Editorial

This is a momentous week for the country but also for the Nationalist Party and, especially, its new leader, Lawrence Gonzi.

Eddie Fenech Adami will officially inform the House of Representatives today he will step down as Prime Minister tomorrow. It may also be his last time in the House itself. Dr Gonzi will be sworn is as Malta's sixth Prime Minister since Independence in 1964 tomorrow when a "new" Cabinet will be announced.

Even very senior exponents of the Nationalist Party have been somewhat surprised at how smooth the leadership transition has been. The reasons are probably many and varied but surely a main one would be the strong desire among the grassroots for a change. Once again here Dr Fenech Adami has been a master in deciding on the right timing when the changing of the guard should take place.

What everyone, especially Dr Gonzi, must now constantly bear in mind is that the Fenech Adami era - albeit so successful on practically every count - has ended. The PN is now entering into a new era and it must be seen to be doing so. The same goes for the country; it too is entering into a new era.

Thus, things must be done differently. What worked in Dr Fenech Adami's time does not necessarily work now; indeed the chances are it would not. Dr Fenech Adami and his party strove to reach a target. Now Dr Gonzi and the PN must work to make sure Malta works within and makes the best from the new era it is entering.

These new times demand new thinking, more creativity, sound decision-making, discipline and a resolve to implement what has been decided. In a nutshell, there is need of a new culture, right from Cabinet level. The expectations are that this will be reflected in Dr Gonzi's Cabinet. Loyalty and indebtedness must make way for merit and ensuring one names the right (wo)/man for the right job.

The same applies to the appointment of a new President. It is now almost certain that President Guido de Marco will be succeeded by Dr Fenech Adami. One can question such a decision on at least three counts.

First of all, Dr Fenech Adami needs a well-deserved rest. In addition, does it make sense to assign the most powerful man in Malta for the past 17 years, at least, to an office that is in the main a ceremonial one? Dr Fenech Adami's political career has been crowned repeatedly.

Secondly, it would be wrong to have a situation in which Dr Fenech Adami can be seen as still being able to exercise some sort of influence on either Dr Gonzi or the government.

The third reason involves the relations between the two main political parties which had a very good start when Labour leader Alfred Sant invited Dr Gonzi over "for a drink" the day after the latter's election.

In his acceptance speech on March 3, Dr Gonzi insisted there has to be a new way of doing politics, one where there will be less confrontation and more dialogue.

The MLP has made it evident it would disagree with Dr Fenech Adami's appointment as President. In the circumstances one can only wonder whether it is absolutely essential for the good of the country that Dr Fenech Adami becomes Malta's next President.

Dr Gonzi must prove from the outset he is his own man. He has been living in Dr Fenech Adami's shadow for far too long now.