JOE MIFSUD: My way or the highway

The only time I met him was in a restaurant in Mellieha.  He was shocked to see me, and he was dying to smoke.  And he did so, after I signaled to him that I would not report him and he could smoke himself to death.  In other words he could do what the hell he wanted.

But Joe Mifsud is not only a heavy smoker, he is more. He is someone who is living in yesteryear.  His arrogance is only equalled to the temerity in the political leaders of this country who think they can act as they please. 

He has decided not to issue an accreditation to one of the journalists who works with MediaToday.  And why? Because Mark Attard, as a probing sports journalist, has been critical of Joe Mifsud.

Joe Mifsud acts as one who thinks in terms of 'my way or the highway'.

In normal circumstances in an election, the candidates do not run the electoral process.  Indeed the electoral commission is independent and usually transparent.  Does Joe Mifsud have something to hide?  And why does he have to decide who gets accredited to monitor the elections? 

And why do the people who hover around Joe Mifsud (such as Peter Fenech who was once a Louis Galea canvasser and knows the art of elections inside out) continue to support Mifsud's mediocre ways? 

I have no interest whatsoever in who turns out to be the next President of MFA. My interest in football is next to zilch. But only this week, Norman Darman Demajo was only given accreditation after his story was suddenly uploaded on the TOM. Mifsud's arrogance has no limits.  Just amazing.  The fact that Joe Mifsud is such a senior official at UEFA goes to prove that this malaise is not endemic.

In the national political election, the accreditation process is also abused and used to control journalists but somehow we always seem to find a place in the Ta' Qali or Naxxar counting hall. 

This silly abuse of power is not limited to Joe Mifsud. It concerns others, a case in point are the recent private functions organised by Gonzi's staff directed by Edgar Galea Curmi at Girgenti. They purposely leave MaltaToday and Illum journalists out of the invitation list.  Not that I am bothered. But it shows a mindset.  A worrying Mintoffian mindset.

I am happy to note that Labourite editors were invited but we aren't. At least I NOW know we are doing something right.