Green-faced after Xarabank debate

Extracting  some concrete substance from tonight's deputy leader sdebate on Xarabank may very well be done, albeit with a fine tooth comb and a stiff drink. The reality is that the night is going to be remembered for its painful puerility.

Affairs started off at a fairly civilised pace, but soon degenerated into the usual petty squabbling synonymous with these head-to-head confrontations.

Presenter Peppi Azzopardi kicked off proceedings by asking Labour deputy leader Louis Grech and PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil to name their five "favourite" proposals from their respective electoral programmes.

One thing was immediately clear from this line of questioning. When PL deputy leader Louis Grech has done his homework he can easily hold his own against Busuttil. But whenever the discussion moves out of Grech's comfort zone, Busuttil is visibly much quicker on the uptake.

Grech frequently had to feign that he had not understood the question posed by Azzopardi in order to buy more time to think. Seeing him bumble for a reply was painful to see, but there is no doubt that once Grech has had chance to thoroughly think a question though he can offer an apt reply.

The PN's proposal on out-of-stock medicines is evidently still creating much confusion for all and sundry. Busuttil tonight said that "those who cannot afford to purchase out of stock medicines from pharmacists will not fall out of pocket."

Given that Busuttil is a lawyer, the fact that he specifically said that the measure will apply to people "who cannot afford it" may indicate that the PN's proposal may require some sort of means testing.

Grech was equally vague when asked how the PL would tackle the out-of-stock medicines problem. "The PL will reach agreements with foreign companies in order for the medicines to be provided within 48 hours."

On waiting lists, Busuttil proudly said that the PN had reduced the waiting lists for certain operations drastically. "The waiting time for cataract operations have been reduced on average from four years to one year."

Grech reaffirmed the PL's proposal to introduce a patients' charter, more health centres and roping in of the private sector in order to reduce waiting times.

Sadly the programme soon descended into an extremely messy affair, as both deputies began to take cheap shots about both the past and present.

Azzopardi challenged Busuttil on whether the PN discriminates on appearance, in reference to Busuttil's "you have the face of a Nationalist" moment during a Broadcasting Authority debate.

"The PN does not discriminate on such a basis. My criticism was that the PL is dressing up people in PN clothing," Busuttil said.

The PN deputy leader then resorted to the tired old chestnut of "PN is the real version and PL is the cheap copy". Not content with stopping there, Busuttil went on to mock the PL's change in emblem and the red tie that Grech wore to the debate.

The absolute pits were reached when Busuttil got out a tablet showing the PL's promotional video featuring youths with "masks" on - the ad features a group of youths with the Maltese flag painted on their face.

Grech managed to remain relatively dignified during the whole tirade. "I do not want to be a fake Nationalist. You are not going to ridicule us with this talk. This is an internal party matter. Your campaign is built on attacking our image. It is absurdity at its best. I have not come to a debate in order to defend the fact that my party has changed its emblem," Grech said.

At this point Azzopardi bailed Busuttil out, questioning whether some of the news stories emerging on One TV are part of the PL's "dignified campaign."

The intervention of Alternattiva Demokratika's deputy chairperson Carmel Cacopardo proved to be a welcome breath of fresh air, and seeing him call both leaders' bluff on a variety of issues proved that AD may well have a useful role to play in parliament.

At one point Busuttil said that gay people are not solely concerned on what type of partnership or civil union they can enter into, as work, education and healthcare are also important to them.

Cacopardo took the opportunity to say that both the PN and the PL should come out of the closet on issues such as relationships with contractors and party financing, as these issues interests gay voters as well.

In reply to this, Busuttil promised that the PN will publish its income and expenses for the entire campaign, to which Cacopardo fired back "and what of the barters mentioned by Paul Borg Olivier."

Grech stuck doggedly to the PL's line that the party already published its accounts.