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?