The way forward

We promised that we would listen.

I have already given my own interpretation of the results of the elections a fortnight ago. The results of those for the local councils merely refined that interpretation. Since then I made it a point to follow the regular newspaper columnists, politicians of different hues as well as other opinions by the occasional writer. Arrogance, inefficiency, corruption, the long years in government, the deficit, the economic situation, were all mentioned as the cause of our defeat. But I also listened to quite a few so-called protest voters, individuals who usually vote for the Nationalist Party but this time round did not vote at all or voted for other parties, others who voted for candidates rather than for parties. The reasons given were myriad and frequently in contrast with each other and with those above.

Is there a single message? Of course not! The difficulty is that in the real world we are given contrasting messages. We understand that there is a lot to be done before Mepa attains the efficiency people expect. But there are those who expect us to abolish it outright so that if they have a parcel of land in a green area they can build it for their offspring. It is true that people hate corruption but, many would add, as long as it does not profit them. Their message is that we should be corrupt. Perhaps the best example I can give is of the guy and his family who did not vote because our side would not help him when he fell out with the gaming laws while he was allegedly assured by the other side that he need not even appear in court. They withheld their votes rather than voting Labour because that way they had their documents to prove it and we would learn the lesson better.

Transparency indeed! So much for starry-eyed ideological causes!

Or take the case of the couple and their three children who only would come out to vote if we would assure them that they would not have to pay their income tax bill of over Lm1,000. Was it right that "their" government was forcing them to pay income tax for the first time ever? These were not just a few. Thousands of Nationalists, even party cardholders, did not vote because they wanted to give us a lesson. They had the perfect circumstances.

We would learn the lesson and at the same time they would not lose "their" government with the possibility of early gratification. Otherwise they would get their real revenge when l-elezzjoni vera (the real election) comes around. Transfers, government jobs, government housing, anti-smoking legislation, bills, income tax, VAT and many another "just" cause!

Clearly no one would want us to give in, except the individuals concerned. But there are other divergent requests. You all have heard that the Labour opposition wants the government to reduce its spending but then you have also heard the same members of the same opposition crying in horror and despair if we just prune here and there. Such an attitude is not the prerogative of Labour.

It was galling to read a columnist blaming a fellow minister because he took necessary measures to save PBS, Air Malta and Gozo Channel just before the elections. Is this columnist still advocating old politics? Or was he trying to drive a wedge between ministers? Of course, we may have lost votes. But had we not proclaimed openly that the country could not stop because of the elections and that restructuring and efficiency have to be pursued even though we knew we would pay a political price for our courage, at least in the short term? Was it not the right thing to do?

Perhaps it is only natural, if not rational, that after so many years in government whatever we do we will be condemned out of hand. After all the Jews got fed up of the manna while crossing the desert! So what should we do? Should we, like the traveller in the Sicilian legend, change course according to the current criticism or even whim or fashion? Lest we will be dubbed arrogant! Were it for some we have no right even to speak, write or defend ourselves.

So what is the way forward? The Prime Minister has put it succinctly enough. The people expect us to go on governing seriously. We will not please all the people all the time. No one will. We may not even please most of the people now or at the end of our term. But the duty of all governments is to strive for the common good, to love the country more than the party.

We have to listen and we have to remedy genuine ills. But we should have the courage to tell constituents when their requests cannot be met and we have to patiently explain why. We have to explain more when difficult decisions have to be taken. But once our soul-searching is done and conclusions drawn, we have to move steady ahead. As the Maltese saying goes, good sailors show their mettle in rough weather. We have to abide by our principles and values, nay flaunt them, even when they are no longer fashionable.

We have to get our priorities right. We have to facilitate an economic regeneration and will be applauded. We have to lick the deficit and some will squeal. We have to continue restructuring with even more squeals. We have to strive for welfare and health sustainability. We have to do all this in a different manner. One message I feel most of the electorate has sent us is to bury confrontational politics once and for all. Our commitment to a new way of doing politics, the new political spring, will not be easy to implement. After all it takes two to tango. Or is it three now?

Then let the people judge! That is the essence of democracy.

Dr Deguara is Minister of Health.