“We are saddened to see Air Malta workers being used, yet again, as a political football.” ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said that whereas before the general election Air Malta workers were promised employment on the same terms and conditions as their Air Malta job, government is now realising that this is an impossible promise to keep.
The media reports that Minister Clyde Caruana is now reneging on the commitment he made with Air Malta employees in February, a few weeks before elections, is testament to a cynical political ploy. It is yet another confirmation that the clientelist political system is still as strong as ever. We have now become used to governments paying lip service to the principles of good governance, but then unashamedly practicing vote buying, reneging on their impossible promises once the election is over.
Dr Ralph Cassar, ADPD – The Green Party Secretary General said that the government’s attitude in relation to Air Malta is another consequence of the PLPN system. “The Air Malta problem is what it is because of years on years of political clientelism. Air Malta has been plagued by this nepotistic and client political interference since its inception in fact. PLPN have milked Air Malta dry. It was their cash-cow in their respective bids to cling to power. We are all victims of these shameful PLPN practices, because our public funds and taxes have been used to buy votes through the Air Malta ‘cow’.”
Carmel Cacopardo concluded by insisting that “political clientelism is a direct consequence of a parliament totally dominated by two parties. They have consistently joined forces to resist electoral reform because they know that a pluralist parliament will mean an end to their nepotistic and client politics.”
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Il-Ħaddiema tal-Air Malta vittmi tas-sistema klijentelista
“Hu b’dispjaċir li qed joħroġ dejjem iktar ċar li l-Air Malta u l-ħaddiema tagħha huma trattati minn dan il-Gvern bħala ballun politiku. Qabel l-elezzjoni wegħdu impjieg garantit mal-Gvern bl-istess kundizzjonijiet li kellhom fl-Air Malta u issa qed jindunaw li dan mhux possibbli.” Dan qalu ċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD – The Green Party, Carmel Cacopardo.
Ir-rapporti fil-media li l-Ministru Clyde Caruana irtira l-ftehim li għamel hu stess mal-ħaddiema tal-Air Malta fi Frar, ftit ġimgħat qabel l-elezzjoni ġenerali juri ħaġa waħda. Juri li l-klijentaliżmu u l-istil ta’ politika qadima għadhom b’saħħithom f’Malta. Għandna storja twila ta’ gvernijiet u politiċi li jitkellmu fuq il-governanza tajba, imma mbagħad jipprattikaw il-politika tal-wegħdi u saħansitra l-iffirmar ta’ ftehim li ma jistgħux iżommu miegħu, kollox biex jinxtraw il-voti.
Dr Ralph Cassar, Segretarju Ġenerali ta’ ADPD – The Green Party żied jgħid li l-attitudni tal-Gvern fil-kwestjoni tal-Air Malta hija wkoll wirt tas-sistema PLPN. “L-Air Malta hija fil-qagħda li hi ħtija tal-klijenteliżmu politiku li fuqu tmexxiet il-kumpanija sa minn meta twaqqfet. Ta’ min wieħed ifakkar fl- attitudni tal-PLPN li dejjem użaw l-Air Malta bħala baqra li ħelbulha sal-aħħar qatra ħalib, u baqgħu wieħed wara l-ieħor jaħilbu bl-addoċċ. Il-qagħda attwali tal-Air Malta hija, iswed fuq l-abjad, riżultat tal-klijenteliżmu sfrenat li mxew bih il-PLPN tul is-snin. Dawn ġabu l-Air Malta għarkupptejha biex jixtru l-voti u jqassmu l-pjaċiri għas-skapitu tal-finanzi pubbliċi u t-taxxi li jħallsu l-ħaddiema u n-nies onesti.”
Carmel Cacopardo ikkonkluda li “l-klijenteliżmu politiku hu frott ta’ sistema ta’ parlament iddominat minn żewġ partiti. Għalkemm kontinwament jirreżistu riforma elettorali sura. Għax pluralità ta’ ilħna politiċi fil-parlament twassal għad-daqqa mortali għall-klijenteliżmu.”
