Why de Marco is the best man for the job

It is understandable that deputy leader Simon Busuttil may not be feeling too comfortable with the appearance of Mario de Marco on the PN leadership race. 

And neither - I would imagine - are Raymond Bugeja and Francis Zammit Dimech feeling too happy with de Marco's decision to throw his hat into the ring.

That the race is between Busuttil and de Marco is pretty much a foregone conclusion. 

Personally, I feel more comfortable with de Marco at the helm. Not that it matters, mind, but at least he looks and talks like a human being - which is more than can be said about some of the other candidates.

I'm happy that de Marco has finally decided to go for it. He may not be the everlastingly perfect politician, but he definitely represents what most Nationalists wish to be their typical PN leader.

Mario represents the ethos of the Nationalist: middle class, educated, established, a good communicator, a moderate, indecisive, not impulsive, family-oriented and representative of the old school, with more than a sensitive consideration for the liberal wing of the PN.

Busuttil just does not quite fit this mould. If you ask me, he looks and sounds ghostly. 

He is rigid, and practically unsuited for the public role he so ambitiously wants at all costs.

Simon Busuttil has been pushed into public positions, first as the head of MEUSAC and then as a Europarliamentarian by Richard Cachia Caruana. Cachia Caruana was the eminence grise of yesteryear and the man who has contributed to the rise and fall of the PN, in equal measure. 

And then again, Busuttil was enticed to stand for the deputy leadership after former secretary general Joe Saliba strongly believed that his presence at Lawrence Gonzi's side would block the haemorrhage that was engulfing the PN. 

It did not work.

Joe Saliba - we must remember - was the architect, together with Austin Gatt, of the PN's election campaign. Simon Busuttil was their elocutionist.

However Busuttil did get to enjoy a few - albeit very short - moments of jubilation. His encounter with former deputy leader Anglu Farrugia on Xarabank was a walkover. But that was put aside with Muscat's abrupt decision to do away with Farrugia and to replace him with Louis Grech.

That turned out to be a winner for Muscat.

Mario de Marco will have to work hard to turn the tide in favour of Busuttil with the councillors, the majority of which have been selected specifically by Gonzi's closest supporters. Many councillors are not elected to their committees, but simply plonked there.

When you take a look at the posse who walked into Borg Olivier's office with Busuttil, it is very clear that his nomination is being backed by Lawrence Gonzi. Saviour Sceberras, Carol Aquilina, Ingrid Brownrigg, Caroline Galea and Ryan Callus, among others, are all Gonzi acolytes. 

Thankfully, it is a known fact most of the PN employees favour a change in the party's direction. They blame the financial malaise in the party to the maladministration of Joe Saliba, Paul Borg Olivier and Lawrence Gonzi himself.

Can Simon Busuttil turn the tide?

I very much think not. He represents more of the same. To me, Busuttil is what Jason Micallef was to the Labour Party in 2008: a loser. That he plays his Pontius Pilate act rather well is not up for discussion.

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The news that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will be going on with his budget in spite of the worrying economic forecasts is probably being welcomed by all those who are earnestly waiting for their tax cuts.

Projected income for 2013 is already stated to be far too ambitious, so why go ahead with the budget as proposed by the Nationalist government? I suppose it's because that's what you promised the electorate.

Well, that's not good enough.

The caricature that comes to mind is of someone who does not have the gall to turn to their wife or partner and confess that they do not, in fact, have the money for this year's skiing holiday.

"But love - you promised!" would be the typical hysterical answer.

Which is why all the electoral promises in the election campaign made by both parties were irresponsible.

I'm certain that Finance Minister Edward Scicluna will start asking himself whether the budgetary measures he has to implement will send his projections haywire.

I have a feeling they will.

If, on the other hand, the budget itself could work wonders and kick start the economy, it would be a gamble well worth taking.

***

The decision by Green leader Michael Briguglio to withdraw from his post as chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika points to internecine conflicts within the Greens. I know that in the past both Michael Briguglio and Harry Vassallo were not on the best of terms. Both were renowned for their stubbornness. Vassallo threatened the Greens committee that he would not continue to head AD if Briguglio was allowed into the committee.

That was before 2008. Michael Briguglio continued in his role as Sliema councillor but was so disillusioned with the Greens (in 2008) that he voted for Labour.

Now after a good result - not exceptional, but good enough to argue that electoral reform is a must - Briguglio's decision is illogical.

Though I may not be among his most ardent fans - and have often hit out at his political style - I think that his delivery and focus during the campaign was very good, and his articulation was first-class. He should rethink his decision and stay on to consolidate what he has achieved.

I am not too sure he will take this advice. But the worst thing that could happen would be for the Greens to be led by Carmel Cacopardo. Ommi ma! That would definitely mark the end of the Greens.

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Joseph Muscat's decision to appoint a speaker is of course his prerogative. But his decision to appoint Anglu Farrugia is wrong. He is not the ideal person for the job. Muscat gave Farrugia the job to keep the man quiet.

The role of speaker called for someone with a greater appreciation of the fundamentals governing the role of a speaker.

I am sure it will be only a matter of time before we see Anglu Farrugia's capabilities.

And one important question. Will Farrugia be a part-time or full-time speaker?