Last Saturday I was told by a source within The Times that Vince Farrugia would probably be standing as a candidate for the Nationalist party in the next European Parliament election. I did what every journalist is expected to do. That is, to contact Farrugia and ask him for a comment. Last Saturday, Vince was not answering calls. He did, however, choose to speak to The Times.
To be fair to Ivan Camilleri, this time round he was rather honest in his reportage. He reminded readers of what Vince Farrugia had said and done in his past and how his present decision to contest contrasted with the stands he had taken in the past.
Vince Farrugia is not a silly man, yet he is very ambitious. And what is surprising is that the majority of GRTU biggies are not exactly against Vince’s decision.
This is a free world and Vince is entitled to stand for whoever he wishes and fancies. But his decision does raise a number of questions.
Vince is not exactly the archetypal Nationalist, but he is definitely the prototype Maltese. I am sorry to bother you all again with my Great Aunt, who once said as I twiddled my thumbs: “Ibni, n-nies qishom pinnuri, il-pinnur idur mar-rih u r-rih idur kif ifettillu.”
In other words: people are like weather vanes; weather vanes turn with the wind and the wind changes direction unpredictably.
There appears to be no shame if individuals who associate themselves with those they once accused or abhorred – or better still described in any possible negative form –change completely.
Vince Farrugia did not only hit out at the PN (and I concede that I agreed with him on many occasions), but he led the Nationalist party to the Opposition benches... when, in 1996, he campaigned against the introduction of VAT.
Now Vince Farrugia has considered or is considering to contest with the PN. I am informed that the PN are in full agreement with his candidature.
It goes without saying that all political parties are not interested in the success of yesterday’s in-house politicians: all the political activists who battled day and night, while Vince Farrugia was accusing the PN of being this and that, seem to have no chance in hell of climbing the success ladder.
And why? Because the political parties view the electoral system as a beauty contest, that’s why.
Will Vince, if elected, be of any political value to the PN? There is no doubt in mind that he will. But that is not the point. Will he uphold the PN’s presumably Christian Democratic principles? Very unlikely.
Vince is too independent-minded and too much of a maverick, and the last thing on his mind is to fall into the straitjacket of a Demokristjan. So the million-dollar question to ask is: how does Vince fit in the role of typical Nationalist politician?
Well, he simply does not and cannot.
He is secular, too much of a liberal and surely is at loggerheads with many of the PN’s policies. Probably the same can be said for Labour candidates Edward Scicluna and Marlene Mizzi: they, too, insist that they are independent-minded.
But the whole idea of a political party is not to be independent, but to work as a team for a common ideal. At least that is what we all thought.
I believe that the political parties have forgotten all about their roots and as I once said, they have no idea where they are going or coming from.
But the biggest question of all is the GRTU’s future. Surely there must be a role for an association, a union, a representation, to fight for the rights and concerns of the small and medium sized businesses.
The GRTU cannot abdicate this role. But Vince Farrugia’s candidature is not only unhelpful to the future of the GRTU: it is also untenable.
No matter what top GRTU officials state, the GRTU must be led by independent minds. More so now, when the economic situation and the tax regime introduced by this government – the same political party that Vince wishes to represent in Brussels – is threatening the very existence of so many businesses.
Well, good luck, Vince: enjoy the electoral battles. If you do get elected, enjoy the perks, the salary, the wonderful MEP’s pension, and the prestige. But forget about badmouthing the Nationalists – those days are over and so is our belief that there was such a thing as an independent-minded Vince!
Those were the days, my friend!
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Wanted:
an independent voice News that GRTU director general Vince Farrugia has been approached to contest the MEP elections on behalf of the Nationalist Party will certainly raise eyebrows among those who have closely followed the industry lobbyist’s lengthy career...>>
I did what every journalist is expected to do. That is, to contact Farrugia and ask him for a comment. Last Saturday, Vince was not answering calls. He did, however, choose to speak to The Times.
