editorial

The life and times of Nationalist backbencher – Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando

Last week the media was overwhelmed by the declarations of Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, a Nationalist backbencher, who has said that he will be contesting the national elections after all.
The truth be told, no one apart from his faithful canvassers and close party PN officials had picked up the news that he had decided to opt out of politics.
When he came clean, the vultures returned, particularly in the form of a run-of-the-mill journalist from another English newspaper who makes it his job to play to spin.
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando must be enjoying the limelight and Lou Bondi has now rushed to the scene to make a killing too.
When Pullicino Orlando complained about the consultative process of the Nationalist party, he was careful not to mention names. Indeed, where and when he was expected to illustrate his arguments with specific criticism he could only praise.
Perhaps the popular dentist is not a dissident after all, but a politician with a chip on his shoulder.
In his interviews in both The Times and MaltaToday, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando’s comments could only be interpreted as a direct attack on the Nationalist party trio: Eddie Fenech Adami, Lawrence Gonzi and Joe Saliba.
To interpret otherwise would be wishful thinking.
Dr Alfred Sant was quick to take advantage of this crack in the wall.
Was Mr Jeffrey Pullicino’s criticism justified? Perhaps, but he will find little or no solace from his colleagues who will not vent their feelings in public. And then, can we expect any different if Maltese political parties have a strict pyramidal and secretive structure?
One should also remember that the affable backbencher was mentioned by anonymous colleagues for being conspicuous by his absence at many parliamentary debates and party functions.
It is a wellknown fact that Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando was basically ‘off’ parliament and the party. More so, he had confided to many that he was irate at not having been offered a junior ministerial job.
Indeed at one point, environmentalists had even openly suggested that he should be appointed as parliamentary secretary of the environment.
He probably would have done a very fine job. But then politics is about loyalty, teamwork and patience.
If the chemistry that governs success in politics is to be taken into consideration, we can never forget that successful politicians reaching the top are those that resign themselves to the waiting game.
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando may have missed this part.
Then again in politics, the equation always changes.
So next time the chemists of spin poke some fun, they would do well to consider all these considerations.
Mr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando’s constituency is a fiercely-fought locality with some heavy weights which include ministers such as Finance minister John Dalli, Education minister Louis Galea and backbencher Michael Bonnici.
In the end there will be victors and losers. Our guess is as good as yours.

Saviour Balzan