Watch: ‘How Can Gozo Progress?!’ – Arnold Cassola Engages In A Cheeky To-And-Fro With Elderly Hecklers At Debate
Independent MEP candidate Arnold Cassola ended up having to engage in more than one debate yesterday in Gozo, with members of the audience heckling his claims against the sister island’s ministers and mentality.
“I’m sorry I’m saying this, I don’t want to insult you Gozitans because I know there are so many intelligent people, but you have three ministers who are competing against each other on nepotism,” Cassola started, triggering three elderly women who had sat down to follow the debate being organised by Lovin Malta and Malta Today at Pjazza l-Indipendenza.
Cassola went on to rip on Clint Camilleri, Jo Etienne Abelaand Anton Refalo, bringing up everything from their drivers to claims made against them. “So with this type of mentality and these types of ministers, how can Gozo progress?” Cassola asked, angering the trio in the audience.
“Now the lady doesn’t agree with me,” Cassola said later, arguing on the merits of debates and the importance of voting. “She’ll go back to the village and she’ll tell them, ‘Don’t you dare vote for Cazzola!’ Because Cazzola doesn’t want hunting in spring,” he continued, triggering laughs from the audience and one of his hecklers loudly agreeing with his sentiment. “But that’s why we’re here – so you can judge us!”
“And this is the moment for you to decide,” Cassola continued, bringing up the importance of voting for third-party or independent candidates on an event like this. “This opportunity will only come once in your lifetime… especially us elderly,” he said, pointing at his hecklers. “You’ll get one chance, now is the chance!” Cassola’s arguments didn’t seem to go down well, however, with one woman being heard shouting back, “He made us rich!” as he went on to stress on the importance of moving away from bipartisanship.
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At the end of the debate, however, it was all smiles and claps, with Cassola even thanking the audience instead and clapping for their involvement while cheekily looking at his hecklers, who went on to congratulate young Labour Party candidate Thomas Bajada instead.
Our next (and final debate) sees us heading to Valletta for one last Ewropej Fil-Pjazza in the capital, happening on 30th May.
What do you make of Cassola’s crowd interaction?
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