Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/829524
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 MAY 2017 23 but speaks volumes about the two main political parties and the blind way people used to support them in the past. Following on the extraordinary number of switchers and abstainers in March 2013, this seems to signal the beginning of the end of tribal politics as we have known it. The Russian connection There is never a dull moment on this blessed island – not even during a very calm electoral campaign. On Wednesday the Prime Minister revealed that he had been asked by journalists to comment on a report in a specialist journal 'Intelligence Online' that the British secret service, MI6, and its US counterpart, the Central Intelligence Agency, were 'highly concerned' that the Russian whistle-blower who made the Egrant ownership allegations was part of a move to destabilise the country on orders from the Russian government. This smacks of a plot of some James Bond film and the Russian connection has been the subject of spoofs all over the social media ever since it surfaced. Yet, there are some good reasons why the Joseph Muscat government finds itself in the Russians' bad books. Surely Russia is not happy with Malta selling EU passports to some 400 Russian millionaires. Remember Muscat was first advised not to reveal the names of those who were to be granted Maltese citizenship in the so-called Individual Investor Programme (IIP). Neither was Putin pleased when Malta refused to refuel Russian warships going to Syria. He is probably not happy either with Malta's Presidency role in the acceleration of the EU visa waiver programme with Ukraine – although the timing of this development does not really fit in with the chronology of the Egrant allegations. But does all this lead Russia to organise fake news in Malta in an effort to trip Muscat? The idea sounds far-fetched and more than a bit dubious but the fact that Muscat decided to go public about it cannot be dismissed by spoofs using posters of James Bond films and clips purportedly showing Vladimir Putin playing the PN anthem on the piano. Muscat faces a big problem – the allegation is being laughed off with Simon Busuttil saying that Muscat had lost the plot. Ridicule is the bane of most politicians. Personal experience has taught me that being ridiculed for telling the truth could lead to despair. Time for Joseph Muscat to keep a cool head. micfal@maltanet.net Opinion Ridicule is the bane of most politicians. Personal experience has taught me that being ridiculed for telling the truth could lead to despair THIS IS A PAID ADVERT