Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/817563
Opinion 25 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 APRIL 2017 going to be an election. And hey, this is what you all wanted, right? Outcome 1: All things remain equal, the allegations remain allegations, Joseph Muscat continues to protest innocence, and we vote. Joseph Muscat wins. Now: I sincerely hope everyone will accept the legitimacy of an election that they themselves called for. I hope there won't be any 'election-rigging' claims or anything like that. Just saying. This was turned into a trial by election... now the election decides it. What would happen to the 'grand coalition' under those circumstances, I honestly can't say. Don't care a fig, either. What I do care about is that the judicial process would still be unresolved. Sooner or later a court will have to decide whether Michelle Muscat owns Egrant, and therefore will have to go to prison for 18 years. Our scenario must now split into two. Michelle innocent, Michelle guilty. The former is a certainty if no evidence is produced. The latter depends entirely on the quality of the evidence if it ever does appear. Either way, a judge will have to decide. If Joseph Muscat is prime minister and he or his wife goes to prison... well, I see that as a serious crisis. How it pans out I can't say, but it won't be pretty. But that would probably be the best-case scenario (looking at it only from the national dimension). Because if she is acquitted... oh boy, oh boy. Where do we even start? I don't even want to think. You will have noticed I mentioned only Michelle so far, and not Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri (even less Brian Tonna). There are two reasons for this. One, my gut feeling tells me the typical Laburist has by now given up hope on the other three. But Michelle? Ma belle? Who swam the Gozo channel in aid of charity? Who radiates in their eyes like an angel descended from the heavens? My gut feeling tells me they still believe her (and I won't go into whether they're right or wrong – not important at this stage). What would happen if the typical Laburist interprets that their beloved Michelle was framed? FRAMED? They framed our Michelle, to send her to prison for 18 years? I honestly don't want to be around if that happens. Second reason is that I'm noticing the emphasis is now shifting away from Michelle and Egrant. Well, it will be shifted back. That was the most calamitous allegation (and the most specific one) and that's the one that will have to be proven in court. I would like to think that the shift in focus is not because the PN is now getting cold feet. If your feet are cold, wear a second pair of socks. The allegation was made, very dramatically on live TV by the Opposition leader; 'we can't prove it because these things are difficult to prove' is just NOT going to wash. There are two other scenarios I can think that would be even more catastrophic. The first is if the PN wins by a landslide – or by any margin – and Michelle Muscat goes on to be acquitted. On top of all the above-mentioned considerations, you would have to add the inevitable conclusion that the PN would have (under those circumstances) stolen the election. I'll stop there, because if you don't see the seriousness of that, I am clearly wasting my time. The second (and I honestly can't think what might happen) is if nobody wins the election. If the result is disputed as it was in 1981 (and EU referendum, etc). Whether it happens along exactly the same lines, I don't know: what I do know is this. We are now heading towards our eighth election since 1981, and we still haven't reformed our electoral system. The problem is still there. And you wanted this to be decided by an election? Under these circumstances? I mean, honestly. This in turn brings me back to the earlier point about healing the divide. In 1987, Eddie Fenech Adami stood on a podium, looked us in the eye and said (something like) 'we will all live like brothers'. Well, 30 years later we can all see the brotherly love around us. Sorry, but this is a failure. I believed him 30 years ago. He failed to deliver on that promise (however much good he did elsewhere). The bigger problem is still there, too. There is a lot more I could add right now: I was f labbergasted that the general response to my complaint about privacy breaches was: 'get whatsapp'. My answer to that is: 'get inzabbabb!' I am not trying to hide my phone conversations. I am not worried that my phone is tapped because it might incriminate me. I am worried that a single person seems to have access to all our private data, possibly through the secret service. Sorry if I over-reacted, but... it spooks me. I might be paranoid, but paranoids are human too, and their sentiments must be respected. Bottom line: I just want to live in a normal country where you don't have to worry about these things at all. I don't think it's too much to ask. The Ministry for Health is seeking to recruit an EESSI Technical Co-ordinator – EESSI (Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information) Connecting Europe Facility 2014-2020. EESSI Technical Co-ordinator Contract • Two year definite contract – 40 hours per week Qualifications and Experience • Be able to communicate in the English Language given that due consideration will also be given to applicants who also have the ability to communicate in the Maltese Language; • In possession of a recognised Master's qualification at MQF Level 7 (subject to a minimum of 60 ECTS/ECVET credits, or equivalent, with regards to programmes commencing as from October 2008) in Information Technology or a comparable professional qualification, plus three (3) years relevant work experience of which one (1) year must be in a management position comparable to Scale 8 level or higher in the Public Service. OR • In possession of a recognised Bachelor's qualification at MQF Level 6 (subject to a minimum of 180 ECTS/ECVET credits, or equivalent, with regards to programmes commencing as from October 2003) in Information Technology or a comparable professional qualification plus five (5) years relevant work experience of which one (1) year must be in a management position comparable to Scale 8 level or higher in the Public Service. Interested persons are to submit their application together with detailed Curriculum Vitae by not later than Monday 15 th May 2017. Applicants who are already in the Malta Public Service must produce a Service and Leave Record Form (GP 47); those applying from outside the Service must produce a Certificate of Conduct issued by the Police or other competent authority not earlier than one (1) month from the date of application and state whether they have ever been in Government Service, giving details. Applications should be addressed to: Resourcing and Employee Relations Directorate, Ministry for Health, Palazzo Castellania, 15, Merchants Street, Valletta VLT 1171. Website: http://health.gov.mt Fax number: +356 22992604 Email address: recruitment.health@gov.mt. Applications can also be submitted through the Online Government Recruitment Portal on http://recruitment.gov.mt by the said closing time and date of this call for applications. More detailed information regarding the above job vacancy can be accessed from the government website http://recruitment.gov.mt and Government Gazette issued on Friday 28 th April 2017. The sole responsibility of this publication lies with the author. The European Union is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. pix pix pix pix