THE ONE AND ONLY

“Arrogance on the part of the meritorious is even moreoffensive than the arrogance of those without merit: for merit itself isoffensive.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

“You have three quarters of an hour, because at five o'clock I will issue a press release. You have either to resign or I shall dismiss you by five o'clock.”

My goodness, could one be more arrogant? And this coming from the mouth of the one and only, the unelected, private-jet loving, Portuguese eurocrat, now top boss of the European Union, already eyeing a third term in his office. It seems that he does not see himself as arrogant but actually as really, really great, the undisputed and indispensable leader of the gang.

The way Dalli was treated by the President is shocking. This was the most odious, shameful and undemocratic way that the EU Commission President, Jose Barroso chose to force Mr. John Dalli, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy to resign his post.

If this is the kind of topmost arrogant abuse that we all, especially we Maltese, would be tolerating and accepting, then it's no surprise that we will be regarded as the submissive and obedient flock of EU tyranny!

And who is this Barroso? He forced Dalli to resign. He promptly approves the appointment of his replacement, Tonio Borg, hardly within time to confirm his credentials. Here, it's such a refreshing change to counteract all your barefaced and boastful declarations by just one angry statement addressed to you Barroso, Von Rompuy and all the other Eurocrats by British MEP Nigel Farage; “Who the hell do you think you are? You are very very dangerous people indeed!” And he continued to aptly warn you that “if you rob people of their identity, you rob them of their democracy, then all they are left with is nationalism and violence.” Probably, the only sane assessment coming out of this place!

So Mr. Barroso sends over Giovanni Kessler, the director-general of OLAF, the EU's Anti-Fraud Office, and Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen to Malta to face the music and give a press briefing of this farce from which nothing tangible could be learnt, except that Mr. Kessler made us laugh. What a tangled web and a pitiful state of affairs!

Without going into the merits of the case, and from what has been divulged, it is evident that Mr. Dalli did not resign out of his own free will but he was forced out against his will. Hence the relevance of the question: 'Did he fall or was he pushed?' Was he the sacrificial lamb? Only time will tell!

I was even more disgusted by the local media for taking up the issue from a most sensational point of view. The only immediate question that they, in their poor and pitiful outlook could find had nothing to do with the seriousness of the case. 'Who is the Maltese entrepreneur?' they all enquired. Aren't we really small? It's true that you can hardly find us on the world map, but don't you think we pretend to think big? It was even more pitiful to note that hardly a voice in proud Malta, by either any political party, the church authorities or any serious NGO (Non-Government Association) was raised in protest for this undignified, unjust and high-handed treatment. Being Maltese is not enough reason to feel proud but I hate to be trampled upon because I'm small!

The Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of OLAF, the European Commission's Anti Fraud Office, has resigned as Chairman. In the light of this resignation, the EPP Group Coordinator in the Budgetary Control Committee of the European Parliament, Inge Grable MEP, has demanded full transparency on the reason for the resignation of the Chairman of the OLAF Supervisory Committee, Christiaan Timmermans, in the wake of the resignation of European Commissioner John Dalli.

"The OLAF Supervisory Committee has to disclose the real reason for the resignation of its Chairman in the immediate aftermath of the resignation of Commissioner Dalli", Mrs Grable said. All honest and bona-fide members of the European Parliament are demanding more transparent and responsible information from Barroso.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Committee for verification of the OLAF report on Mr. Dalli includes Rita Schembri, Director General of the Internal Audit and Investigation Department at the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta. Now Ms. Schembri has withdrawn from her role in the OLAF supervisory committee. Very surprising, isn't it?

Could it be that the pawns of President Barroso are falling?

Even Martin Schultz, the European Parliament President, drew himself out of the whole matter. He refused to comment when asked if he agreed with the way Mr. Dalli was forced to resign. “The matter is between President Barroso and Mr. Dalli”, he said. He should have continued and advised you that you never really learn much from hearing only yourself speak.

"I myself have expressed serious concerns around the sudden departure of Health Commissioner Dalli from his position,” said Nessa Childers, the Irish Socialist MEP who spearheaded the letter calling for the release of the new tobacco legislation. Well, we'll have to wait and see! However, isn't this clear indication that even MEPs have been kept in the dark of Barroso's dealings?

The seriousness, integrity and the backbonestrength of all Members of the European Parliament will only be revealed if they desist from approving any other Maltese Commissioner presented to them before all the cards relating to the ousting of John Dalli are put on the table and that they are fully satisfied that there were no other ulterior motives in this sordid affair. Otherwise, rescinding this rightful option, they would be confirming their indirect involvement in this arrogant ballgame with Barroso as the sole referee.

And why is all this hurry?
Christian Timmermans was the Chairman of the OLAF Supervisory Committee until he resigned on October 22 when Johan Denolf was, promptly and hastily, elected the new Chairman of the Committee

On the other side, Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was very quick to accept these accusations at face value and take immediate action to appoint a replacement (a very doubtful contender) of Mr. Dalli. Doesn't this case of jumping the gun sound fishy? Wouldn't PM Gonzi, besides Barroso, have to resign if Dalli is found innocent?

And putting the cherry on the cake now! The Maltese opposition MEPS, supposedly Socialists, have confirmed their support for Dalli's substitute, Tonio Borg, as alternative Commissioner. Could it be that they know much more than we do and have already delivered their judgement? Who knows!

And finally again to Mr. Barroso.
In all probability had I acted likewise as what you are charging Mr. Dalli with and proceeded to try to gain financially by telling one and all that I'm an intimate friend of Mr. Barroso (which you darn well know I'm not), I wouldn't have made a lousy cent!

Rome did not rule the world forever!


“Arrogance is a creature. It does not have senses. It has only a sharp tongue and the pointing finger.” - Toba Beta

Joseph M. Cachia
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