What a turnout!

As a casual observer of Malta's general election, I must congratulate the Maltese voters. A truly magnificent turnout of over 93 per cent, despite being "disappointingly" lower that the previous 96 per cent in 2003, is by United Kingdom standards every politician's wildest dream. Furthermore, the sheer electoral enthusiasm and ebullience was, if at times rather cacophonous, really a pleasure to experience. I only hope that I am around to witness the next one!

As an observer with no specific interest in the outcome of the election, it has seemed to me from my reading of the English language newspapers, and the conversations with Maltese acquaintances, that the issue of corruption has been at the forefront of many minds. Thus when all the dust has finally settled, I am sure that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will, for the sake of these historic islands and their friendly and hospitable people, fulfil his electoral promise to root out this pernicious and pervasive cancer wherever it may appear, but especially among those with any involvement in the governance of these islands. I am sure that Dr Gonzi is an honourable man and will hope to make probity, integrity, honesty and openness the cornerstones of his new government.

He and the Nationalist Party government will, of course, ultimately be judged not only by the people of Malta, but also by fellow Europeans throughout the EU.

The 18th century poet, Oliver Goldsmith, put it more cogently and with a far superior literary style:

Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay.