Editorial

Once the electorate, including its own supporters, have not been told - at least so far - what was behind the Nationalist Party's strategy to avoid having an election in Marsa and Zejtun, one is not in a position to say whether it worked or not.

PN leader and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told an inquisitive journalist yesterday he would certainly not given any explanations to Labour about the strategy. Dr Gonzi conveniently overlooked the fact that he is accountable to the people first and foremost and not to the Labour Party. And the people certainly deserve an explanation, especially those in Marsa and Zejtun who have been disenfranchised by the same party that risked so much in its quest to promote and safeguard civic rights in this country.

At least, the party's general secretary was more open about it. In fact, asked in an interview with The Times whether the people will know the reason behind the strategy after the elections his answer was a categorical "Absolutely".

We all wait. What is absolutely certain is that, as expected, the PN suffered a huge defeat in Saturday's round of local elections. MLP leader Alfred Sant preferred to say it was a big vote of no confidence in the government and a sign of confidence in Labour's ability to "deliver".

Whether it was a "no no" to government's performance or a thumbs down to the way PN-led councils operated is open to debate. It is probably a conglomeration of both, possibly more of the first than the second.

But the result should neither be taken as a clear-cut endorsement of the MLP, especially as currently headed. It certainly is not a token of approval of Labour's ability to deliver, as Dr Sant claims, for what has the MLP delivered apart from messages of doom and gloom and a lot of mud?

The PN's deputy leader noted that the majority have voted with their feet - that is by staying away. He uses an acceptable expression but at the same time he puts his foot in it because he acknowledges that his party failed in mobilising its own people to come out and vote. By doing so, the PN shot itself in the foot - and shot down its much flaunted strategy in the process - as it has exposed itself to tough criticism, now based on harsh numerical fact, that its performance leaves a lot to be desired.

In this regard, it ought to be pointed out that Dr Gonzi contradicts himself when he first says one should not link Saturday's result with the government's performance too much and then argues that after all the government has been making unpopular decisions, so what does one expect!

This is the third time running in a few months that the PN has failed at the polls. Every time it promises to keep its ears to the ground and yet the same happens again.

It is about time that Dr Gonzi, as party leader, takes the bull firmly by the horns. He must make it a point to listen to more people than some around him - even at government level - may want him to. His task as head of government is already daunting enough given the decisions being made. Thus, he needs to have his mind at rest that when he delegates what he expects is delivered.

There is no more need of "secret" strategies, especially of the type that fail - if ever they really existed. There is need for a clean sweep.