So that was the third consecutive defeat for the Nationalist Party in the space of a year and Labour is positive that Alfred Sant will pull it off for the second time. Wishful thinking?
I wasn't the least surprised by the absolute majority attained by Labour in these local council elections; I expected them to do even better. In the past year the government has turned to people from all walks of life and asked them to do sacrifices of all sorts; a decrease in vacations, higher water and electricity bills, eco contributions, talk on increasing the retiring age, an endless list and definitely not an exciting one at all.
On the other hand, the Labour Party, which has the comfort of being in opposition, mounted an effective campaign to hit out at government policies and brilliantly rode on the wave of discontent. As expected never once did they come up with any solution or alternative when pressed how they will go about it should they win power in the coming general election. Labour either has no alternative at all or else, while knowing well enough that reform and restructuring has to be carried out like it or not, are afraid to commit themselves in case they become unpopular again.
That said, my intention is to focus on the Nationalist government. The poor results at the polls obtained by the PN have led many to claim that these should serve as hammer-blows for the government and the PN to wake up and look unflinchingly at what has happened.
The real question for the PN is why it is not achieving electoral support. If you reach the conclusion that there is a consensus against the government then the choice for our country is whether the people want the politics of the MLP, which is all aspirations, or this government's which, courageously and at the cost of rendering itself unpopular, as is the situation at present, is translating its aspirations into reality.
The reasons why the PN is not achieving electoral support are in my opinion various:
The PN will become popular again only when the present reforms bear fruit and I'm positive that in the near future they will. Till then it will continue losing.
Many people had high hopes that joining the EU will bear fruit and comforts from day one. They were disappointed big time; everything takes time, nothing happens overnight. Having said that I acknowledge that in selling membership to the people the Yes campaign might have been positive a little bit too much; but that is expected when you had an opposition offering the non-existent option of "Partnership".
People are sick and tired of this all-year-round electoral campaigning. These same people were called to vote four times in the space of two years. Perhaps we should seriously consider not having such elections year in year out. It is too tiring for the people and for the country
The government is not getting its message across well enough. No one can expect to bury oneself in work and at the same time assume the people know what is being done.
The Nationalist government should do more to deliver its message to the people, to explain to the electorate how important and crucial its reforms are. It should listen more to the people and the party itself, with its hard-working and dedicated administration under the direction of Joe Saliba and his many men and women who dedicate their lives to the party, should seek new ways how to reach out better to the people. I do hope the "Sunday sermons" at the political party clubs come to an end. Preaching to the converted is barely effective at all!
No matter what, people at large do acknowledge that we have a no nonsense Prime Minister who has a reputation for honesty and integrity. Lawrence Gonzi will in the coming months deliver. At the moment people see him as the "wicked chief" but in a few years' time he will be confirmed for a second term in office.
In the meantime, the PN should start marching down the road to victory by communicating more with the people.