The PM and the truth

It is not remarkable that the prime minister and PN leader should tell his interviewer (The Times, October 11) that he has not (yet) taken a decision when to leave. For one simple reason - he has taken it, but is keeping the date to himself. Eddie Fenech Adami observed that by the next general election he will be 74, leading his interviewer to conclude that it was clear he was not considering contesting the next election.

"My choice," he said, "would definitely be that there should be a new leader of the PN in time for the next election."

By clear implication, the choice is not his alone. There is the possibility that Dr Fenech Adami will be pressed, by circumstance or party politics, to stay on as leader of the PN until after the next general election. Possible, but highly unlikely. And he knows that well enough, as I rather think he will demonstrate come the spring of 2005. What is indeed remarkable is the persistent refusal to tackle squarely enough the demands of the moment, and of common sense, that the prime minister stubbornly displays in the face of a grim reality that can be placed in a nutshell.

The economy is limping. Various sectors are in a woeful condition. Our goods and services are rapidly becoming uncompetitive, due to persistent domestic increases in costs as well as to growing competition abroad. The structural deficit in the public finances is turning up again, exposing the fact that it had not really been brought under control.

That hard nutshell is not for the prime minister. He is upset that The Times is criticising his administration. He feels it is "using the government as a punching bag". But can anyone gainsay the truth I gathered in the above nutshell? The premier does. According to him, the truth is that we have gone through a period that was the summer after a referendum and an election. "So," he declared, "after months of having so many stories the media suddenly had difficulty in filling its pages."

I wonder if the Press Club will react to that. But why should it if the Met. Office does not? For the PM also excused the economic situation with an observation that "this was a particularly hard summer, weather wise". The excuses went on. Dr Fenech Adami condescended to "acknowledge" that "there were elements which proved the government's (financial) forecasts wrong." Why? The referendum and election campaigns, for one thing. But was it not clear that these would be held in 2003 when the budget forecasts were made? As for another excuse thrown in by the PM - the weak international economy - though robustness there is not, the premier ignored the global recovery that is taking place.

He also disdained a chance to put his finger where it should go. Questioned about STMicroelectronics, which is moving some production capability from Malta to Morocco, he recognised the implications of reduced profitability, but propounded his sweeping belief that "ST is here to stay". May such optimism make the heavens reflect it kindly, and the STM business strategists too. But was this not an opportunity for the prime minister to stress the crucial importance of being competitive?

He did not see it that way. Having rubbished the media for filling up empty space by resorting to unfair criticism of his performance, he turned round on the business sector. The economy is going through a period of change and this leaves its mark, he said. "It is a fact that we are living in an era when we are in competition with the rest of the world," he added. He went on that, while he would not mention names, "some companies which have been doing extremely well over the years have now realised that there is still competition and they have to react to the situation."

One does not know whether to laugh or cry. But at least, the prime minister interfaced this amazing approach towards the media and the business community with flashes of great political honesty. Preparing us for the coming budget he declared "the country can no longer ignore issues that exist and have to be tackled seriously... We have been seeking interim solutions which have not brought us long-term results." That, he said without mincing words, applied to issues "almost across the board".

Being the chairman and CEO of that national board since 1987, bar a rude but brief interruption of 22 months, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami knows exactly what he is talking about.