Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/810144
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 12 APRIL 2017 News 7 Career Opportunity Iden ty Malta Agency is seeking to strengthen its ICT support through the recruitment of: www.iden tymalta.com Objec ve of the role: The selected applicants will be responsible for ICT network support related to Units falling under the remit of Iden ty Malta. (4) Junior Administra ve Officers (ICT Network and Support). Jobsplus Permit Number: 226/2017 Knowledge, skills and experience: • Applicants must be in possession of a Level 5 qualifica on MCAST Advanced Diploma in IT Computer Systems and Networks or equivalent. • At least one (1) year experience in an IT support role. • Applicants must have basic knowledge of network enterprise security and network infrastructures. • Candidates with CCNA Cisco Network Cer fica on in networking or equivalent, knowledge of eletronics, telephone and security systems will be preferred. • Applicants must demonstrate teamwork skills. Interested persons are to send a covering le er together with a detailed Curriculum Vitae by not later than 22nd April 2017, addressed to Chief Officer Human Resources, Iden ty Malta Agency, Mediterranean Conference Centre, Old Hospital Street, Valle a VLT 1645. Applica ons may also be sent by email to recruitment@iden tymalta.com. Iden ty Malta is a government Agency established through Legal No ce LN269 of 2013. possible themselves with a "nickname". This may sound somewhat degrading and surely a hard pill to swallow for any self-re- specting politician. Still poli- tics is the art of the possible and a 'give and take' process especially when minnows are dealing with a big huge whale like the PN. One still has to see which tangible concessions the PD will win in terms of exposure during the electoral campaign and in terms of policies in- cluded in a common manifesto with the PN. Ultimately coalition making is based on the art of the pos- sible, as clearly demonstrated by coalitions in other Euro- pean countries where junior coalition partners tend to in- f luence policy in a few key ar- eas while using their inf luence to tone down those aspects of the dominant's party's policy which are least to their liking. The most successful coalition partners are not those who constantly stamp their feet, but those who are can inf luence and negotiate. One may also ask whether a coalition with the PN is de- sirable at the moment for any third party. While the PN promises good governance, its credibility on this issue is constantly eroded by past and present, minor and serious misdemeanours. The other danger is that with Labour probably winning the next election with a comfort- able margin, one would end up with a coalition of losers, with the third party sharing the burden of defeat. The PD may well be risking becoming the scapegoat for the PN's defeat in the next elec- tion. The other disadvantage re- lates to identity; the PD is tak- ing a big gamble by embracing the PN after being in existence for just a couple of months. The gamble can only pay off, if the PD wins representation in parliament and only if this party evolves from being per- ceived as Marlene Farrugia's personal party. Too early for PD? For the PD's ultimate problem is that despite attracting some valid elements some of which of a more liberal orientation than the party leader herself, it remains perceived as an elec- toral vehicle for its charismat- ic, strong but impulsive leader. Would it have been wiser to wait for the 2023 election? The answer is a double-edged. The moment the PN starts believing that it can win on its own steam, it will probably be less interested in striking deals with small parties. By 2023 the PN may be strong enough to contest alone and will be less in- terested in coalitions. Perhaps Labour may be interested if it risks losing next time round, but again Labour is much more alien to the whole concept of coalition politics than the PN. What about the Greens? Where does all this leave AD which has been around for nearly 30 years without elect- ing an MP? At present AD's greatest as- set are the experience, track record and the integrity of can- didates like Arnold Cassola, Mario Mallia and Carmel Ca- copardo. AD does not come across as an anti-establishment party. It also lacks the energy and buzz of a new party, which has just entered the political scene. If there is a party which is best placed to win votes with- in a coalition with the PN it is AD, which has always per- formed best in PN oriented districts. For AD the best result ever; the MEP election in 2004 which saw Cassola winning 9% of the vote, which mainly consisted of voters who tra- ditionally vote PN in general elections. The tenth district may be fertile ground for the historical election of a Green candidate, if these voters are given a say in determin- ing which party they want to see governing Malta in the next five years (or at least the chance of reducing the mar- gins of a more probable La- bour victory). Unlike the PD, AD has a his- tory and track record which for voters would serve as a greater insurance against the PN relapsing to its old ways. In the inevitable give and take process, AD may have greater bargaining power in securing guarantees for reforms but to get there it has to sacrifice its purity and swallow some pride. I personally doubt whether the PN is even interested in deal- ing with AD. But the only way to know that is by testing the PN with a concrete offer. What if AD manages to se- cure clear commitments on electoral and constitutional re- forms? Writing in the Sunday Times, AD leader Arnold Cas- sola did not close the doors, suggesting that AD is willing to join a coalition with the PN, if the latter comes clean on party financing allegations and if the parties contest on a common list with a common name and an agreed manifesto covering good governance but also fiscal, economic and social policy. While such a maximalist ap- proach follows a certain logic, it also betrays a reluctance to take risks. Instead the party seems resigned to contesting the next election alone despite recognising the benefits of coalition politics, risking be- ing overtaken by the new kids on the block, the far-right and anti-establishment patriots. There is a real risk that after the next election AD will not live to fight for another day. Neither is AD showing the signs of generational renewal, which would enable it to ride on the crest of a protest vote against both parties. While Marlene Farrugia's PD may be too young to gamble its yet undefined identity in an alli- ance with the PN, AD shows all the signs of political pa- ralysis. Ultimately while the PD may have been so keen on a coalition-perhaps motivated by Farrugia's self preservation instincts that it did not gain enough in terms of concessions from negotiating with the PN, AD which may have more bar- gaining power is either play- ing hard to get or is happy to retreat to the safety of its non- eventful existence. This is a pity because the country will greatly benefit if someone like Arnold Cassola is finally elected to the national parliament where he will be in a position to propose and shape legislation and defend the com- mon good. profits to expropriations fact that 50 days have been given to contest the eviction," Schembri said, stressing that the only prac- tical difference to the law was the fact that the right to contest was now being granted. Another point of contention was the fact that under the proposed law, a person has five years to con- test the value of an expropriation, something the Opposition said was in breach on people's funda- mental human rights. Schembri replied by stressing that the prin- ciple of prescription was a key part of civil law and that even cases of a breach of fundamental human rights are subject to prescription. In addition to this, she said that the law will be introducing new methods for the valuation of lands, with an obligation for property worth more than a certain value be carried out by three architects. She said it was reasonable to expect there to be some legal certainty if people chose not to contest the compensation within five years. The Opposition was also against the President of the Republic ap- pointing magistrates to the ar- bitration board, insisting that this should be done by the Chief Justice. Callus argued that, con- stitutionally speaking, whenever the President nominates someone to a position, this is always based on a nomination made by the jus- tice minister, even if not explicitly stated. "Boards like this should not be appointed by politicians because they will have some degree of loy- alty to the government of the day," Callus said, who stressed that the board in question will have signifi- cant powers. Schembri disagreed stating that it did not make sense for the judi- ciary to appoint the judiciary. "We are living in a country where there is separation of powers. We are talking about an appointment and all appointments to administrative boards are made by the President," she said. AD chairperson Arnold Cassola did not completely rule out colaition talks with the PN