Is this the year of the parrot?

Public opinion is a funny thing…one minute it seems the whole world is against you and then something else happens, the mood shifts, and people suddenly start taking your side.

From what I can see, that is what seems to have happened last night. I didn’t watch Bondiplus live (I just finished watching the repeat now on di-ve.com), however as I was checking FB last night I got a pretty good idea of what had happened.  My news feed was jammed with status updates of people describing a scenario where Franco not only gave as good as he got, but (being the sharp-tongued lawyer he is), he actually managed to wrong foot Lou on a number of occasions.

And it seems we’ve already got the first catchphrase of 2012: “Mela jien il-pappagall tieghek?” (Am I your parrot?)

Lou Bondi invited Franco Debono on a special edition of the programme, with longer airtime than usual for a one on one interview. But if Lou thought it was going to be an easy ride, with him taking the piss out of Franco at every turn, I think he miscalculated greatly. It is very easy to mock the man for showing reporters his Form 2 report card, but once you stop smirking about that and wondering what the hell he was thinking, and start listening to what he is actually saying, it’s a different story.

The fact is that the issues which Franco Debono has been raising with the PM over the years are all issues close to the electorate’s heart, and by trying to trivialise them, Lou only came across as being hopelessly out of synch with viewers.

Is Franco brash, ambitious, arrogant, rude and supremely full of himself?  I would say yes to all of these descriptions. But then, frankly, so is Austin Gatt and his admirers tell us that that’s what makes his bulldozer tactics so effective in getting things done.

I’m not saying Franco Debono is going about this the right way. (Incidentally, the mobile going off every few minutes to show he has support was a childish ploy and we could have done without it.)

I’m merely interpreting how the programme unfolded  last night, and my reading of it is that while Franco started off rather agitated and jumpy, within 15 minutes, he had completely taken control of the discussion, much as he probably does in the courtroom as a criminal lawyer. He was in his element, he was sharp, quick and never let any remark by Lou slip by. In contrast Lou Bondi was caught off guard several times,  as his guest gained momentum.

Of course, viewers will interpret the programme differently depending on whose side they’re on, but what I saw from FB is that there were those who were initially sceptical of Franco who suddenly sat up and took notice, pointing out that what he was saying makes sense. And I have no doubt that some of the cheering for Franco had to do with the fact that Lou Bondi rubs a lot of people the wrong way for various reasons. I also think that it’s in people ‘s instinct to root for the underdog and with everyone ganging up on Franco, their perception towards him changed.

But there you have it, one interview programme and suddenly Franco Debono is not the mentally unstable man  some have made him out to be.  He’s a unique, colourful character definitely, but then so is Boris Johnson (London’s mayor).

What I think people admire about him is the fact that he speaks his mind and is fearless, which makes quite a change from the bland, boring, careful politicians who try to please everyone and never stick their neck out (but never get anything done either).

Whether or not Malta goes for an early election, one thing is for sure: Last night’s edition of Bondiplus was a turning point, and the scales seem to have tipped in favour of Franco Debono.

I leave you with a cartoon from cartoonist Bertu, used with his permission of course.