It seems that Joe Brincat is reading my blogs: he asks Robert Abela to ask for a vote of confidence from the signed-up members of the Party

Yesterday, the Torca carried an interesting article by Joe Brincat where he refers to what is being published on this site and comments without mentioning me. In his article, he recounts several anecdotes about his experiences.

The last time I saw him was in court. Obviously, I do not know him personally, so we did not speak. I was in court regarding the libel case instituted by Manuel Delia against me. That day Manuel Delia had Therese Comodini Cachia defending him. I recall Joe Brincat was in the hall because he had a case. What I do remember is that Joe Brincat pulled his chair and drew it to the other side of the table to sit next to Comodini Cachia, and were soon talking tête-à-tête like the best of friends. Hence Joe Brincat does not need to pass comments on Joe Giglio as he has done in his article because Giglio used to go on Abela’s yacht.

Nevertheless, the purpose of this article in the Torca was twofold. The first motive is to state that what I write on this site is false. The second reason is to tell Robert Abela to call for a vote of confidence from all cardholder party members. In brief, Brincat is admitting that what others and I write is having an impact on Robert Abela. This is what Brincat wrote translated:

“ I sincerely believe that in this situation, Robert Abela has to face the verdict of the card-holding members; he must campaign to clarify and explain himself for all the lies he has said. He then leaves it up to the registered party members to vote and show their understanding”.

Obviously, according to Brincat, Abela has to explain, among other matters, what and where on this site I have been publishing incorrect material. I wish to remind Brincat that what I am stating on this site is being confirmed by the media weeks or months after the topic appeared on this site. I wish to remind Brincat that he had also criticized me regarding the by-election when Janice Chetcuti had relinquished her seat in the 3rd district for the women’s vote to be allowed in Parliament. At the time, he had made a misleading argument, and what followed was not what he had stated but what I had stated! I recall many Labourites insulting me after Brincat had written his article. 

If Robert Abela wants to take up Brincat’s suggestion and call for a confidence vote from the card-holding party members, it will mean Robert Abela will hit a wall. Abela should shed some of his pride and start building bridges in the Labour Party with those with whom he has crossed swords after becoming Prime Minister. Abela has to stop those around him from influencing him. He has to start acting like Joseph Muscat and listen to all the bells ringing. In various cases, Abela removed serious Labourites from office to replace them with villains. Look at what happened to him with the Land Authority. This is just one debacle. There are more in the pipeline.

Today I have no party. But this is the way forward for Abela. Abela has hurt many individuals. He has ended up like the former French Socialist Prime Minister Jospin. He believes he is the first in class. This is a French political expression to define those presumptuous politicians who do not want to listen.

In stark contrast to Muscat, Abela never sought reconciliation. Muscat had the humility that whenever he made a mistake and hurt people, he admitted he had made a mistake and tried to make amends even if that meant he would find himself in an embarrassing situation. This is what makes a great politician. For the rest, what Brincat is saying is crazy. When Brincat’s suggestion was made by Lawrence Gonzi, nothing was solved. In fact, the situation worsened in the NP because it gave the impression that Gonzi had all the parties backing him when this was not the case.

Robert Abela has to start by reconciling with all those he has fought inside the Cabinet and outside and then carrying out the necessary reforms. This has to be done quietly without a peal of trumpets. Thus, what Abela needs to do is precisely the opposite of what Brincat is suggesting.