News | Sunday, 24 May 2009

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Gonzi threatens reshuffle in case of massive defeat

PM’s warning to Cabinet AS POLLS SHOW PN HEADING FOR DEFEAT: ‘GET THE VOTE OUT OR FACE A CABINET RESHUFFLE’

Last Monday’s Cabinet meeting was dominated by a sober presentation of the ‘negative’ showings in the polls for the Nationalist Party, during which Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi underlined the great difficulty in bringing out the Nationalist vote.
Cabinet ministers were secretly not surprised at the outcome, although many were reportedly angry that Gonzi will be blaming them for the expected negative electoral result on June 6.
“He informed us that he would be constrained to consider a Cabinet reshuffle if the result turns sour,” MaltaToday was told.
Gonzi presented disheartening results and urged ministers to get involved in the campaign and take part in door-to-door visits to get the vote out. The privately commissioned survey has revealed the defiance of thousands who will stay in on election day.
But with a one-seat majority in parliament, and so many former Cabinet ministers close to complete disenchantment and detachment from the party, Gonzi’s options for a reshuffle appear close to impossible.
Former Cabinet ministers Jesmond Mugliett and Ninu Zammit are especially annoyed at the way they have been treated by the Prime Minister, when he dropped them from the Cabinet after his March 2008 victory at the general elections.
Nationalist backbenchers Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Robert Arrigo are also angry that they have been ostracised or sidelined.
The 2004 electoral loss at the European elections, which saw the PN down at their lowest with 39.5% of the vote, was followed by an internal report authored by Godfrey Grima.
With few of the report’s recommendations taken up, PN bigwigs are expected to point their fingers at Gonzi for the expected defeat in June.
Many ministers and parliamentary secretaries secretly blame Gonzi for the dire state of affairs – his persistence on the higher electricity and water tariffs in the face of a global economic slowdown has been picked upon by the Labour campaign team, and now most Nationalist MPs are bracing for the worst.
One member described themselves finding “a wall of anger” among the traditional middle-class core of Nationalists as popular discontent keeps overshadowing the campaign.
Not even the intensity of this year’s negative campaigning appears to have made inroads with this class of voters.
According to the survey presented to the Cabinet, carried out by a private company for the PN, Labour is tipped for a landslide victory.
MaltaToday’s surveys have so far provided amongst the most accurate of predictions. Its latest results among voters who have already taken a decision who to vote for, put Labour ahead with 52.5% of the vote, the PN at 39.7%, 5.4% for Alternattiva Demokratika, and Azzjoni Nazzjonali at 2.4%.
In the 2004 elections, Labour failed to gain an absolute majority. An absolute majority is crucial for Labour leader Joseph Muscat who faces his first electoral test and must bolster his chances for the next general election.

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