A new focus

In 1992 I was invited by the United States Information Agency for a four-week visit to the US to follow the presidential campaign trail during the Bush-Clinton-Perot race. We were a group of about 35 persons from about the same number of countries. One of the members was from South Korea. He was one of the student leaders during his university days and ended up with a bullet in his leg. He showed me the mark it left in his left leg.

It took us all the way from Washington to San Antonio to get to know each other well. We went for dinner in one of the restaurants flavouring the Riverside Walk in this city next to the Mexican border. Good food and some good Californian wine and we ended up exchanging our philosophical thoughts about the presidential elections, international politics and what it meant to be on the right or the left of the political spectrum.

There was little doubt that he immediately learned I was quite involved in politics and that I formed part of the left. Then he told me that I was different. Different from what, I asked. My South Korean friend told me I was different from what he had been always taught. He continued to explain to me that during his formation days he was always told that socialists are like devils and they are evil. Then he concluded that meeting me and having dinner with me confirmed how much his education was manipulated due to the Cold War and the North-South Korea conflict.

In the early 1990s I stopped by the Brigata Laburista Club, in Floriana. This club is located near the Floriana polyclinic down by the small granaries. There I met a friend of mine who has always worked in the information technology sector. He was having his hobza biz-zejt as his lunch. We recounted the lost years and my friend pulled me nearer to tell me that socialists are no devils and since he has commenced to have his lunch there he has learned to understand the very good qualities of the working community and why they become active in the Labour Party.

Although South Korea and Malta are so distant in geographical terms, socialists have been labelled as devils in both countries. The British Conservatives used the same tactic against Tony Blair in the 1997 election campaign. The people did not believe the story line and gave New Labour a landslide victory.

What do socialists stand for? And, in particular, what do European socialists stand for? To answer this question I would like to quote the basic themes of the Party of European Socialists Manifesto for the European Elections held in 1999. These were the basic themes:

¤ putting jobs first;

¤ working for growth;

¤ promoting a social Europe;

¤ making the euro a success;

¤ completing the single market;

¤ promoting education, skills and technology;

¤ promoting citizen's rights;

¤ supporting youth in the 21st century;

¤ creating equality between woman and man;

¤ combating racism and managing migration;

¤ ensuring a healthy environment;

¤ developing strength through cultural diversity;

¤ strengthening security and fighting crime;

¤ bringing the European Union closer to the people;

¤ meeting the challenge of globalisation; uniting Europe;

¤ acting together for peace and security in the world;

¤ promoting solidarity with other nations;

¤ reforming the EU's policies;

¤ reforming the EU's budget; and

¤ reforming the EU's institutions.

Twenty-one headings that reflect the people's determination to create jobs and growth through sustainable development in a globalised world, through international cooperation for common peace; while taking concrete initiatives to reform the EU's policies, budget and institutions.

This agenda formulated by the left in Europe does not in any way leave any doubt that socialists can be labelled as devils or evil. More than ever, in Europe we find that the Left in Europe are gaining momentum first through the PES Congress, to be held in April 2004, and, then, reaching the climax during the European elections that will be held in June 2004.

The above-mentioned objectives must find the support of all those that want to vote for a positive change in direction at the European level. It will be our first election for the European parliament and it will be interesting to see whether the Maltese electorate will maintain the high voter turnout as in a general election or, at least, come close to the turnout of the local elections.

The Malta Labour Party has already set the pace by setting up a working group to formulate a document on the MLP's future direction on the EU. The document clearly states that the MLP will honour its pledge to accept the people's will of the last general election and is willing, ready and able to work with Malta as a member of the European Union.

Having accepted the people's decision and the reality of the situation, the MLP shall endeavour to seek the maximisation of our membership advantages while minimising the disadvantages. Having a critical outlook will be beneficial for us all.

Being more European than the Europeans themselves will not yield any tangible results. We must have a new focus that will lead us to the opening of new opportunities for our future generations.