News 28/07/2002

The MLP will definitely win the next general election

Young, determined and optimistic, medical practitioner Karl Chircop talks to Ray Abdilla

"I have no doubt in my mind that the Malta Labour Party will win the next general election. Too many people are fed up with this government who is delivering nothing whatsoever. The floating voters are growing in Malta and even if one takes it into account that they will be divided, there are Nationalists who will not vote PN next time round.

"I know loads of people, most of them close friends of mine which have been voting Nationalists for ever. Today, they don't want to hear about their party. Most of them are middleclass people or possess a small business venture."

MLP spokesperson on social affairs Karl Chircop, told MaltaToday that the Nationalist government is not being frank with the Maltese people. Government is harping that all sectors are doing well and that the economy is growing all the time. They are also stating that business is still flowing and that people are spending, spending, spending.

Such comments are making the business community more angry. The majority of the small businessmen are practically just making ends meet. Most of these businessmen also know that if Malta becomes a full EU member, then everything goes bust for them.

Despite all this, Dr Chircop said that he sees more of a chance that the EU referendum will receive a backing from the Maltese people, than the Nationalist Party gets the full backing from the people.

He also spoke about the promises the PN made before the elections. Promises, they made especially to people from the South of Malta, promises which were never kept. 'The PN always use the same tactic before the elections, they come to the South, promise heaven on earth and then do nothing, the most important for them is to try and steal some votes.

Dr Karl Chircop lived the first 11 years of his life at Paola, and then he moved to Sta. Lucia were he grew into a disciplined man, also thanks to his now late father Dr Charles Chircop. "Thanks to him that turned out to be the man I am today. Even regarding politics, to some extent I followed his footsteps, as he was also closely involved with the Malta Labour Party.

"Another big thanks also goes to the Brothers of De La Salle College, were I received my primary and secondary education. I owe it also to them as they also taught me discipline," Dr Chircop said.

Speaking of his father, Dr Chircop also that he also taught him that his work should not only consist of a briefcase. This means he was brought up in helping other people, and politics was one thing that he allowed him to come into contact with people and to help them more.

Dr Chircop always tries to help people the best he can, but if there's a problem, he will tell them straight away. "I never tell someone I am going to help him if I know that I could not. I do not want to increase the number of votes for the coming election, to receive a blow at the next polls. That is not my type. I prefer to obtain votes gradually by being honest.

"It was in 1992 that I first took interest in active politics, even though before I had participated in the Kunsill Studenti Universitarji." In that year he was elected vice-president of the Sta. Lucia Labour Party Youth movement.

Within four years he decided to contest the general election for the first time. He did well, and was elected to represent the fourth electoral district which consists of Paola, Santa Lucia, Tarxien, Gudja and Marsa.

"22 months later when the MLP suffered a heavy defeat at the polls, where the party lost votes in every district, I managed to double my vote tally, showing that I did well for Labour." the MLP spokesperson on social affairs said.

Speaking of elections and votes, Dr Chircop said that he believes that the three Labour MPs that represent the MLP in the fourth district are very popular there. He said that himself, Silvio Parnis and Joe Cilia have got their roots now and it will be difficult for anyone to take their place.

"Around 14 candidates will contest the fourth district in the next general election, but I very much doubt it whether there will be any changes. I believe that it will be the same even for the PN. Few will stand a chance against Jesmond Mugliett and Dr Jason Azzopardi.

"It is something that happened to both parties. The Nationalist had two veterans, which failed to continue being elected while the MLP old guard had stopped contesting. The fourth district is made up of young MP's, and that is something successful," he said.

Besides contesting for the fourth district Dr Karl Chircop also contests the second district. The second district is a different story. He can't work as hard as the fourth district there, but despite all this he did manage to finish fifth.

What about the Labour Party, what will it do if re-elected? Will the party take the tough measures it did between 1996 and 1998, which lost it the confidence of the electorate? "Tough measures were also taken by the PN after the last election. The promise of putting the costs of water and electricity bills down, was a lie, the promise of issuing the same stipends was another lie. But what did the government do? Lm5 million worth of children's allowance were scrapped.

Following a Parliamentary question, the Minister of Social Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, said that Lm500,000 were saved after the government caught some people fiddling with the children allowances.

"We totally agree with the government trying to cut off people who receive benefits when they are not allowed to do so. But if half a million Maltese Liri were saved, what happened to the other Lm4.5 million.

"That is not fair, more so when money is being spent for other causes. Lm1 million to MIC, new authorities that are there only as political appointees. A case in point is Security at the Work Place. Six people are employed as security officers and 13 others have been employed by this so called new authority as clerks, messengers etc. This does not make sense," said Dr Chircop.

Regarding the measures taken by the former Labour leader Dr Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici causing havoc in education Dr Chircop said that today it's the same story. No one is paying for private schools. Only a donation may be given. So why all the fuss in Labour days? Perhaps Labour did not have good enough PR and every move the MLP did was interpreted as something which would hurt the people.

Today he said the situation is different, the MLP has progressed into a wellorganised party, from the problems of "Il-Macina" to the new environment of Hamrun.

"The real difference in the Malta Labour Party is that it's more open. The MLP does not mind admitting mistakes made while in government or within the party. Everyone has his own views, look what's been happening with Alfred Mifsud." Dr Chircop said.

Yes, he is in favour of VAT, but the MLP executive following a general conference has to decide the final outcome of such a decision. The Labour Party will be elected soon, and will have to to try to spend less and by employing people for nothing, with the taxpayer footing the bill." he added.

"Moneyspending has to be transparent with every cent going where it should go. The PN is still living a lie, is still spending more than it is putting in. The MLP will be more organised and the money-no-problem attitude has to go."Dr Chircop insisted.

Regarding the Health and Security Act, Dr Chircop said that he had spoken about this issue in Parliament and said that we should do things our own way and not rely on the European Union.

"Some things Malta can do without having to be a member and do them in our own way. Although the government has manned the Department, there have been no fewer injuries and no fewer people dying at work." he said.

Regarding the European Union, Dr Chircop, said that at the moment it is not good for Malta to join.

"The Labour Party has never said that we should never join the EU. At present that it is better for Malta to stay out. It is a lie to state that if we do not join today, then we have missed the bus. A clear example was how we became independent. In 1964 we did not gain complete independence. For that we had to wait until 1979, when we became a totally independent state.

The same can happen with the EU. First we solve our internal problems, which, thanks to Nationalist government, have increased heavily during the last three years," Dr Chircop said.

"Today the situation is that we're better off out. The Employment Training Corporation, (ETC) had received a report from FAS of Ireland regarding how the workers will be hit after accession. The report stated that as Ireand experienced more that 20 years ago, when it first joined, redundancies will have to be the order of the day. This report was kept secret." Dr Chircop said.

He said that it is true today that Ireland's economy has moved in the right direction, but this after being enrolled as member of the EU for such a long time. "Can we wait for that long to improve our economy?" asked Dr Chircop.

On the VAT issue, the MLP spokesperson on social affairs said that this will have to be decided by the party. He referred to Dr Alfred Sant's statement prior to the 1998 elections when he had said that this was the last chance for VAT not to make roots in our country.

"If we remove VAT, it may be a blow for business, mainly because at the moment business is feeling the recession the country is experiencing at the moment. A final decision will be taken by the party soon," Dr Chircop said.

Regarding pensions and the problems that might arise 25 years from now, Dr Chircop said that it's not true that the Labour Party just wants to stay mum and do nothing. "When in government the MLP had commissioned two reports on such issues. It is the way of implementing things that the MLP does not approve.

"The PN wants to encourage people to start paying for private pensions from today, in order to use the same measures they used with children's allowances. From our side we want to do things more professionally and finally see how we can sustain pensions for ever," he said.

Dr Chircop also criticised the PN for not being able to bring new investment to our shores. "Nothing has happened especially in the last three years. We need new investment, new factories and not just internal trade, if this continues, Malta will really go bust.

Even in tourism we need to roll up our sleeves. We have got a Minister who is fast asleep. He does not care whether projects rumble on for years as is happening with the Burmarrad project. And why do we have to work in summer. Tourists are really getting sick of all this," Dr Chircop said.

Asked about his hobbies, the MLP spokesperson on social affairs said that he is nuts about football. He loves English football and supports Liverpool. He said that he never forgets the Liverpool team of the late seventies which had in its ranks the likes of Hughes and Clements.

"They were masters, the best of the lot. I began supporting them when I was seven and even today I still follow them every week. I am sure we have got a good chance of winning the league this year, Manchester United permitting," he said.

He also travels to watch Liverpool play abroad when he can together with Dr Censu Moran, a man he regards as his second father, who ironically is also a Liverpool supporter.