These are precarious times for Lawrence Gonzi. He finds himself at the helm of a minority government with only a one-seat majority in Parliament. He should constantly be prudent, especially with his political adversaries. He has the right drive to do precisely that.

These are times which warrant a national reconciliation approach. Not voting for this government were the same number of those who voted him in - minus 1,500 difference of voters for the Labour Party, the 20,000 who chose not to make use of their vote, the usual 5,000 who do not bother to pick up the voting document, and the near 4,000 who defied the spinners and gave AD first preference. Nothing to be over-enthusiastic and jubilant about this time round.

It would be really wise of Dr Gonzi to start thinking of ways to be truly a government of all the Maltese rather than a Nationalist government we have been regaled with in the past four years. This will soon be tested when the time comes to propose the ideal person to hold the Presidential role. May he propose a person who will bring national unity. This cannot be done if we are regaled with yet another past Nationalist politician or someone from the Nationalist fold. Will he rise to the occasion?

In the meantime, I eagerly await the manifesto bonanza: legislation which regulates party financing, a reform of Mepa which will find the PM directly responsible for all the blunders, a Whistleblower Act, meritocracy to replace clientilism and nepotism, do away with nominating politically partisan loaded chairmen who foment pique and repeatedly divisive articles on those who not share their own political sentiments.

These will be marvellous times for our nation if only we were to put words into practice.

Yes indeed, together, not only with our own diehards, this country can achieve the best of results.