After months of conjecture and speculation over the date of the next election, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has finally decided to go to the polls, shifting the election campaign into top gear. With the Maltese being so passionately keen on local politics, the contest is expected to be as enthusiastic as any the country has had over the years, even though there is no particular issue this time, as was the case in 2003 when the electorate had to decide between membership of the European Union, as proposed by the Nationalists, and a partnership agreement with the Union, as envisaged by the Labour Party. Fortunately for Malta, the electorate had opted for the first.
Malta's democratic environment is healthy as shown by the turnout in general elections, considered to be among the highest in the world, and, also, in elections for local councils, which further strengthened the people's participation in the process, even if some problems were caused along the way, mostly the result of individuals putting national politics before what is good at a local level.
Once every five years the people elect the party they want to see governing the country and, in contrast to the list method, Malta's electoral system of proportional representation, the single transferable vote, also gives the people the opportunity of directly choosing the candidates whom they feel ought to represent them in Parliament.
This system places the individual candidate in the forefront of the contest. Used wisely, voters have the power to see that only the best in the field are elected. Unfortunately, this does not always work out strictly in accordance with the principle that motivated the creation of the system, as electors are able to see for themselves practically in every legislature. Candidates that are not prepared to serve their constituents well, or who see Parliament more as an opening for power or personal aggrandisement, do not deserve the people's trust.
AD has already launched its electoral programme, and in no time now, the other parties contesting the elections will be publishing theirs. Only two parties have been represented in Parliament since the first general election after independence, that of 1966 - the Nationalist Party and Malta Labour Party. The electorate had ditched the small parties, or the "centre parties", as they used to be called.
A Green party, Alternattiva Demokratika, has now been active since 1989 and, although it has never been able to win a seat in Parliament, it has managed to make an impact on the local political scene for its keen stand on the environment, a topic that is increasingly engaging the attention of more and more people today. In the last election for the European Parliament, its candidate, Arnold Cassola, had clinched a creditable performance.
This time, a new party is making it to the hustings, Azzjoni Nazzjonali, led by a former Nationalist MP, Josie Muscat.
In their electoral manifesto, the Nationalists will no doubt be stressing their plan to keep to their programme of consolidation in the government's finances and to step up the rhythm of economic growth in order to improve the people's standard of living and the quality of life. Their administration has had a number of weaknesses but it has also had a string of successes and managed to make inroads in various lines, particularly in the diversification of the economy.
Labour, carrying a heavy baggage in the shape of a number of U-turns, are calling for change. They are also making promises that sound grand but which, if implemented, may lead to creating difficulties.
Although AD has consistently flown the Green flag with courage, verve and a certain commitment that has earned it approval, it has yet to be seen if the electorate is prepared to give AD, or AN, for that matter, a chance to make it to Parliament.
The choice is in the people's hands but, clearly, there is little doubt as to which of the parties merits to be elected.