Why announce the candidates now?

The Nationalist Party has, in what seems to be an unprecedented move at this time of tenure of office, officially announced the first batch of candidates who will contest the next general election on behalf of the PN. It was therefore expected that such a move would trigger speculation, not least through an editorial by this much respected newspaper. Rumours, however, that an early election date could be in store have nonetheless been clearly denied by the Prime Minister himself time and again.

Even so, although the announcement of the candidates at the Granaries, in Floriana, does not necessarily signify a strategic move to switch the country to election mode, it bears to underline that we were given a clear mandate by our Prime Minister to get our role together in close contact with the electorate, and this, notwithstanding the fact that it is not election time. This is to be achieved by putting forward the party message in solidarity with all Maltese families. This is an opportunity to put our act together in attending to the individual calls of the Maltese families - a process that should not be undermined by partisan divides.

Candidates are being enticed to play a role in this guiding framework mapped by our Prime Minister at a time which is very sensitive for a party in government and that will be challenged by a Labour Party, although the results of Labour's short stint in government between 1996 and 1998 are well documented.

The announcement of the candidates contesting the election on the PN ticket should therefore be construed in the light of a wider context that does not necessarily derive from an election mode. This context is underpinned by three key objectives:

¤ It enables the government and the ruling party administrative structures to work in tandem, allowing the possibility to react readily to changes in the political landscape.

¤ Voters are given ample time to perform a critical checking exercise that is crucial in determining the identity and ability of those persons who are set to represent their constituency after the next election. This would ensure true representative accountability because the voters are set to know better what is to be expected from their representative. In this way, the electorate can better assess the individual merits of the candidates, rather than just having to accept a list of candidates presented by the party in the last weeks of an electoral campaign.

¤ The electorate is given a realistic hope of electing an alternative candidate of their choice, while voters can reliably choose between people rather than just between parties. This encourages diverse interests to coalesce behind a unified party. This will invariably increase the voters' perception that it is worth making the trip to the polling booth during election time as they can be more confident that their vote will make a difference to electoral outcomes.

Against this background, the PN has laid a clear strategy in keeping with the new style of doing politics proclaimed by the Prime Minister himself when he took office as party leader - a style that harbours solidarity, away from partisan distinctions. It is for this reason that Lawrence Gonzi will always rank as the most trusted leader, notwithstanding the fact that his government is facing unprecedented difficult times in the face of an international increase in oil prices and global economic instability.

The announcement of the candidates should in no way be construed as a ploy to switch this country into election mode. It must be construed as a smart move that should coalesce the ruling structure and the electorate at a time when it still remains hard to pin down what Labour's government in waiting has in store!

An architect by profession, Mr Musumeci is mayor of Siggiewi and a PN candidate for the sixth and seventh electoral districts.

rmperiti@onvol.net