The way the Nationalist media are spinning the MLP leadership story is remarkable but totally credible, in the sense that it is happening as expected. It happened in 1992. It has happened since 1998 when the PN concluded that it had its best asset in Alfred Sant being leader of the Malta Labour Party. Now it is happening in regard to George Abela. He is the last man the PN machine would like to see as leader of the MLP.
They have made an easy assessment - Dr Abela may have against him a considerable number of delegates and paid-up members who do not appreciate what he did in 1998. What he did was to express disagreement that Prime Minister Sant should call an election just then.
The reason why was given, rather belatedly, by Dr Sant himself. One main reason he attributed to Labour's defeat on March 8 was the power of incumbency. Is it not blindingly obvious that the sitting government has an advantage over those who oppose it? Its leader decides the election date. Its cohorts can try to massage as many people as can be up to Election Day.
Labour did it in the past, though no massage was enough to restore health in 1987. The Nationalists did it again this time around. It would be naïve to expect otherwise.
Dr Abela was not naïve in warning the MLP general conference in 1998. He has been proved right, not once, but three times. Now he is seen by many, including a critical wide swathe of floating voters, as the man best suited to lead the MLP in the circumstances, when rebuilding on the basis of penetration is necessary. The Nationalists know that and so spin to their hearts' content the opportunity given to them by the Labour media, which ignores that Dr Abela is a citizen of this sad country, that he exists, that he is there, willing and able, despite the hurdles placed in his path.
The Nationalists smirk and put up another major hurdle by seeming to stand up for Dr Abela. Politics is not a game for cissies. It was not invented for the naïve. Cynicism courses through its veins, both among supposed friends as well as declared opponents.
Nothing remarkable in that: it is very believable. For, it is.
So, is there no room for sense, at least for enlightened self-interest? There could be. If enough people within the MLP make my humble reading and see an easy way to plan for the next 15 to 20 years, it will be. The best ticket the MLP could have is Dr Abela as leader and Joseph Muscat as deputy leader. The tandem, sporting a sensible social-democratic platform, would have a strong chance of winning the next election, with the way then clearly mapped out for Dr Muscat to take over with some eight to 10 years added to his portfolio, which already packs a good punch.
Take no bets that the Nationalists have not reached my conclusion as well. Others may be slower on the uptake but many within the MLP might yet see it too, though many others might realise it when it's too late.