For years, the PN intelligent strategy group has misled Lawrence Gonzi into placing emphasis on wrong strategy and ignoring what really hurts a substantial part of the population. Survey after survey indicate that what the Maltese are worried about most is the unbridled cost-of-living monster which swallows their salary before the next one is due.

A recent independent survey has reconfirmed that no less than one third of the population is really anxious before the next pay cheque, as the previous one dissolved into nothing several days in advance. The PN strategy group is not stressed about this. However, Dr Gonzi is not naïve enough to believe that the voters making up this one third of the population are all Labourites. But the strategy group is made up of men exuding excellence.

Dr Gonzi has rarely spoken about poverty and hardship in his strategy speeches - which concentrate on finding comic things in Labour plans and declaring his wishful thinking that he is by far personally superior to Alfred Sant - an attitude called "champ's euphoria". The PN excellent strategy group - which is advising speakers to deal in dark comedy and attack Dr Sant isolatedly - is in practice offering them devastating election-losing advice. This has been mentioned by PN candidate Robert Musumeci several times - and perhaps he should be a member of a new strategy group after the present ones are dumped for pushing the PN downhill in excellence. In The Times of May 23, Mr Musumeci states that "The Prime Minister's human approach...can certainly attract the moderate and undecided vote. Any attempt to demonise Dr Sant in the process is not only inhuman, but will only serve to distort this objective". Mr Musumeci should know - as his better manners earned him good votes.

So while Dr Gonzi ignores Mr Musumeci and prefers the advice of his strategy group (which had catastrophically advised him not to present local council candidates in Marsa and Zejtun), he continues to concentrate on political brio - while assuring himself that all will be well by 2015. But can one third of the population and their children fast for eight years?

Saints marching in

The colleges of the Education Division were all given saints' names as if they were churches. We could have given some of them names of eminent Maltese - especially in the cultural field - as is done in Europe. But Malta must retain its reputation of the most fundamentalist state in Europe. Amen.

Rushing at the end of an exam

Panic and hectic composition may often be seen on the faces and in the body language of a few last-minute-hard-working students who wish to add that little more information to the conclusion of their script. This reminds me of what is happening now as this government's weak performance draws to an end and, realising that perhaps the situation can still be saved, promises this and that, starts new projects staggeringly, talks in emotional euphoric language about 2015 and attempts to hide the gnawing anxiety spread all over its face. Long years of lethargy will not be compensated for by a few last, desperate attempts at looking good to oneself and to others. It's just an exercise in self-deceit - a futile defence mechanism.

Ship-breaking at Marsaxlokk

It seems as if some company will be allowed to break up ships near the port of Marsaxlokk - the only really picturesque fishing village in Malta. One can only ask: Are we or are we not?

Political funding

The Galdes report on political funding had recommended that political parties declare contributions to their coffers as from Lm5,000. The MLP had agreed to this immediately while the PN wanted to double the limits of these declared contributions - indicating that it received greater sums from the few rich as compared to the MLP's "little from the many". For years there was a stalemate. The PN has now "challenged" the MLP to re-accept the recommendations of the Galdes report - which it had accepted ages ago. Everybody knows that it has been the PN strategy group all along which was advising Dr Gonzi not to accept the Galdes recommendations. Political comedy is thus not only the initiative of the PN strategy group - and floating voters are not easily taken in by poker challenges camouflaged in bravado.

Doom and gloom

When Air Malta was created, the conservative strategy group invented a comic song "Birds made of lead cannot fly". Now independent local and foreign structures are saying that Malta has slipped further down in corruption, education and especially in the population's attempt to cope with prices. This explains the PN election slogan "rigid families".

A road that blocks me

When I am driving on the state-of-the-art St Paul's Bay road, I make a guttural sound which is not appreciated by my more polite passengers. This happens when I arrive at the constipated constriction where the road suddenly narrows due to some excellent gaffe during its construction. Grand celebrations had marked the opening of this road - which was and is not ready - but possesses excellence. The funny thing is that a half-done road was inaugurated with fireworks, petards and receptions. Which should give the intelligent strategy group reason for comedy.

Students' bus fares

Sixth form and university students are not encouraged to use public transport. Most have to spend 80c for four trips daily, ie Lm4 per week. For people without a salary, this is far too much.

European in practice

Certain characteristics prevent the PN from being European in practice. The director of the Health Promotion Unit did not have his role renewed - even if his efficiency was noteworthy. Apparently his progressive, scientifically emancipated opinions did not go down well with the conservative government. Perhaps his rational insistence that contraceptives prevent sexually-transmitted disease irritated the fundamentalist basis of the government. Such a mentality makes us the laughing stock of Europeans - who believe that we possess 19th century excellence. Meanwhile, silencing one man will not stop the battle against the faldetta.

Divorce

Some people believe the PN's decreased hostility to divorce as they did in the case of its aborted cohabitation law.

Happy banks' day

The banks are happy about their huge profits. And the people? Never mind the people; let them eat excellence!

Freedom of readers' opinion

I wrote to e-paper Maltarightnow to ask why it did not have a Letters to the Editor section like Maltastar.com. In spite of my reminder, I did not get an answer. Recycled general council please note.

Moody's analysis

Moody's recent opinion is that "the tide may be turning with the opinion polls pointing to a Labour victory, after four successive local elections". Moody's forgot to mention the fifth victory where the Maltese declared they trusted a majority of Labour representatives in Europe. The Maltese are apparently in no mood to trust a serial loser promising excellence by 2015 - or is it 2051?

A mature party

On a more positive note, however, the magnanimous conservative maturity is admirable when struggling for an excellent sixth Euro Parliament seat which will probably be a fourth to the naughty left.

Dr Licari teaches psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics and geolinguistics at the Department of French of the University of Malta.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.