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Malta’s face in Brussels is Mr Richard Cachia Caruana. This controversial man is not only known for his energy and control freakism, but also for his inability to converse in proper Maltese.
Yet Malta’s permanent envoy to the European Union had to his credit, managed to convince the Commission, to recognise Maltese as an official language.
It is true that the Maltese language is one of the strongest assets in strengthening our national identity, it is a beautiful language and it is a miracle that it has survived and developed so far.
Yet, there is no denying that most government documents and discussions on a higher level take place in English and the use of the Maltese language in the Commission is simply a question of national pride. Just in the same way, the French use their language in the Commission to prove a point when all participants in a discussion speak and understand English.
Before April 2003, the Nationalist party was in dire need of political points to convince the electorate of their negotiating prowess. The Maltese language was one of them.
Now, that the national election is no longer an issue, the first exemption Mr Cachia Caruana has rushed to request is a derogation to a language he mumbles and jumbles with. To be fair to Mr Cachia Caruana the vast amount of legal documents that need translation cannot be organised in time because there aren’t the translators. But fairness apart, this is yet another one of those political games that the Nationalists are excellent at.
Endorsements
In the media, everyone seems to be endorsing their own candidate. I will not be endorsing anyone, but then I won’t be endorsing the establishment. Which is as good as saying something else I guess.
The other day, a certain Stefano Mallia discreetly made a comparison between Debono Grech and Simon Busuttil and give a guess on whose side he was on. Stefano Mallia is obviously on Dr Busuttil’s bandwagon, as are a number of PBS journalists, MIC officials and other former Europhile folk.
Now comparing like with like, Dr Busuttil is a winner. Good mannered, one would think, a moderate one had hoped, a good communicator and a pillar of honesty.
Debono Grech on the other hand is gruff, untrimmed and of the old school.
But my great aunt always insisted that looks are not everything in life.
In the European Parliament, Malta needs real representatives not plaster of paris ones; rottweilers not pocket dogs. Political animals willing to dig their teeth deep into problems and not only squeak and bare their teeth.
Despite Debono Grech’s portrayal as a man of old Labour, it was this B’kara based politician who stood up to the white taxi drivers and told them to go to hell.
When the Erika sank off Brittany and the French opted for treating Malta like some former colony, Debono Grech was on all fours supporting his Nationalist counterpart and making it known that he was not going to take any **** from the frogs.
The European Parliament is not a University lecture room - it is a market place. And with our minuscule size and inferiority complex we need reps that will fight for us tooth and nail.
Now, everyone is free to vote as he pleases, perhaps Debono Grech is not the right choice for Nationalists sick and tired of their party after all, and that I can understand. Nevertheless, it is not boys in pretty suits with plastic smiles that Malta needs, but outspoken, hard nosed, experienced animals willing to battle it out against an institution that would otherwise run roughshod over Malta and the Maltese.
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