John Dalli’s decision to accept the post for European Commissioner was taken after realising he had no realistic chance of leading a revolt of Nationalist backbenchers against Lawrence Gonzi.
The social policy minister’s discontent with the way both government and party were being run was well known to party insiders.
But many unhappy parliamentarians and disgruntled Nationalists were willing – in varying degrees – to support him in a bid to topple Gonzi.
MaltaToday understands that in the end, Dalli carefully weighed his chances and decided not to try a second attempt at taking on Gonzi. Partly informing his decision was the control by Gonzi’s acolytes of news agendas at PBS and the Times, and his fear of being portrayed as a turncoat and handing over the government to Labour.
As allegations of improper behaviour mounted against finance minister Tonio Fenech and came to a head in the Villa Francia parliamentary group meeting, the probability of splinter group calling for a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the prime minister started growing.
The second allegation against Fenech, involving his renovation works at his Balzan residence, fortified the will of the dissidents to take advantage of budget voting, and to publicly express their opposition during the PN general council.
When Dalli and the backbenchers failed to take the initiative, the chance for a revolt was lost.
For Gonzi, the only way to neutralise Dalli’s threat was to offer him the prestigious Commissioner’s post, even if it meant dumping incumbent Joe Borg, considered to be one of the most effective of Commissioners.
While the post turned out to be the one carrot Dalli found difficult to refuse, he still kept Gonzi guessing as to what he would do next in the last couple of months.
Gonzi has now isolated an angry backbench by leaving them without a rallying voice, eradicating a serious threat to his power – albeit at the cost of a weaker Cabinet.
Run-up to 2008 By nature a cautious man, Dalli’s change of fortune goes back to his startling election result in the 2008 general elections.
He had taken everybody by surprise with the number of votes he garnered on two districts, after spending three years in the backbench following his forced resignation from minister in 2004.
When, in Summer 2007, Joe Zahra, the private investigator employed at TV production house Where’s Everybody, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment over fabricating bribery allegations against Dalli, the MP started to demand retribution from Gonzi.
Gonzi attempted to placate him by offering him the chairmanship at Air Malta. Dalli refused this and simply asked the prime minister to publicly rehabilitate him in front of the press. It would turn out to be a memorable volte-face where Gonzi appointed him as a special advisor and declare that Dalli was the victim of a complete fabrication.
That rehabilitation earned Dalli the respect of disgruntled Nationalists, earning him re-election in 2008 from his Qormi district and a considerable amount of votes in the Sliema district.
But with a one-seat majority, Gonzi was left with no option but to offer a ministerial post to Dalli.
He first tried his luck by offering him the parliamentary secretariat for tourism, a position that the former finance and foreign minister flatly refused.
So he was offered the super-ministry for health and social policy. Together with the other heavyweight Austin Gatt, Dalli was a pivotal figure in the Cabinet in contrast to other new ministers.
But in his first months in office, he now had to face the legacy of previous decisions by Gonzi’s personal assistant Edgar Galea Curmi – namely, over his direct orders issued to companies at Mater Dei hospital.
In private, Dalli joked that he could not touch anything at Mater Dei “because everything was wired” (kollox jixxokkja) – he was particularly concerned with the interference of OPM officials in the running of the hospital and double-dealing with unions.
In public, he bemoaned the lack of funds to fulfil the promises made in the last election: the Pharmacy Of Your Choice scheme was suspended, the registration of surgeons failed as well, the sexual health policy was postponed yet again, and the recruitment of medical staff derailed.
He overturned former decisions, such as the transfer of Boffa Hospital to Zammit Clapp, and looked into the security contracts hurriedly signed before the last election.
When his errant brother Bastjan Dalli was apprehended by police smuggling bars of soap – literally – from a cabin cruiser in what was supposed to be a drug sting, various articles in the press and blogs started suggesting John Dali’s post as minister was untenable.
In the ensuing drama, he was overhead arguing with Gonzi at the Mellieha Nationalist club after one of their Sunday political meetings, in which Dalli declared he would not let the insinuations drag his family down the same path as before.
Soon after the reports simply stopped.
Ironically, Dalli now returns to Belgium, the country which served as his training ground in accountancy. Then like now, it was a prestigious post abroad, more so for someone with his humble beginnings.
In the aftermath of the failed revolt that was brewing, he was presented with the perfect exit from the party he could not lead, and the prime minister who did not want him in his Cabinet.
THE INSURGENTS
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando Articulate and intelligent and the most persistent of the insurgents. Formerly a Gonzi acolyte who campaigned vigorously against Dalli, he fell out with the prime minister in the fallout on Mistra. He allied himself to Dalli in recent months.
Jesmond Mugliett Former roads minister who took the flak for the scandals at ADT and the construction of the Manwel Dimech bridge. He was incensed at the attacks launched against him by Austin Gatt and the ‘puerile’ SMS he received from Gonzi informing him that he would be dropped from the Cabinet. Forced to resign from his architectural firm by Gonzi, he remained close to Dalli before and after the leadership contest.
Robert Arrigo The successful business entrepreneur who is extremely popular in the Sliema district and was elected in two districts. Respected in the tourism sector, he was shunned by the Prime Minister after pressure from George Pullicino. Snubbed continuously by the party machinery, he was a natural ally of John Dalli.
THE LIKELY REBELS
Louis Deguara Snubbed by Gonzi and not reappointed as minister, the veteran Naxxar politician felt vexed by the interference of Edgar Galea Curmi prior to the 2008 election in the completion of Mater Dei hospital. He was distanced from the party and could be a potential rebel.
Ninu Zammit The no-nonsense former minister who was well known for his energy and drive was sidelined following the 2008 election. His illness and ostracism from the party did not help to endear him to Gonzi.
Censu Galea The former minister who suffered the same fate as Zammit and Deguara. Unlike Gonzi, Galea was on the frontline when Gonzi was an unknown and nowhere to be seen in the political arena. In the 2008 line-up he was completely forgotten. His difficulties were augmented by trouble in rekindling his architectural profession.
THE CAUTIOUS REBELS
Stephen Spiteri The young doctor from the 2nd district. He was once a Gonzi acolyte but over the last months he noticed how closely-knit the Gonzi team is. He too feels distanced from the party.
Jean Pierre Farrugia Traditionally close to Gonzi, but repeatedly unhappy with the way he was forgotten and not included in any line-ups. Uncomfortable with Austin Gatt’s arrogance and the party’s exclusive policies.
UNKNOWN QUANTITY
Franco Debono Explosive material, well known for jockeying his position according to his self interest, but strangely constantly wooed back by Gonzi. His close ties with Richard Cachia Caruana made him more of an unlikely rebel.
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