People • 01 DECEMBER 2002

From policeman to lawyer to parliamentarian

Many say that he does not see eye to eye with Labour leader Dr Alfred Sant. But Dr Anglu Farrugia says that he works with the Opposition leader quite well even though they have totally different characters. Here he tells RAY ABDILLA why he thinks his party will win the next general election and what changes the country needs to make. A good alternative is lowering taxes and decreasing public expenditure.

"The Nationalist Party will soon be out of office and the Malta Labour Party will again start running the country in a decent manner." Dr Farrugia tells me."The 22 months we were in office helped us a lot to see what this country really needs. Yes, the water and electricity bills were a deciding factor for the PN to win back power. The European Union may sound good especially for the young generation. But the number of new taxes and the manner in which the Nationalists are governing the country will sway the balance in favour of the MLP even though the European Union issue may look nice and inviting. But the people will put their livelihood first and not the EU," he insists.

I meet Dr Farrugia at his office. He is what I could describe as a Jack of all trades and to break the ice I ask him what inspired him to become a lawyer after serving in the police force. "I always wanted to become a lawyer even when I joined the police force. I also wanted to contest the general elections way back in 1981 but the then Commissioner of Police, Dr Lawrence Pullicino did not approve."

"The government had allowed all those working with the civil service to contest the general election. Those who chose to stand for elections were given special leave. So I thought I would do the same. But being a policeman the then Commissioner of Police Dr Lawrence Pullicino did not give me permission because he stated that the police force is a disciplinary organisation," says Dr Farrugia.

He reminisces about the time he was editor of the police magazine. His soft spot: articles about the law. Dr Farrugia had joined the police force in 1977 and had he remained a policeman, he would have terminated his 25 years service in a few days time.

Dr Farrugia says that he was involved in politics since his young days. At the age of 16 he joined the then Labour League of Youth, which is known today as the Forum Zghazagh Laburisti. He eventually became President of the local Labour League of Youth at Mosta. Describing his political leanings Dr Farrugia considers himself to be a socialist left-winger but on the modern side of things. He argues that even a country as big as China has moved from the left and he can’t understand all the fuss about the MLP changing its views on some matters. But in his heart of hearts the MLP was and will still be a party for the workers.

" I am not in favour of our present electoral system. Many do not agree with me but being a small country like Malta, I am in favour of one whole district that includes Malta and Gozo. A voter would choose the best people from both parties. This would prevent intra-party competition on the district level and voters would have a wider choice. One can even vote for both the Labour and Nationalist candidates.."

I ask him for his views on the justice system. His immediate reply is: "It is a joke."

I ask him to elaborate. "We have to put things into perspective. We have to see what the PN has been doing for the last four years and how it has not only ruined confidence in the judicial system but also imposed new tariffs for people who want to file a case in court. A Labour government promises that it would review those tariffs in the interests of the people. What happened last summer is appalling and one has to work hard to bring back the respect the judicial system needs to have."

The Labour Party has lost three elections since 1987 and only retained power for 22 months after its 1996 win. Has the country lost its faith in the workers’ party?

"No, I think the people approve of the MLP’s policies. Although the PN was voted in office three times in the last 13 years, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the PN is better. What they are better at is their public relations. If there’s something I envy in the Nationalist Party is how they use their PR. They are professionals.

"But now the Maltese know what the PN really stands for. They are incompetent and they do not deliver what they promise. In a few months time the people will show the PN that it has had enough of them."

Regarding New Labour Dr Farrugia does not agree that his party has moved to the right. The only difference is that the party is more moderate now and that is because the world has changed.

What about the Mintoff issue? "I criticised Dom Mintoff’s decision to vote against a Labour government in parliament when I spoke at the party’s general conference held some weeks before the last general election. However, I still believe that we are still one big family. After all Dom Mintoff supported the MLP practically all his life especially when he was Prime Minister of Malta," Dr Farrugia answers while trying to walk the tight rope.

Regarding the MLP’s loss at the last general elections Dr Farrugia admits that he is more than certain the party was voted out of office mainly because of the water and electricity tariffs. But now, he insists, the same mistakes and worse are being made by the PN and for the same reason the Maltese would throw them out of office. "The way forward today is to tax less and at the same time decrease public expenditure. The government is spending too much money on things which are not a benefit for this country, but either for propaganda or for other extravaganzas."

But elections are decided by the sway of floating voters. He agrees that floaters have increased considerably during the past years. He also believes that a good percentage of floating voters would vote for the MLP in the next general election because they are fed up with this country being left in tatters. Dr Farrugia adds that environmentwise Malta is in complete shambles. Another minus for the PN, Dr Farrugia continues, is that the PN’s prime target since winning the election in 1998 was that of joining the EU. "Other than that they did nothing," the lawyer insists.
Waving his party’s flag up high, Dr Farrugia adds: "We are different. The interests of the Maltese people come first. We believe in the Maltese first and not in the Europeans."

Back to the electoral hustings. I raise the issue, which is worrying candidates from both sides of the political divide, the changes in the electoral districts. Mosta is no longer with Naxxar, it has been grouped with Rabat and Mgarr, instead.

"It’s a different kind of district. But I am very confident that I will not only make it to parliament but also increase votes. My goals are crystal clear. Being honest to people and working for your constituency is very important and if one doesn’t deceive the people then there is no reason why there would be any trouble in being elected."

Regarding membership in the European Union Dr Farrugia argues that the MLP has nothing against the EU. "My party is very clear about the EU issue. We are for Europe but with our own specific formula. The MLP always wanted the best for the Maltese and the stand it is taking now proves that."

The million dollar question crops up. What if the electorate votes ‘Yes’ in the referendum and then elects a Labour government?

Dr Farrugia says that a decision by the party’s general conference would be the likely solution. "There would be a debate on such a matter where everyone would talk freely. The MLP is very transparent in this sense. It even convened a general conference because of the environment issue."

The Labour deputy understands that the MLP believes more in an election rather than in a referendum to decide the EU controversy but he is certain the people’s will, will not go unnoticed. "But I still believe if we do join the EU now it would do Malta more harm than good. It would widen the class gap and increase unemployment."

And what about the drug scene with which Dr Farrugia is acquainted to through his professional work? He states that although it is a difficult thing to tackle, the Labour Party has set up a commission which includes Labour leader Dr Alfred Sant and himself to identify the best ways to tackle the problem. He adds that it is a problem, which is increasing at an alarming rate.

Winding down Dr Farrugia says that the Labour Party has worked hard during the last four years to find what solutions the country needs and insists: "When in office the MLP will start to implement solutions right away."