Advertisement
The Maltese Herald
APS : 0.57 AXR : 0.41 BMIT : 0.35 BOV : 1.74 CVS : 1.00 FIM : 0.16 GHM : 0.87 GO : 2.70 HLI : 0.23 HRV : 0.97 HSB : 1.36 IHI : 0.45 LOM : 0.80 LQS : 0.19 LSI : 0.49 LSR : 1.00 MDI : 0.25 MDS : 0.45 MIA : 5.95 MLT : 0.55 MMS : 1.32 MPC : 0.35 MSC : 0.33 MTP : 0.47 MZ : 0.58 PG : 1.89 PZC : 0.63 RS2 : 0.52 RS2P : 0.60 SFC : 6.70 STS : 1.25 TML : 1.00 TRI : 1.12 VBL : 0.20
Culture News Sports
The Maltese Herald

A history of narcissists fighting among themselves

โ€”

by

Mark Camilleri
in

Gradually, independent and alternative political candidates are gaining a reputation among older generations who know them well, as a bunch of narcissists who are always fighting among themselves and can barely unite into a cohesive political group.

I am uploading a photo of ADPD’s previous leader, Carmel Cacopardo because he is known to be the origins and cause of Arnold Cassola’s final departure from ADPD, and Cacopardo has an equal reputation of being unable to work with others. Sandra Gauci’s ascent as ADPD leader was seen by those who follow ADPD closely as a breath of fresh air from the infighting of the past, yet it still dragging it down till this day.

ADPD has a history of toxic infighting and this has hurt its legacy and practical prospects at the polls. Once, it even had a leader who wouldn’t accept to be active within its ranks unless he was its leader: this was Michael Briguglio. Ironically, the person who can mostly lecture ADPD’s members and supporters on how to form political coalitions is Arnold Cassola himself, but he seems to be only able to apply these theories in Italy.

Comments

  1. wish avatar
    wish

    Ghandi zball jew l-Orizzont online ma ghadiex taccetta kummenti? Jekk iva allura veru ma jridux jimimghu lill poplu!

    Reply
  2. Banquo avatar
    Banquo

    I won’t comment about infighting within ADPD because I do not know enough about it. However, I will comment about your implication that Arnold Cassola would have done himself and ADPD a favour had he contested with them. There is, unfortunately, nothing to indicate that this is true.

    ADPD are simply too weak and unloved by the Maltese population to have made a difference in Saturday’s election. Had Cassola contested under the ADPD name, Sandra Gauci would have inherited his number 1s if there had been anything to inherit (there wasn’t) but ADPD would have contributed nothing to get Arnold Cassola over the finishing line because their following is so small. Keep in mind that Arnold Cassola as an independent is more popular than all of ADPD combined, so what could have ADPD offered him?

    It is true that the opposition needs to be united in a coalition, but small parties and independents need to join a bigger force, not play musical chairs among themselves. That way, the small ones bring their niche following to the big party while the big party brings the resources and backing that could be translated into electoral wins.

    There is only one party that could have won Arnold Cassola a seat in the European Parliament, and that is the PN. Despite your criticism of him, Michael Briguglio contested with PN before, so coalitions in Maltese politics are not beyond the realm of possibility. Don’t get me wrong. I am not shilling for the big parties. It pains me to say that we still need to them to get anything done. My top votes last Saturday were all for independents/ADPD, but the bitter truth is that the electoral mathematics does not add up.

    Imagine, on the other hand, Cassola bringing 10,000 or so more votes to a PN/independents/smaller parties of good will coalition. Today, we might very well be speaking about the Opposition having beat Labour in the popular vote, and Cassola may actually have a seat in the European Parliament. But achieving that would mean having to compromise, swallow some pride (on both sides), and smaller parties having to stop blabbering about how PLPN are one and the same thing.

    This is not what those who yearn for a third political force to break through want to hear but, under current circumstances, being a third leg to a party with two is the only thing that can work. Maybe, in the future, a third political party with an ingenious strategy and massive resources will be able to stand on its own, but that is a distant and imaginary possibility. If we want political solutions by the time of the next general election, these are the lines we have to be thinking along.

    Reply
    1. Joseph avatar
      Joseph

      Admittedly through gritted teeth, but yes, I think you are right …

      Reply
    2. Dik il-bicca blogger! avatar
      Dik il-bicca blogger!

      PD had formed a coalition named Forza Nazzjonali under Simon Busuttil and Marlene Farrugia. Right after the election, the newly elected leader of PN, Adrian Delia flushed it down the gutter. My point being that the larger party has to play ball too.

      Reply
    3. John Cordina aka Benny avatar
      John Cordina aka Benny

      ADPD nor any other independent party in Malta succeeds because its manned by idealist who just want to sit around complain but do little else. Those few candidates you see are literally the only people working. Behind them there is normally nobody. No Cassola nor anyone else can change that. Hence why PN and PL continue to dominate. The only way for an ADPD/PD/AD to ever start to make a difference is if it somehow manages to create its own revenue so as to pay full time people to do legwork. PNPL do that and also have an army of lackies begging for favours at their disposal.

      Reply
  3. Ddd avatar
    Ddd

    Is there a way someone can send you something without being published as a comment please?

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *