Just about!

It is 2 p.m. on April 16, 2003. As I watch the live transmission from Athens, awaiting a part of history to be written, I contemplate on the last 10 weeks - one of the most intense periods for our country. I have been watching very closely the developments leading to this day, especially from a political point of view. As we all know, Malta had one of the strongest oppositions to full EU membership - an opposition which has led to 10 weeks of uncertainty, and the staging of a farce.

On March 8, the Maltese population was called to vote on whether our country should become a full member of the European Union on May 1, 2004. Due to heavy lobbying from both sides, captained by the Nationalist Party, together with the Green party in favour of accession, as opposed to the Labour Party, opposed to full membership, the result was a very close one, although, luckily, a positive one.

The MLP dreamt up an "alternative" to full membership, which they called "partnership". This is where the farce began. "Partnership" was supposed to give our country all the advantages of the European Union, without the disadvantages it carries with it. How, still remains a mystery, most probably also to its inventor.

When the referendum resulted in a significant majority of the population voting in favour of EU accession, I was one of the many who rejoiced, alas only for a short time. When the same inventors of "partnership" coined yet another inexistent fact, "victory for partnership", I was speechless. How could a political party, claiming to be a democratic party, turn an official, democratic result upside down, interpret in its own way, and claim victory? I had dared to suspect that such a thing could be dreamt up by the MLP on the day I heard its leader offer his loyal subjects the option of abstaining or invalidating their vote, rather than vote no and use the power conferred on them by democracy. This was the first of many low blows delivered to the population during the last weeks.

Thus, a date which should have put to rest all uncertainty regarding our future was one which only increased and aggravated the tension that had been accumulating throughout the years of intense negotiations, culminating in an equally intense five weeks of campaigning.

I laughed and cried at seeing how both factions celebrated across the country's streets - both convinced about their sweeping victory.

As I look at our prime minister signing the 4,500 page treaty, fruit of more than a decade of hard work, I feel the joy I feared for 10 weeks I would never feel. I look at the leaders of the other countries and look at them as our new neighbours, not as strangers. I, as all the Maltese, am now a citizen of each of these countries and the citizens of all these countries are now Maltese. It is almost intimidating, in its own positive sense, to think that Malta has now got a population of over 500 million!

A sense of relief sweeps through me as I think how closely we scraped through being present during this ceremony. Things could have been frighteningly different had the MLP won the general election held only a few days ago - a general election which was the culmination of one the most intense and ridiculous five weeks preceding it.

This general election was not like any other ever seen in the history of democracy. There was not the slightest hint of an electoral campaign. The only item on the table was the same which had been on the table for the five weeks preceding the referendum. In all senses, this was a second referendum masked as a general election - ridiculous!

The electoral campaign in itself was probably one of the dirtiest in a very long time. Throughout, both major political parties hit at the other's weaknesses and wrongdoings rather than pointing out its own strengths.

Another hot issue which stood out during this electoral campaign was the Green party, Alternattiva Demokratika. AD worked hard to promote Malta's place within the EU, only to be set aside when the referendum was won. I agree with the PN in refusing collaboration from AD, since it would have definitely portrayed them as a weak party in need of help, thus making them a very easy target for the MLP. What I disagree on is the heavy lobbying against AD's campaign to acquire second preference votes. The PN had very clear polls indicating they would have won the election with at least 8,000 votes, which meant also that, considering the way districts are laid out, the PN would have achieved a considerable advantage of parliamentary seats over its main opponent. This would have given the PN a considerably larger chance of victory, even in the case of an eventual minority of votes, even though the PN did not agree to that.

The next five years are going to be very exciting and will define how our country will evolve to go into a new era. I hope we will be up to it, as we have always proven to be.

The European Union will bring disadvantages as well as advantages, challenges as well as prosperity. It is up to us to accept those challenges and embrace change. Each of us has a part in this, whether we agree with it or not. Only in unity and solidarity will this country take a breath of fresh air after years of highs and lows.

I am confident.