Il-kontroversja li għaddejja dwar min irċieva liema flus mingħand liema negozjant u min għamel favuri lil min bejn politikanti u negozjanti, qed terġa’ tasal quddiemna mkebba bħal dejjem f’ħafna ipokresija.
Il-verità hi li fiċ-ċirkostanzi ekonomiċi u soċjali ta’ pajjiżna, il-partiti politiċi jeħtieġu donazzjonijiet biex jiffinanzjaw il-kampanji tagħhom, u l-istess il-kandidati. Il-kumpaniji jirrikonoxxu dil-ħaġa u jagħtu kontribuzzjonijiet. U anki l-partitarji u ċittadini oħra. Mingħajr dawn il-fondi, il-kampanji politiċi ma jkunux jistgħu jiġu ffinanzjati.
Il-punt kruċjali hu li l-biċċa ma tiġix tammonta għax-xiri ta’ influwenza politika f’deċiżjonijiet statali, apparti mill-problema tal-korruzzjoni.
Lil hinn minn hekk, il-problema hi li l-fondi – inkluż il-provediment ta’ servizzi “b’xejn” – ma jintużawx ukoll għall-użu privat tal-politikant.
Għal snin twal dan ġara fi Spanja, pereżempju. L-istess abbuż, li hu forma ta’ korruzzjoni, ġara.. forsi għadu qed jiġri… f’Malta.
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Charles Abela Mizzi
Ta sehem ewlieni fl-iżvilupp ta’ xandir publiku li hu konxju mill-ħtieġa tal-poplu li jkun informat dwar li jinsab għaddej, waqt li jkollu aċċess għall-kultura u d-divertiment.
Kien ġentlom li minkejja x’seta’ kien it-twemmin politiku tiegħu, baqa’ dejjem ġust u kordjali ma’ kulħadd.
Tassew, il-kordjalità tiegħu anke fil-mod formali kif kien juriha, kienet ġenwina għall-aħħar. Ma tistax tgħid l-istess ħaġa għal kulħadd.
Charles Abela Mizzi kellu wkoll interess kbir fl-iżvilupp kulturali. Niftakru darba jċempilli biex jesprimi kurżità fir-rumanz ta’ Ismail Kadare “April Imfarrak”. Sellifthulu u wara li qrah, għamilli kummenti dwaru tassew interessanti u f’waqthom.
Lil Charles m’aħniex se ninsewh.
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Elezzjonijiet Torok
Nissuspetta li l-Kanċellier Merkel tal-Ġermanja kienet element importanti fir-rebħa li l-partit tal-President Erdogan għamel minkejja kull tbassir, fl-elezzjonijiet Torok tal-Ħadd li għadda. Issa, kontra Erdogan il-kritika fl-Ewropa, mhux l-anqas fil-Ġermanja, kienet ilha tfawwar.
Fl-aħħar xhur, il-klima politika u tas-sigurtà fit-Turkija kienet donnha qed tiżbilanċja lejn l-instabbiltà. Kemm dan kien ħtija tat-tattiċi “awtoritarji” ta’ Erdogan, kemm kien ħtija ta’ ekonomija li bdiet majna, diffiċli tgħid jekk ma tkunx espert fil-pajjiż. Sadattant, il-vjolenza u l-attentati terroristiċi żdiedu fl-aħħar xhur.
Issikkata mill-kriżi tal-immigrazzjoni (li sa ċertu punt, ġabet b’idejha), Merkel daret lejn Erdogan fl-eqqel tal-kampanja elettorali. Riedet li t-Turkija ssostni lir-refuġjati u ma tħallihomx jitilqu lejn l-Ewropa. Saħansitra żaret il-pajjiż biex twassal l-argumenti tagħha. Fis-snin ta’ qabel, l-Ewropej ftit kienu għamlu daqstant premura fuq koperazzjoni ma’ Istambul.
Mhix ħaġa kbira li l-votanti Torok raw dan bħala sinjal li fi żminijiet diffiċli, Erdogan u l-partit tiegħu jirrapreżentaw l-aqwa ħarsien eżistenti kontra l-inċertezza.
English Version – Business and politics
The ongoing controversy about who received money from which businessman and who did favours to whom among politicians and businessmen, is as always, being played out centre stage while shrouded in much hypocrisy.
The truth is that in the prevailing economic and social circumstances, political parties need donations to finance their campaigns. So do their candidates for election. Business firms recognize this need and contribute funds. So do party supporters and other citizens. Without such funds, it would be impossible to run political campaigns.
A crucial point, on the side of the problem, is not to let the donation process become tantamount to influence peddling with regard to public decision making, even as corruption remains a collateral menace.
Beyond such considerations, the problem also is that the monies advanced – including the provision of “free” services – do not end up in the pockets of politicians.
For long years apparently this happenedin Spain. The same kind of abuse, itself another form of corruption, happened… maybe is still happening… in Malta.
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Charles Abela Mizzi
He gave an outstanding contribution to the development of a public broadcasting service that is conscious of the need for people to be informed about contemporary events, while enjoying full access to culture and entertainment.
He was a gentleman who whatever his political beliefs, was always fair and cordial towards all.
Truly, his cordial approach, even in the formal way by which it was expressed, was completely genuine. The same cannot be said for everybody.
Charles Abela Mizzi also had a deep interest in cultural development. I remember how he once phoned me to enquire about Ismail Kadare’s novel “Broken April”. I lent him the book, he read it and came back with some very interesting comments that were spot on.
We will continue to cherish Charles’ memory.
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Turkish elections
I suspect that German Chancellor Merkel played an important role in the victory that contrary to all predictions, President Erdogan’s party made in the Turkish elections of last Sunday. Now, Erdogan had for quite a while been the butt of criticism coming from Europe, not least Germany.
In recent months, the political and security situation in Turkey seemed to be tilting towards instability. Unless you’re a country expert, it’s difficult to decide whether this was due to Erdogan’s “authoritarian” tactics, or whether it resulted from an economic slowdown. Meanwhile, violence and terrorist attacks had grown in number over the weeks.
Squeezed by an immigration crisis (which to an extent she had herself provoked), Merkel turned to Erdogan at a high point in the election campaign. She wanted Turkey to provide for the refugees on its soil without allowing them to leave for Europe. She even visited the country to drive home her arguments. In past years, the Europeans had hardly emphasized cooperation with Istamboul so strongly.
It would not be surprising if Turkish voters saw this as a signal that in hard times, Erdogan and his party would represent the best safeguards against mounting uncertainty.
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