Predial: Change

Like I said from the start, the main issue for this election has been change. Do we want to change the way by which public affairs are being run? The Malta Labour Party, the PN (pardon me again, for there was a change of ticket here, gonzipn) and AD in different ways, premised their campaign on the theme of change and the need for it.

AD focused on convincing the electorate to vote in favour of a coalition government as opposed to the one-party government-one-party opposition mode that has characterised Maltese politics for the last few decades. If one has understood clearly what AD have argued, they are pushing towards a situation where they could go into coalition with gonzipn; by contrast, the latter said it was ruling out this option as of now. However, this kind of statement usually makes it to the listings of "famous last words". Whether change can be secured or not by converting to a coalition mode it is up to the electorate to decide.

By contrast, gonzipn could hardly go the whole stretch in promoting change, especially after all these years where each government move was magnified into a major breakthrough and the long line of failures consistently camouflaged by well-organised public relations. Yet, gonzipn propagandists, chief of whom the caretaker Prime Minister himself, knew how the arrogance, incompetence and corruption blamed on the Administration have worn down the patience of wide swathes of voters, not least in their own political camp.

Their strategy has therefore been to insist on how formidable the actual Prime Minister is, how the people need him to stay in power and how, given another chance, he would replace his current crew of quite awful ministers with a brand new team. This approach begged the question of why he did not carry out such replacements during the past four years.

More pertinently, it has emerged that the alternatives he can choose from are likely to be as awful as the current crop of political leaders on the PN slate.

To discerning voters, the Pullicino Orlando debacle will have been an eye opener. Here we had a former so-called "Green" politician of the year doubling as the owner of a spot of land in the middle of Mistra valley, pristine ODZ land. In a breathtaking reversal of past decisions on that same land for relatively minor developmental applications, the site was earmarked and speeded through the Mepa development permit process as a location for a brand new huge discotheque. Hardly a good flag for the "alternative" leaders that gonzipn can choose from to replace current portfolio holders.

By contrast, Labour's proposal for change has been consistently based on policy content. To get out of the economic and social stagnation that has been allowed to spread, to ensure that good governance gets another chance, Malta needs a change of administration. But this needs to go beyond creating change for the sake of change. It must be underpinned by a slate of policies that open up new perspectives for families.

Throughout this campaign, my colleagues and I have repeatedly described the rationale behind policy proposals intended to create further economic growth, to provide families with better props to their quality of life and to ensure transparency and competence in government affairs. Most of these proposals actually follow from wide-ranging contacts and discussions held with representatives of the whole range of civil society. One could say that Labour's Plan For A New Beginning was built out of ideas and initiatives presented by the people we met during the past four years or so.

I have repeatedly stated that we will continue to build on the good that there is in this country and will strive to correct what has been allowed to go bad. We shall be giving full support to families and enterprises that are doing well because of their endeavours, initiative and merit and would encourage them further. We shall be working to ensure that those families and enterprises that have fallen behind, due to no fault of their own, catch up with the rest through an improvement in their quality of life and performance.

Change cannot be implemented pell-mell but in an orderly and tranquil fashion, by means of a long-term plan. That plan exists and will be implemented as it has been devised, through the participation of all those who, in good faith, are prepared to give their input - what I have called the coalition of the able and the willing. In doing so, there will be no let-ups: can-do and merit will be the touchstone of how programmes are set up and manned.

On the economy, such programmes will aim to trigger new and sustainable growth. In social policy, they will be intended to revitalise education, health and environmental management. In cultural affairs, Labour will be promoting initiatives at the national and local levels that express the authentic identity of modern Malta.

What shall bind the different policy strands together if Labour is given a mandate to govern this Saturday will be the commitment to good governance. Topping the agenda will be an all out effort to quash incompetence, maladministration and corruption. That is surely an objective that most Maltese and Gozitans will heartily agree with, fed up as they are with the rampant conflicts of interest and worse of the past few years.

The real change option in this election is represented by Labour. Change is not something that will happen anyway, no matter how people vote. I may be an interested party, but the truth is that only Labour has set the predial on change. Which is why my comrades and I have been making this invitation to all citizens of goodwill: This Saturday, choose Labour.