Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/286290
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 MARCH 2014 Opinion 24 T he Unknown Known is a revealing documentary that takes its title from Donald Rumsfeld's infamous 2002 statement about 'known unknowns' and 'unknown unknowns' – words that according to many had led to him being universally derided. In the documentary, the filmmaker was accused of allowing him to play the crafty statesman on his own terms, without ever really making him feel uncomfortable even when faced with the contradictions and absurdities of his statements. Without in any way implying that former PM and President Fenech Adami was our equivalent of Rumsfeld, most biographical experiences tend to bring to the fore both known unknowns and the occasional unknown unknowns too. This seems to apply right across the board both locally and overseas, and 'Eddie: My Journey' proves to be no exception. Were I to try and attempt to pass judgment on Fenech Adami the politician, I would most probably be succumbing to political prejudice and a view that could possibly end up jaundiced too. Of course one cannot lightly dismiss someone who managed to win three general elections, as well as someone who succeeded in ensuring that Malta's accession to the EU became a real- ity. But writing, as I happen to be, literally on the eve of the new Presi- dency of the Republic and the likely changes in key executive roles and functions that, for all I know, might have happened before this article went to print, the book tends to assume a topicality that the author and key protagonist himself might not have deliberately anticipated, planned or predicted. With this in mind, allow me to touch upon some anecdotes and observations that I found intrigu- ing, interesting and revealing in their own way. With the new Presidency being only days away, it is worth recalling how the presiden- tial appointments had unfolded in Dr Fenech Adami's time, in his own words. While Censu Tabone seems to have been the obvious choice for the presidency, he was apparently Dr Fenech Adami's only automatic choice amongst three presidents. So much so that when he offered him the post, he accepted it immedi- ately. Dr Fenech Adami admits to not having even consulted Labour on the issue for two reasons – firstly because he knew the PL would have vehemently opposed to it, and secondly because of a conversation he claims to have had whereby he felt that Censu would be an accept- able candidate to Labour's moderate wing. That a Labour boycott had followed is irrelevant to the choice itself, even though one must admit that Dr Tabone had proved to be a unifying father figure. When the post vacated by Dr Tabone was in turn offered to Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, the former Premier felt that he was the best option. What he did not foresee was that in spite of Dr Mifsud Bonnici's strong attributes, he was adamant that he did not want the post, par- ticularly since he was reported to have told Fenech Adami that he had unfinished business in the educa- tion sector and that was where he would like to stay. One scenario Fenech Adami had not predicted was the reaction by Guido de Marco. Not only did he privately show his concern that he was not considered but then, to Fenech Adami's own surprise, he also raised the issue in Cabinet, arguing that he had refused to offer him the post even though he knew he wanted it and that Ugo was not interested. That Mifsud Bonnici proved to be a good choice was confirmed by the fact that Dr Sant had nothing but praise for him during the 1996 Labour government's short term in office. What many do not know is that when Mifsud Bonnici's term was up, Fenech Adami was seriously considering extending it. Were it not for the PL's opposition to this proposal, de Marco would have ended up overlooked and snubbed for a second time. Guido was only offered the post once Dr Fenech Adami refused a PL nominee for the job. Fenech Adami made the point in his book that there are still people outside politics who he believed fit the bill. He regretted never having managed to put this into practice himself because, he argued rather limply, that whenever he tried to reach consensus, the Opposition always refused to play ball. It seems that he had no qualms about accept- ing the Presidency when this was 'offered' to him days after stepping down as Prime Minister. I was equally intrigued by Dr Fenech Adami's comments about Gaddafi and his regime, his sour relationship with Mrs Thatcher and his choice of the Delimara power station. As for Delimara, he admitted that everybody acknowledged that it was not the ideal location from an en- vironmental point of view, despite going on to back up reports that he had commissioned which said that it remained the 'best' choice in the circumstances. With Margaret Thatcher it was evidently downhill all the way, so much so that relations with Britain improved only after John Major succeeded her. He found her not an easy character at all. He claims to have had quite a clash with her during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malaysia when he took up the subject of climate change. She dismissed his proposal as nonsense. As for Gaddafi, Fenech Adami claims to have always found him pleasant, considerate and a good listener. He states that the Libyan leader never showed any kind of hostility. On the contrary, he was demonstrably appreciative when Fenech Adami was the only head of government from a Western coun- try in 1991 to attend a ceremony to inaugurate the man-made project in Benghazi. According to him, the Libyan ruler had also displayed genuine warmth when they met for the last time while Fenech Adami was Presi- dent in 2008. According to Fenech Adami, Gaddafi was an intelligent, determined man who had some good people around him. These are but few of the unknown unknowns that one comes across throughout his 'journey'. I am sure that there are many others that one can discover. 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What many do not know is that when Mifsud Bonnici's term was up, Fenech Adami was seriously considering extending it. Were it not for the PL's opposition, Guido de Marco would have ended up overlooked and snubbed a second time. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD