Editorial
A clear choice
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.
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Daphne Caruana Galizia
Feb 7th 2008, 22:25
I wasn't responding to criticism, Mr Laiviera. I was merely pointing out that the judgement of somebody who voted for Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici in 1987 is seriously suspect. When advising people not to vote for this government, perhaps you should make it clear that you supported the Labour governments of the 1980s. That would allow them to put your advice, and your credibility, into context. They will conclude that if you admired those two, then it's not surprising you see nothing wrong in Sant. If the Labour Party decides to elect a talking parrot or a prancing chimp as its next leader, you will probably see nothing wrong in that, either, and tell us why we should vote for the parrot or the chimp to save Malta from the great perils of prosperity.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 5th 2008, 22:35
Mr Joe Martinelli said that Labour governments “leave a mess which subsequent PN administrations are left to clean up.” Let me mention just two examples which prove the opposite; When Labour took power in 1971, they found public finances in such a mess there weren’t even enough funds to pay the civil service salaries and we had to turn to the much-maligned Colonel Gaddafi to bail us out. In I996, when Labour took over they found a deficit in public finances that Dr Fenech Adami reportedly said he nearly had a heart attack when he heard about it. History repeats itself, and when Alfred Sant enters Castille in 31 days’ time he will have to face the fact that Malta’s national debt has reached the astronomical sum of around 3.5 billion euro.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 5th 2008, 21:05
I am honoured indeed – Daphne Caruana Galizia felt the need to break her rule of never replying to criticism to answer my brief comment. I must have said something to the point.
My reply to her is that I try to live in the present – not 30 years in the past.
Please excuse me while I change the battery in my Euro-converter.
Mario Gauci
Feb 5th 2008, 19:59
Although I am sure that alternation of power is healthy in a democracy, unfortunately voting Labour for me will not bring the desired effects, rather the opposite. Against my better wishes, I will still vote PN as I do not see any other alternative. Labour's promises sound very familiar with their chants of 1996!
David Pace
Feb 5th 2008, 19:06
I'm not a fan of the Labour of the 1980s but is Daphne Caruana Galizia trying to justify the present administration's corruption by citing Mintoff's corruption?
Isn't all corruption wrong? Or is Nationalist corruption better than Labourite corruption?
But I guess certain people are ready to justify corruption, if it comes from the party they support.
David Stephen Ganado
Feb 5th 2008, 17:41
Yes, its true, the real choice is between the two main parties only. The problem is that especially in the case of Labour too many of the candidates are either remnants of 'old labour' or too blinkered to see that their leader will lead us down the same path of oblivion we were heading in those 22 months he governed our islands. Our only real solution is to choose wisely from the PN candidates who have shown their worth, and avoid the ones who have clearly shown complete lack of judgment during their term in office. We need fresh faces to take us forward. As for the other parties, I would seriously consider AD but unfortunately they still seem to act like amateurs in most cases. Last but not least, AN, what can I say? Lets just hope we all have enough intelligence to ignore them!!
Dr Frank Portelli MD FRCS(Ed)
Feb 5th 2008, 15:12
There can be no improvement in life without CHANGE.
However unfortunately NOT EVERY CHANGE brings improvement.
Dr Frank Portelli MD FRCS(Ed)
Joe Martinelli
Feb 5th 2008, 14:12
The coming election gives the Maltese an opportunity to either continue to forge ahead in economic progress, political stability and improving on what already is a high standard of living attained in the last ten years, or elect a party which tells us that there is something "new" about it but still run by a bunch of have beens going back to the socialist era of the 70's and 80's and which, every time they are elected they destroy what they find, try 'new' methods - and fail, cause instability, ridicule us in front of the whole world and leave a mess which subsequent NP administrations are left to clean up.
Could the choice be any simpler?
Evelyn Micallef
Feb 5th 2008, 11:37
Maltese people turning out to vote in great numbers does not equal a healthy democracy.
As it is I have no choice - PN have shown me consistently how they intend to keep dragging their feet about important issues, while MLP's demagogue media efforts inspire no confidence in me.
And why bother voting for AD or AN, if the 2 big parties have smugly created electoral laws that make it impossible for small parties to be elected?
A healthy democracy, you say?
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Feb 5th 2008, 11:28
Well, Victor Laiviera would say that, wouldn't he? The amazing thing is that he sees corruption, friends of friends, incompetence and all manner of negative things in this government but - surprise! - he never saw any in the Labour government of the 1980s. I assume that was all fine by him. Truly, there are none so blind as those who will not see.
Wally Vella-Zarb
Feb 5th 2008, 11:21
As someone once said, You can fool some people all the time and you can fool all of the people for some time; but you cannot fool ALL the people ALL of the time.
Arrogance and unaccountability do not help either; we have long passed the limits of patience and toleration.
So, I fully agree: the choice is very clear. Crystal clear, in fact!
Victor Laiviera
Feb 5th 2008, 10:23
Yes indeed - it is a very clear choice.
It is a choice between saving what is left of our environment and letting MEPA and the speculators continue to ruin it.
It is a choice between fairness and justice and the culture of friends and friends of friends.
Most of all it is a clear choice between a clean administration and a continuation of what has bedevilled the present government.
What could be clearer than that?