Testing people's maturity

Once again we are about to exercise our democratic right. On Saturday, the objectives are two: to elect five Members of the European Parliament for a five-year term and, in the case of a third of the electorate, to elect 22 local councils for a three-year-term.

The issues involved in these two simultaneous elections are completely different. As a new member of the EU, Malta is entitled to five representatives in the European Parliament, which will now have 732 members. In a way, these five MEPs will be another tiny link between the EU Commission and member countries; how effective a link depends on the people who are elected.

Local elections mainly centre on local and regional issues; and it is important to note that local councils' powers have been increased consistently. But local elections are determined by parties' political strength rather than local issues. As a result, their outcome depends on the performance by Government and Opposition, the parties' core support and people's perception of their needs.

Normally, there turnout for local elections is lower, since people do not attach much importance to local problems. Yet, the stakes for the two major party leaders are high. This is Dr Lawrence Gonzi's first test since assuming the Nationalist Party leadership and the premiership. He has to show his mettle and prove he can arouse people's imagination, eliciting co-operation and support. The votes obtained for the PN will determine whether he has succeeded or not.

Dr Alfred Sant has a greater hurdle to overcome. Though he believes he should not encounter any problems on the domestic front as Government's economic performance comes to his rescue, he has to convince the electorate, including Labour supporters, on the new MLP strategy for the EU.

The period between the referendum and the European Parliamentary election is too short for people to forget his strong stand against EU membership. Apparently, his party is aiming at convincing the electorate that Government's economic performance should influence people his way in both elections. It is clear that the Euro Parliament election has eclipsed that for the local councils, judging by local newspapers and television.

There are a number of reasons for this. Electing five candidates to the European Parliament for the first time is an historical event in itself. A new experience to EP candidates is that of having to contest an election on a national scale. Of the 27 candidates, only three held ministerial portfolios; and two of them are sitting MPs.

This approach makes it extremely difficult for candidates to meet all the people. They have to rely more on distributing publicity material to voters across Malta and Gozo since making personal contact with everyone is not possible. Its cost is likely to be phenomenal and its distribution equally problematic, given the unreliability of the postal service. The best bet for them is to rely on the mass media to make an impact on the electorate. This also implies that the parties have to shoulder greater responsibilities for their 17 candidates.

It can be imagined what difficulties the independents and those representing new 'parties' have in contesting the EP election. Some appeal because of the issues they are campaigning about; others have no ideological or popular content to fall back on.

Their persistence is noteworthy, however. It seems they want to convey a message to the country and, particularly, to the established parties. As they make up 10 of the total of 27 candidates, their message cannot be ignored. They seem to say that the country is fed up of having the two parties monopolising the media, moulding our minds according to their whims rather than the country's needs, and having an inner circle that is not accessible to people who can be effective and contribute to the national well-being.

They seem to be telling us that the two major parties should shoulder responsibility for Malta's economic malaise as they have ruled uninterruptedly since independence; intrigues, corruption, nepotism and vested interests are rampant in Maltese life and evident for all to see; bureaucracy, negligence and irresponsibility have polluted people's activities. Meritocracy has lost its meaning; dedication and hard work to achieve results are considered useless. Knowing how the system works is the most crucial element to advance one's career.

The result of last year's referendum on EU membership may shed some light on people's feelings, being subject to different interpretations. One of them is that the majority are fed up with the games indulged in by the two parties. The result showed that people voted across party lines, ignored the then prevalent mismanagement of the economy, and opted for a new reference point, making the Maltese parliament a regional committee solely concerned with domestic issues.

Apparently, people's EU prognoses have not been met. Perhaps, it is unrealistic to expect changes to happen immediately following Malta's EU membership on May 1. Clearly, however, the enthusiasm for membership has declined as the benefits are not yet felt; worse, the people are being told that more austere measures will have to be taken to improve our economic indicators and environmental standards to meet EU norms.

Though all MEP candidates are vowing to work hard for Malta's interests and intend to keep in contact with the electorate, voters are increasingly becoming sceptical and lukewarm about the whole idea. When two meetings were called by some EP candidates, one at the University and the other at Le Meridien Phoenicia, the response was very poor. Perhaps the intensity of the party's campaign as election date nears may change this scepticism and indifference.

But people are observing and are critical of what is happening. Though both parties have chosen eight candidates each, the method of selection was different; two women were chosen but another two women did not get enough votes to participate. The first forays in the campaign caused a row between AD and PN. Whereas the MLP used to be isolated, now it appears that the AD and MLP are closer than ever before.

Disillusion is increasing by the day. Uncertainty is creeping in. The desired results are not being achieved except for the fact that people, particularly workers, are being asked to make good for past administrative shortcomings. Malta is experiencing changes, apparently for the worse.

Despite all this, let us not be pessimistic about our future. We have to reminding ourselves constantly that Malta is now part of a big political and economic bloc. There are advantages and opportunities. We could be successful but no success is possible without hard work. An easy life would only lead to failures. Now we are passing through a phase in Malta's history that is testing our political maturity and determination to succeed. Let us rise to the occasion.

Economist Dr Borda, a former Nationalist MP, specialises in the economic development of small states.