Desmond Zammit Marmarà
An MLP-AD coalition?
Evarist Bartolo's idea of a coalition between the Malta Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika in order to make sure of defeating the Nationalist Party at the next general election makes a lot of sense. It has nothing to do with a lack of confidence in Labour leader Joseph Muscat's ability to win the next general election, as the Nationalist media is trying to suggest. Mr Bartolo's idea is based on sound common sense. Let me explain.
First of all, it is clear that Dr Muscat as Labour leader has made a great impact on floating voters and even on some disgruntled Nationalists. His progressive and moderate ideas have been received by many as a breath of fresh air in the stultifying atmosphere of Maltese politics. This translates into more votes for the MLP at the next general election but this event is still far away and the Nationalists have ample time to recover and turn the tables on the MLP.
Secondly, the power of incumbency will be a great advantage for the Nationalist Party in government. I have already mentioned this in a previous article. The Nationalists are no fools.
They know how close they came to being defeated this time around and they will already be hard at work using all their resources in government to remedy those areas they have identified as having been a source of weakness and loss of votes in the years leading to the last general election. In other words, they will have learned their lesson and will take no chances next time. Expect measures aimed at winning new votes and recovering lost ones, perhaps not this far away from the general election but certainly when it starts to approach.
Thirdly, it is a fact of life that the PN today is not just a political party but a nationwide movement with support from various influential social groups that identify their interests with those of the PN. Throughout the years, the PN has built up a network of "friends" in crucial sectors of Maltese society and these "friends" of the Nationalists are in important positions where they can influence many people to vote for the PN at the next general election. Suffice to say that, in the matter of funds, which are so necessary to mount successful propaganda campaigns, the PN has a number of powerful backers whose "donations" finance a substantial part of the PN's general election campaigns.
Fourthly, and what I am writing now is debatable, the Maltese electorate seems to be very conservative these days. Sometimes I wonder if one of the reasons why Labour is being left on the sidelines at general elections is the very fact that it projects itself as the party of change.
I often get the impression that many Maltese are afraid of change. They prefer life to go on quietly without any major social changes even if it means accepting a certain degree of mediocrity such as under the present Nationalist government.
We Labourites have to ask ourselves whether we were frightening potential voters with such slogans as "a new beginning". Do many Maltese prefer Lawrence Gonzi's slow progress, with little change to the status quo, to Labour's steady progress and a new Malta? I know that this is a controversial statement but I believe that it is one well worth reflecting upon.
All these reasons force me to conclude that while Labour stands a fighting chance at the next general election, it is by no means certain that it will win.
So, this is where a coalition with AD comes in. Both the MLP and AD have a lot in common. They both share a social democratic ideology. They have very similar views on education, sustainable development, more civil rights for Maltese citizens, Malta's European vocation, etc. They both have high-calibre people in key positions within their respective parties.
The important questions are: Can the MLP and AD work successfully together? Would AD run the risk of losing its autonomy and being swallowed up by the politically-stronger MLP? What price would AD demand from the MLP in return for its support? Would such a coalition be a source of discord within both political parties given that some influential members of both parties are dead-set against the idea of a coalition?
I sincerely believe that the idea of a coalition between the MLP and AD should be further publicly discussed and members of both political parties should start seriously considering this option. The alternative is for Labour to face the Nationalists alone and for AD to go on hoping that it will elect one of its candidates at the next general election. And if both fail? Would they have a future?
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m farrugia
Oct 2nd 2008, 12:10
If there is a party that can be criticised for being afraid of change and being mediocre it is surely the MLP. PN leaders have always believed in Maltese and propogated change such as EU while MLP instilled fear, such as that the Sicilians will come and take our work! Examples of mediocrity include the party leader aspiring to be a PM chanting Gon-zi Gon-zi and Viva l- labour in Bbugia just months before the election. How lower can one go? But now just because JM has come out in favour of divorce, the MLP think that they have a progressive leader ready to face challenges. It surely takes more to be a Prime Minister in turbulent times, such as the ones presently hitting the world.
MLP-AD, will probably will be another mess for the MLP. Most AD voters are ex PN voters who think that the PN is not up to their standard, whilst AD is smarter and appeals to a "wiser audience". Most probably , these people will not want to associate themselves with the likes of Manuel Cuschieri, Anglu Farrugia and Toni Abela within the MLP and will either vote PN or not vote at all.
C. Scerri
Oct 1st 2008, 22:31
MLP sharing "Malta's European vocation" with AD - is this for real or a joke? On what side of the divide were the MLP in 2003? I think diagonally opposite AD. Noe they want to play the part of EU champions, just to defeat the PN? What about winning the elections by giving us a viable, decent and acceptable alternative?
Elections should not be about defeat or victory but about an intelligent way to rule and serve the country and its people!
Dion Borg
Oct 1st 2008, 17:06
It is a milestone that Labour is opening itself up also to the culture of coalitions - a very brave step by Evarist Bartolo, and also by Mr. Zammit Marmara'.
A coalition is built over time and over issues of varying importance.
Currently a coalition is practically "legally" blocked by the undemocratic threshold of 16% which the MLPN agreed upon.
The first step that Labour should take is to ensure that the current threshold is reduced to around 3%. Another step forward would be to significantly reduce the number of electoral districts. These changes will enable voters vote for the party they really want.
It may be a tall order to expect a pre election coalition - however once the current dual party dominance is finally defeated, a strong lasting coalition on the basis of converging ideas and policies will be secured.
R. Caruana
Oct 1st 2008, 15:58
Can't the MLP in its stupidity understand that AD draws its votes from gruntled PNs??
Should a coalition between AD and MLP come about it will be the end of AD, they will not find any support anywhere.
John Buttigieg
Oct 1st 2008, 15:49
The reality is that AD is the only modern left progressive party in Malta... yes if the MLP want to move away from the left (they need to move more towards a modern left first) and towards the right to please the many conservative voters here (even their own hard-core) then they 'would be mad'. If they want to be true democratic progresives they will seek alliances and work for more pluralism
J Martinelli
Oct 1st 2008, 14:00
DZM writes, "I often get the impression that many Maltese are afraid of change. They prefer life to go on quietly without any major social changes even if it means accepting a certain degree of mediocrity such as under the present Nationalist government".
This is a typical statement often seen in Labour print media. It shows how the Maltese public is perceived by the MLP as being afraid of change. DZM is however right on when in the same statement he said that people "prefer life to go on quietly without any major social changes". Indeed he should look around him and see all the positive changes, new industry flowing in, the highest ever number of employed, the lowest rate of unemployment amongst most of the 26 EU member states, the quiet revolution which is constantly taking place and the major projects in the pipeline including SmartCity. All this while trying to find a solution to the money drain called Malta Shipyards.
Afraid of change? Tell that to 1460 workers who voluntarily retired themselves from the shipyards many of whom already have alternate jobs.
The MLP can never deliver a smooth transition because they excel in confrontation and division.
mario salnitro
Oct 1st 2008, 13:37
WHAT A COALITION WITH AD YOU MUST BE MAD !!!!
THE MLP WILL LOSE MANY VOTES IF THEY TRY THIS.
Mark Grima
Oct 1st 2008, 13:30
It always struck me as odd that AD's natural coalition partners are considered to be our local Catholic conservatives. Green parties in Europe have always been left-leaning. The MLP would seem a more obvious choice for AD in a coalition. Having said this, I worry that Desmond Zammit Marmarà and Evarist Bartolo see AD solely as a means of defeating their archenemies. The MLP need to buck-up their standards and become a credible potential party of government in their own right, before looking to form a genuine coalition. Their recent high-ranking appointments don’t give great cause for optimism in this regard. There is also the issue of AD's main goal, i.e. to break the destructive mould of the 2-party system. A parliamentary seat, on their own merit, would clearly be the best way of achieving this (however remote the possibility). Ironically, a credible MLP would go a long way to helping AD in their aims. It has been a fear of the shambolic MLP that has pushed floating voters towards the PN and kept them from considering AD as an interesting option for a seat in parliament, and a step towards genuine pluralism in Malta.
Chris Ripard
Oct 1st 2008, 12:26
If, by 'mediocrity' Mr Zammit Marmara' means a new hospital, roads, schools, airport, power station, state-of-the-art telephony, liberalised trade, freedom to broadcast, rule of law, water in our taps, Smart City, EU membership etc. etc., then give me 'mediocrity' any day!
J Micallef
Oct 1st 2008, 12:26
Quote: Evarist Bartolo's idea of a coalition between the Malta Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika in order to make sure of defeating the Nationalist Party at the next general election makes a lot of sense"
So all the MLP want sto do is defeat the PN.
How about trying to convince the people that the MLP is worth giving a chance to govern?
It's not about defeating the PN, it;s about leading the country to better decisions and a better future.
As for the rest of the contribution, well, we all know how DZM writes and reasons.
Andrew Sciberras
Oct 1st 2008, 11:33
I'm glad to see that Evarist Bartolo's voice is no longer solitary. Both parties have their various ideological differences but the points of political convergence between the MLP and AD have also increased recently with the introduction of their new leaders. Working together, the MLP and AD can achieve many things, yet they must tread very carefully. Whilst I certainly agree that it is too early in the day to form a coalition I truly wish that this matter is not destroyed before it is even discussed.
Oscar Zerafa Gregory
Oct 1st 2008, 11:18
Your party and the nationalists played upon the Maltese entrenched fear of 'the other party winning' and none of you mentioned Illegal Immigration in your election manifesto. It was like 'it didn't exist'.
You both agreed to set the election during the Immigration Free season. Cowards and Cheaters. You must stand up to the European Masters who delved in slavery and colonialism until a few decades ago. Now they tell us to lump it. Toni Bajada and all the Gunners dead defending us during World War II must be crying in heaven.
You have let us down shame on you all of you. What will become of us? No boundaries exist anymore. The Italian Navy is bringing them in now after receiving a satillate fon call from Libyan waters.
l Galea
Oct 1st 2008, 09:53
As long as you keep accepting eu dictatorial membership, as long as you don't have eu membership's forthwith termination upon being elected and as long as there is no clear undertaking to expel all ILLEGAL immigrants on your agenda you can all forget about our vote because you are no longer our parties.