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‘Friends of friends’ networks are an inevitable way of life in a small society like Malta’s, MEP Alfred Sant told The Sunday Times of Malta in an interview. During his time as Opposition leader, Dr Sant would frequently criticise PN governments for cronWatch - Sant: Friends of friends is just how Malta works
‘Friends of friends’ networks are an inevitable way of life in a small society like Malta’s, MEP Alfred Sant told The Sunday Times of Malta in an interview. During his time as Opposition leader, Dr Sant would frequently criticise PN governments for cronyism and political patronage in what he termed the ‘friends of friends’ networks. Questioned if the ‘friends of friends’ style of government had been eliminated by Labour, Dr Sant said an island like Malta functions on the basis of such networks. “It is not a good idea, but that is how it works. I do not like it. But that is how it works”, Dr Sant said. The MEP, who served as Opposition leader from 1992 to 1996 and from 1998 to 2008, and Prime Minister from 1996 to 1998, countered that these networks had not come about overnight and he had spent many years deploring such practices. Sometimes, these ‘friends of friends’ did deliver good investment opportunities, he added. “For instance, back in the 1960s ‘friends of friends’ of George Borg Olivier and Dom Mintoff came back to Malta, set up tourism systems and factories that are still delivering now.” The MEP said it was worth bearing in mind that ‘friends of friends’ networks... Read more