Muscat eyeing Gozo as PN positions Simon Busuttil to take on PL leader

Nationalists considering Gozo district for Simon Busuttil’s dual constituency, to take on Joseph Muscat.

Simon Busuttil's asset value for the Nationalists is outweighing concerns over inter-party district rivalry.
Simon Busuttil's asset value for the Nationalists is outweighing concerns over inter-party district rivalry.

The Nationalist Party is considering presenting Simon Busuttil, the charismatic and popular MEP, to contest in the Gozo constituency as Labour ponders on whether to field their leader Joseph Muscat in this crucial district.

Labour's move is being interpreted as an attempt to win the constituency, which returns three Nationalist MPs every election, which is considered to be a natural Nationalist stronghold.

PL insiders say that with Muscat heading the Gozo candidate list, they may win back Gozo back to PL. The last time it did in fact belong to the PL was in 1955.

Busuttil's choice of the 11th district, which comprises Lija, Attard and Balzan has already soured many fellow PN candidates who now view their chances of getting elected on the first count as remote. But his 'asset value' to the party - which is in dire need of an iconic candidate - far outweighs worries of internal rivalry between PN candidates on the constituency level.

Nonetheless, Gozitans are renowned for changing party allegiance and Muscat is considering his option seriously to take full advantage of the 'Gozitan electoral culture'.

Polls carried by MaltaToday last month and published in GozoToday show the PN losing 11% of its 2008 voters directly to Labour. On the other hand, only 1% of Labour voters intended voting for the PN.  This represents a massive 10-point swing in favour of Labour, confirming the national 9-point swing.

In the last few days, political campaigning has been intense. The PL has attempted with success to neutralise the Independence celebrations organised by the PN by hosting carefully choreographed 'congress' sessions. They have also held a mass meeting right after the PN mass meeting, which was very well attended. Yet, yesterday's equally massive turnout at the Ta' Qali PL mass meetings was perhaps an indication of how serious the parties will be taking their campaigning.

 

avatar
why would gozitans want to vote to Simon Busittil. What has Simon done for Gozo. Seriously. Get a grip on the situation.
avatar
I think that Ghawdex should vote for its own leaders, so that the Gozitans can compare and contrast who has taken them for granted for the last lousy 5 years!
avatar
m'hemmx dubju li l-buzu jista' jweghidhom hafna affarijiet lill-ghawdxin .....jista' jweghidhom li jhaffrilhom mina taht il-bahar f'temp ta' sentejn (u jinawguraha ma' chris said tan-nadur u jhallu lil govanna ssaffar l-aida); jista' jweghdihom li l-kaccaturi ghawdxin jista' imorru ghall-kacca s-sena kollha mill-1 ta' jannar sal-31 ta' dicembru u jisparaw fuq kull tajra li jaraw; jista' jweghidhom li jibnu kamra tan-nar f'kull rahal minghajr ebda restrizzjoni; jista' jweghidhom li jiftah smart gozo fejn jimpjegaw 10,000 ghawdxi fl-IT; jista' jweghidhom li jaqsmu minn ghawdex ghal malta sa mhux aktar minn ghaxar darbiet kuljum u ma jhallsu xejn; jista' jweghidhom li ghawdex ikollha status preferenzjali fl-unjoni ewropea sal-2099; jista' jweghidhom li kulhadd ikun jista' jibni gabuba fid-dwejra u jaghtuhom permess ghaliha; jista' jweghidhom li jaghti sussidju ta' hames miljun ewro ghal kull opra li jtellghu f'ghawdex; u naturalment ikun ahjar li ma jghidilhom xejn li ..... jekk isir MP minn ghawdex, qatt aktar ma jersaq 'l hemm ghax ikun qata' xewqtu u jkun dahal fil-parlament mhux mill-bieb imma mit-tieqa .......
avatar
Simon challenging the mighty queen Giovanna and the king Chirs in Gozo. The outcome would be very funny cause it will surly be Simon coming in the third position. You don't know the Gozitans yes dear Simon. Think twice cause you'll be a laughing stock.
avatar
Simon vs Joseph............ Fly vs Swatter.
avatar
I can think of many positive adjectives to describe Simon Busuttil - but charismatic is not one of them I'm afraid.
avatar
"PN losing 11% of its 2008 voters directly to Labour" excellent performance by Giovanna&CoLtd. In such scenerio JM will hopefully cast most 1st count PL votes. And for us Gozitans would better have him as our Minister…instead:) Hope he will take care of the slavery type conditions of the jobs we are getting here in Gozo mostly in private but also some State related entities. He has to take extra care of the army of public and civil workers Devoted to the Sant Rita cult…..i.e. do nothing or do another job while on Government payroll. Anyway good luck.
avatar
Igor P. Shuvalov
The big hurdle for the Labour Party in Gozo, is not to get the Gozitan majority, but to have a really big swing to overcome the predominant nationalist voters who are not really regular Gozitan residents but are registered as voters in Gozo. Perhaps the weather would give a helping hand here, although in that case maybe we will in for another surprise by the Government persuading the Electoral Commission ot let these voters vote in Malta.
avatar
if you do decide for gozo saimon, tell us the truth and do not try to take us for a ride like you did with the hunters before we joined the EU. once bitten everyone is being careful of your saintly talk.
avatar
"The Nationalist Party is considering presenting Simon Busuttil, the charismatic and popular MEP"...Intom bis-serjeta` jew???? Charismatic??? Mur itolbu xi pjacir u taraw kemm hu "charismatic". Simon Busuttil is no more than the master's voice managed by remote control by a handful of people (evil clique) at Castille...no more no less!