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MW 30 December 2015

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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2015 News Novelist Immanuel Mifsud says 'Strina 'carnival' demeans President TIM DIACONO AWARDWINNING Maltese author and respected intellectu- al Immanuel Mifsud has harshly criticised the climax of L-Istrina as a "carnivalesque" display that demeaned President Marie-Lou- ise Coleiro Preca. "While I understand that the Presdient is close to the people and allows the people to ap- proach her, she is ultimately the President of the Republic and not Mary who lives next door," Mifsud wrote in his online blog. "That completely amateur pro- gramme rid her of all her ele- gance, which is a great shame because it will serve as great fodder for people who often criticise the President for her wardrobe." Mifsud – who won this year's national book prize for his novel 'Jutta Heim' – is the lat- est critic of the annual show. MediaToday managing editor Saviour Balzan in his column on MaltaToday on Sunday, described it as "nothing more than a travesty", while blog- ger Daphne Caruana Galizia wrote that it is "crass boast- fulness and showing off taken from the personal to the nation- al level". Over €4 million was collected in this year's annual charity tele- thon, and pandemonium erupted on the stage as the record figure was announced at the end of the show. The President's husband, Edgar, started jumping, a band started playing a jovial tune, and balloons were let off into the air. The President herself was soon swamped on stage with people hugging her and jumping up and down with her in celebration. "The last time I saw a similar scene was in the Ta' Qali sta- dium and the Rahal Gdid village square," Mifsud wrote, referring to Hibernians FC's league victory last season. At one point, one of the presenters handed the mike over to Edgar Preca to dedicate a song to his wife, at which point the First Gentleman tried his hand at a lewd joke. "I should have dedicated 'All Night Long' to her last year [instead of 'Not Tonight Jose- phine'] as she kept me awake all night long that day," he said, be- fore dedicating 'You're The Most Beautiful Girl in the World' to the President. Mifsud hit out at PBS for its "amateurishness", arguing that state broadcasters in "normal countries" are examples of ex- cellence. "The Arts Council recently organised a day-seminar about excellence in the arts. The car- nival I saw at the end of 'Strina' didn't only embarrass me, but convinced me that we urgently and immediately need to get rid of tackiness on the state broad- caster." The President (centre) celebrates record 'Strina' donations with her husband Edgar Preca (on her right) Novelist Immanuel Mifsud

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