean that the incumbents deserve to be kept in their posts.

Simon Busuttil argues that change does not necessarily come with a change in party but more so by a change in people. 

What he is trying to say that you can still have the PN but change the faces.

If only it was that easy.

The truth is that with people like Joe Saliba and Richard Cachia Caruana in the background I really cannot see things changing.

As many disgruntled Nationalists will tell you, the problem they have is with Lawrence Gonzi. Voting to keep Gonzi in is not on the cards for many voters, even though the budget does quite a lot to keep them happy.