Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/604914
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2015 9 News Flagging allegiance All candidates and MPs who switched parties INFOGRAPHIC MATTHEW VELLA Giovanni Adami, Giuseppe Agius Muscat, Luigi Azzopardi Castaldi, Michael Borg, Filippo Nicolo Buttigieg, Antonio Dalli, Enrico Dandria, Giuseppe De Giorgio, Fortunato Ellul, Edoardo Galea, Ugo P. Mifsud, Antonio Paris, Luigi Preziosi, Giuseppe Vella Oscar Agius, John Cordina, Amadeo Fava George Bonello Dupuis, Pupul Cassar, Joe Quattromani Coronato Attard, Guido de Marco, Carlo Mallia, Antoine Mifsud Bonnici, Enrico Mizzi, Attilio Sammut Robert Girard, John Pace Axiak, Gius Sammut Salvu Buttigieg, Joseph Muscat Albert Mizzi Gontran Borg, Charles Debono, Lino Ellul, Joseph Herrera, Daniel Micallef, Eddie Privitera, Emanuel Salvino, Joseph Saliba, Toni Sammut, Frans Theuma, Wenzu Vella Alfred Baldacchino, John Buontempo, Benedict Camilleri, Giuseppe Schembri, Ian Castaldi Paris Joseph Gatt Giuseppe Borg, Anton Buttigieg, Cecilia Strickland, Joe Apap Anglu Boffa, Bascal Demajo Giovanni Zammit Haber - Carmelo Agius - Karmnu Vella Paul Boffa, Gerard Cassar, Joseph Cassar, Karm Chetcuti, Edwin Craig, Ganni Dalli, Pietru Pawl Debono, Godwin Ganado, Albert Glenday, Guze Miceli, John Raimondo, Joseph Schembri, Ant. Schembri Adami, Giuseppe Zammit Carmelo Farrugia Carmelo Borg Edwin Busuttil, Joseph Diacono, Vincent Formosa, Anthony Montanaro, Tonin Scicluna, Mabel Strickland J.G. Vassallo, Joseph Axisa Gateano Lanzon Antonio Busuttil, Riccardo Farrugia, Harry Fsadni, John Gatt Edgar Soler, Albert Vassallo Beltram Camilleri, John Camilleri, Leone Portellli Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Giovanna Debono Michael Mizzi, Joseph Scorey Armando Mifsud, Ercole Valenzia Alfredo Zammit (CON) Wenzu Mintoff (AD, MLP) Carmel Cacopardo (AD) Alfredo Cachia Zammit Thomas Debono (DAP) Francesco Ferris Giuseppe Micallef (IND, PN) Giovanni Bencini, Peter Paul Scicluna (MWP, CWP) Albert Hyzler Giuseppi Cefai (MWP, MLP) Godfrey Schembri Adami Mabbli Cauchi (MWP, PN) Alberto Abela, Michael Caruana Guzepp Grech (IL) Guze Atard Bezzina, Anglu Camilleri Victor A. Muscat, Marie Louise Muscat Manduca Anthony Seychell Edmond Rizzo Marlene Pullicino [Farrugia] Pio Vassallo (MLP, IND) Enrico Sacco (CON, DAP, MLP) Joseph Attard Montalto (CON, PN, DNP) Joseph Francis Spiteri (CWP, MLP) Joseph Bugeja (CWP, PCP) Salvu Attard (CWP, PN) Paul Portelli (DAP, CON, MLP) Publio Bondin (DCP) Giuseppe Cauchi (IND, MLP) Henry Jones (IND, JON, MWP, PN, DCP) Robert Bencini (MLP, MWP) Carmelo Bugelli (MLP, PN) Paolo Grech (MLP, PN, MWP) Giuseppi Puglisevich (MWP, PCP, CWP) Arturo Valenzia (PCP, CWP, MLP) Giuseppe Hyzler (PN, DAP) Francis Bezzina Wettinger (PN, DCP) John Portanier (PN, MWP, MLP) Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici (PN, PNI) AD CON CON DAP MLP CON PN DNP CWP CWP MLP CWP PCP CWP PN DAP DAP CON MLP DCP DNP IL IND IND MLP IND PN IND JON MWP PN DCP MLP MLP IND MLP MWP MLP PN MLP PN MWP MWP MWP CWP MWP MLP MWP PCP CWP MWP PN PCP PCP CWP MLP PN PN DAP PN DCP PN MWP MLP PN PNI CON CWP DAP DNP GOZ IL IND JON MLP MWP PCP PN UPM AD CON CON DAP MLP CON PN DNP CWP CWP MLP CWP PCP CWP PN DAP DAP CON MLP DCP DNP IL IND IND MLP IND PN IND JON MWP PN DCP MLP MLP IND MLP MWP MLP PN MLP PN MWP MWP MWP CWP MWP MLP MWP PCP CWP MWP PN PCP PCP CWP MLP PN PN DAP PN DCP PN MWP MLP PN PNI CON CWP DAP DNP GOZ IL IND JON MLP MWP PCP PN UPM Party Key AD Alternattiva Demokratika CWP Christian Workers Party CON Constitutional Party DAP Democratic Action Party DCP Democratic Christian Party DNP Democratic Nationalist Party GOZ Gozo Party IL Independent Labour IND Independents MLP Malta Labour Party, Labour Party MWP Malta Workers Party PCP Progressive Constitutional Party PN Partit Nazzjonalista PNI Partit Nazzjonalisti Independenti UPM Unione Politica Maltese Ditching Labour: Bold move or hasty turn for Marlene Farrugia? JAMES DEBONO FARRUGIA'S resignation from Labour enhanced her visibility, and standing as an independent MP makes her a reference for M.O.R. voters and dis- gruntled switchers who are still wary of the PN, but dissatisfied with Labour on issues like meri- tocracy and the environment. But the abrupt decision also weakens her strength as a dissident voice inside government. As a Labour MP she was a thorn in Joseph Mus- cat's side, like Franco Debono was in Lawrence Gonzi's, making more news by defying the party line rather than as an independent actor. She also cannot dictate terms to Muscat, and she is far weaker than Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando who stole Lawrence Gonzi's one-seat majority in 2012 and forced him into a "coalition". Muscat will rebut Farrugia by associating her with the PN, giving him the advantage. Farrugia no longer speaks with the authority of a party member loyal to the principle but critical of the executive. Many backbench- ers in other democracies have defied the party line on par- liamentary votes, especially when they pose no threat to their own majority. Farrugia's own position may have been difficult with her own partner Godfrey Farrugia as the flustered Whip supposedly control- ling MPs. But now she is weaker having divested her- self of the legitimacy granted to her by Labour's electorate (even if she claims she is still defending the spirit of the PL manifesto and that she can represent thousands of voters who switch from one party to the other). Much depends on how the po- litical mood changes in the next months. Hailing from a Labour background, she ran for the PN in the 1990s then switched to Labour in 2003. Now an independent with little real power, she still resonates with the public mood. Courting her to the PN would allow Simon Busuttil to complete the narrative in his favour, his biggest billboard for the next election. But there's no urgency on her part as she bides her time while enjoying the PN's good will. She only risks becoming irrelevant after the media spectacle is over, and if she is left without a vocal platform like Wenzu Mintoff had when in 1989 the Labour whip formed AD. If she becomes the voice for a wide coalition of green NGOs, her power would depend on keeping her distance from the PN. Ultimately she may well decide to keep out of the fray and enjoy the lime- light of her newly gained freedom. As environment committee chairman she dis- tinguished herself by inviting NGOs to grill poli- ticians and government officials; and importantly she convoked the committee to discuss the site se- lection of the controversial American University. Muscat says no but appointing her as chairman would give him a golden opportunity; it's also a Catch-22 to keep her institutionally relevant. Bu- suttil was savvy enough to immediately propose Farrugia's re-appointment, with green NGOs joining in the chorus of approval. This makes Muscat's decision even more difficult: losing the initiative to Busuttil, while turning Farrugia into a reference point for dissent. But an inclusive deci- sion would also score Muscat points with moder- ates and environmentalists. Since the committee is purely consultative, Mus- cat can afford rising above partisan consideration and appear magnanimous, by reaffirming his trust in Farrugia despite her resignation. Tune in to TVM tomorrow Monday at 10:05pm (repeat on Tuesday, 1:30pm on TVM2) for Saviour Balzan's interview with Marlene Farrugia on Reporter, who talks about the Labour administration, her concerns about transparency, and her role as an independent MP. Also interviewed is British High Commissioner to Malta Rob Luke, ahead of the CHOGM summit and Queen Elizabeth's visit; and discussed: IS attacks Paris, and the history of terrorist attacks in Europe. Ditching Labour: