Editorial
Credibility and responsible governance
It takes courage for Labour leader Joseph Muscat, now also Leader of the Opposition, to start proclaiming to the four winds that the government has a problem of credibility. It may be true that many, if not most, would not exactly be ecstatic if the government does not honour its promise to cut income tax in the budget for next year and that a newspaper survey recently showed that Dr Muscat had overtaken Nationalist Party leader Lawrence Gonzi in trust rating but it is a bit rich for Dr Muscat to start talking about the government losing credibility so soon after his party lost the third consecutive general election, plus a referendum, and when he has been in his party's hot seat for just over 100 days.
If Dr Muscat wants to make inroads into the Nationalist camp, he would need to measure his words more carefully than he is prone to do at times. When, in an interview he gave to The Sunday Times, he brought up what he called the government's "big problem of credibility", he must have thought that the people in general have a big problem, too: that of having a short memory. But he is quite mistaken on this score for it is yet hard for the electorate to forget his party's disastrous policy on European Union membership. It was that, more than anything else, that dragged the party down and made it lose credibility in the eyes of the electorate, including many Labour supporters.
Of course, Labour would not want to be reminded of this and for good reason, too, for this was not a transient matter but a major policy issue that affected the whole island as a state. Its no to Europe stand is far too recent to be completely rubbed off the people's mental slate, which is why the new leader ought to tread carefully when he speaks about credibility. The sins Dr Muscat is apportioning to the government pale into insignificance compared to the MLP's on Malta's EU membership. Dr Muscat, now so enthusiastic about his experience in the European Parliament, was one of the Labour people who campaigned against membership.
When this point was raised in the interview he gave to The Sunday Times, he fended off the question saying he had not been alone in this and that there were others like him who, today, were very pro-Europe. He also admitted, with hindsight, that the yes vote in the referendum had won. Good for him to admit to all this. Clearly, the party is anxious to convince the people that they have now become staunchly pro-Europe.
In Dr Muscat's view, it is not just the government that has a problem of credibility, but Dr Gonzi, "personally", too. He said: "Look what is happening with the shipyards or on the surcharge, for example".
Dr Muscat is playing to the gallery here, for he knows only too well that in the case of the dockyard, for example, the seven-year reform plan has not worked. As to the surcharge, fuel had already been heavily subsidised before the price of crude began to rise sky-high.
True, political parties are bound to be over-generous when they come to making promises at general elections, only to find when they are in power that they are unable to honour them in full or at the time the people expect. At the end of the day, however, what ought to count most is responsible governance.
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J Magri
Oct 4th 2008, 09:20
Guess what, we need substance from all politicians, starting from those in government. We have been presented with nothing but nice futures and then crude realities for ages. It's government's role to start delivering his promises. Should have the means to do so.
Joe Vella
Oct 3rd 2008, 22:43
What we need from Joseph Muscat and the MLP is Substance and not Headlines.
J Martinelli
Oct 3rd 2008, 18:51
@ C Cassar et al
You just proved my point that you will do anything to erase the past, but what's written is written and history can never be rewritten, unless of course, you want to go to la-la land and write fiction.
Challenge me on the truth and accuracy of my statements not where I live, as if I live on a far, far away planet. I was amongst all of you less than a month ago and went to restaurants mostly patronized by Maltese, saw the continuing progress throughout, the boats / sailboats / speedboats, the cars - too many of them and mostly recent models. Such a hard time you're having. But I am glad and have no reason to be jealous and wish everyone even the ones who see everything in black, much prosperity. You must be trying to convince me that your usual group are hard up and needy. Try something new - old tactics don't work any more. and, by the way, Joseph does not irk me though frequently his expressions, behavior and inane speeches, irritate me.
But give him ten years and maybe he will be mature enough to lead our impoverished nation.
Mike Magri
Oct 3rd 2008, 18:44
There is an old and very simple saying which goes like this........
YOU CANNOT TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS....
Meaning.... Joseph Muscat is a YOUNG man and we should not be surprised with his new and very interesting poltical ideas and proposals. On the contrary... HE DESERVS A LOT OF POLTICAL AND MORAL SUPPORT, TO MOVE FOREWARD IN BUILDING A NEW AND MODERN MALTA.....
Thus for anyone to say that "..Joseph is playing for the gallery.." on anything he says or proposeS, is purely due to his deep partisan political stagnation with the `present` old systems...
On the other hand, GonziPN is an OLD poltician with stagnated political ideas ecc.. ecc.., and so are those who don`t see all of this........
KEEP IT UP JOSEPH... COURAGE MY FRIEND... MALTA IS IN DIRE NEED OF A CLEEN POLITICIAN WITH NEW PROGESSIVE VISION.......
S Pace
Oct 3rd 2008, 18:22
Credibility is not won by staying silent but by speaking the truth. Of course promises need time to be delivered but one wonders why life on this island only gets better 2 years before an election. It is also true that international situations change the economy in a matter of days but do we really believe government did not know about fuel price? What about the dockyards? Did he know before the election? Did he speak? I wonder how long will this country be victim to the hype of the parties. It is also true that Labour were skeptic about the EU but was not government too confident about the good side of life. I also do recall newspapers all heading 'Rebbiegha Gdida'. Wonder what the social partners thought would the new Spring look like back then?
C Cassar
Oct 3rd 2008, 16:39
John Saliba: "Baby Joseph"? You bring to mind the Labour politicians and columnists back in the 80s who used to call Eddie Fenech Adami Vavu.
You like to pretend you're different, but you're all the same.
B Sant
Oct 3rd 2008, 16:10
politicians promise us heaven on earth coz we r a gullible society. Who wld have belived alfred sant that he would remove vat? Who wld have bet that gonzi wold not reduce income tax would win big time just like i did.
My suggestion forget the electoral program, its all crap ,,, and another thing ....no wind turbines will ever be installed in the open sea.....anyone for a bet?
Gerald Fenech
Oct 3rd 2008, 15:50
The last line of this editorial basically means that promises are made to be broken. Political parties should do away from campaigns then since what they propose isn't worth the paper on which it is printed on.
John Saliba
Oct 3rd 2008, 15:39
So the Socialists, now calling themselves 'Laburisti' believe that the government should reduce Income Tax because this was promised almost seven months ago prior to the General Elections. Who on earth, at that time, was aware that the whole world would be in the economical turmoil that it is in now? Grow up, baby Joe... grow up. It took you and your Party over 20 years to realize that our place is in Europe and you seriously believe that you were anticipating this world wide economic crisis? Does baby Joseph expect the government to be irresponsible and honour a promise they shouldn't keep at this stage, due to these unforseen circumstances? Yes, I seriously mean it... grow up Joseph, grow up. Take my advice Joseph, stop being naive.
C Cassar
Oct 3rd 2008, 14:05
J Martinelli: No, I am not expecting the government to deliver on all its promises in 6 months.
But I do expect an honest effort to get started. Did you see yesterday's press statement by several NGOs about how the grant of ODZ permits continues unabated? It would have been a simple matter for the government to put restrictions on the grant of ODZ permits as a first step in MEPA reform. But all we've had so far is smoke and mirrors.
The promise to appoint people to the boards of government authorities on the basis of calls for applications could also have been implemented by now. But it seems this one has been forgotten - or maybe it will be left for the eve of the next election.
Like I said, I'm not interested in party-political tit-for-tats. I'm just sick of politicians lying to me.
P. Schembri
Oct 3rd 2008, 13:53
@Martinelli. Look who's talking. Why don't you come over from Canada and live with us here! I think you'll love it living under your party's government. Of course, before coming back, make sure that you're in a financial position to help you ride through the storm. And maybe like, us, bite the bullet too.
J Zerafa
Oct 3rd 2008, 13:43
How boring Mr Martinelli's arguments are becoming. So should we bring into the equation the anti democratic issues of the 50s and the 60s in order to see a more holistic view?
And speaking about democracy, I congratulate the editor for the unpartial and unbiased editorial. Way to go in a free country. Let us all pardon the electoral promises because those are just facades that should be forgotten after election mode.
Enzo Caruana
Oct 3rd 2008, 13:17
@J.Martinelli
Please do spare us your journeys into the history of the eighties. The poltical failures or successes of those years are now consigned to history and your futile attempts to exhume them to defend to-day's action or inaction by the Nationalist government simply do not hold one drop of water. The same can be said about the EU membership issue. This was settled in 2003 and both the Labour Party and Joseph Muscat are now living the realities of Malta as a member of the European Union. Maybe, what is irking you so much is the fact that, with this issue settled as well you have lost all the cannon fodder.
Joseph Muscat's attack on the Governments credibility is more than justified. Promises made six months agao are being broken with a certain nonchalance that is an insult to the voters who beleived the Nationalis Party's promises. Now we have "to bite the bullet" DR Gonzi tells us.
The "finanzi fis-sod" and "par idejn sodi" slogans were bandied about only six months ago and since eople are endowed with a thing called memory they are really questioning the credibility of the Nationlists. Joseph Muscat is not alone her.
Michael ellul
Oct 3rd 2008, 13:13
@ martinelli.
The shameful 80's let's remember them and credibility.
the famous 21 points.
In 1981 and pre 87 election the Pn promised us
Streets with no holes anywhere
electricity and water that will never have a failure or interruption
work for everyone (as mintoff)
No curroption and not only that without even the slightest shadow of corruption
and many more
more recently we go to 1996 the PN where against the development of cottonera for reason of lemonade shops (gabbana)
The airmalta was called birds of lead that will fall when they start flying
The national insurance was called a bomb fine for all maltese
the reverse os mosis water plant was labelled and said to people that we are drinking salty water
List goes on and on and don't forget the malta national strike to go swimming instead of work on 21/9
Both political partys have their defects but now that we are in 2009 soon don't you laugh and at the same time cry seeing this political hypocrasy
When public transport striked everyone said what about tourists, what about economy who said these in a general strike ordered by a political party not a trade union?
Joe Vella
Oct 3rd 2008, 12:51
@ Andrew Sciberra
Unfortunately, for the MLP the future is the Past. All you have to do is look at the MLP recently elected Leadership. The wrapping must have changed a bit, but once the wrapping is removed it is the old Euro Sceptics that pop out of the box with Alex Scibberas Trigona leading the way.
J Martinelli
Oct 3rd 2008, 12:15
@ Andrew Sciberras and C Cassar
You are both assuming that six months into a five year mandate, the government ought to have delivered all the promises by now?
The only people who do not want the mention of the past are those who are trying all the tricks in the book to make us forget. No luck.
If a person applies for a job (and that is what elections are all about), don't you think that the employer would delve into the applicant's past education and work records?
Talk about promises! We, of a certain age still remember quite vividly Labour's (Mintoff) proclaiming "Xoghol ghall kullhadd fi tlett xhur" (Work for everyone in three months). Yes that was decades ago but was the promise delivered? More recent than that, the employment of thousands on the eve of an election was Labour's way of dealing with double digit unemployment,
Did Labour advertise 'bulk buying' and controlled importation during election campaigns of the 80s resulting in empty shelves and paying under the table 'gratuities' to jump the queue to buy a colour television set? Is that not worse, much worse than not delivering on some promises?
Continued...
J Martinelli
Oct 3rd 2008, 12:11
Part2
Was the promise of "Innehhu l-VAT " a broken promise or a promise fulfilled by something worse than a broken promise?
These are not all the situations which the MLP miscalculated over time but for the sake of brevity, I will stop here.
Credibility issues are usually brought up by those who point fingers in the hope that attention is deflected from their own worse shortcomings.
Here we have Joseph, the archenemy of the EU having the cheek to run and get elected as an MEP, helping in an election campaign promising to reopen the Accession Treaty in order to extend the shipyard's subsidies and now has the gall to bring up the issue of credibility!
These events are not decades old - heck not even a year ago was he hand in hand with Alfred Sant promising to renegotiate the EU treaty. And now he tells us that he knows how the EU works! Did he not know last March? Like his predecessor he wants to do business by "imbaswru ftit l-hawn u ftit l-hemm". My impression of the EU is that rules are rules and we had better fast forward towards reality.
And Joseph is credible?
F J Brincat
Oct 3rd 2008, 11:54
The Time’s lack of political objectivity is regrettable.
On many occasions, this newspaper has served as nothing more than a shill for the PN -always trying to find excuses for the continued buffoonery of Nationalist governments.
Sure, life under MLP governments was no cakewalk in heaven – nobody can deny this, but for this newspaper to continue to excuse this deplorable state of affairs and continue blaming MLP when PN has been in government for more than 18 years is rather unorthodox.
It’s not just the budget – I’m more interested in what happens in between budgets – it’s the whole damn debacle that is happening in our country – favoritisms, doublespeak, public money spent like water, lack of transparency, tightening of belts (or biting bullets). All this was supposed to have been a thing of the past when the PN were elected…or have you forgotten?
Dr Muscat, presently looks like being the lesser of the two evils.
Andrew Sciberras
Oct 3rd 2008, 10:59
You know, Sarah Palin, the vice presidential nominee who actually thinks she has foreign affairs experience because Alaska is geographically close to Russia actually taught us something last night. The experienced Biden couldn't resist taking a hit at Bush's shortcomings over the past 8 years. Of course he's absolutely right but a down to earth Palin told him "There you go again pointing backwards again...now doggone it, let's look ahead "
Now you may vehemently disagree with MLP's stance in 2003 but the fact remains is that EU integration won. The people democratically opted to choose full accession to the EU and that is what we got. The MLP may have had serious credibility problem back then and it certainly cost them an election, probably two. But does MLP's anti-EU accession stance in 2003 justify broken promises and half truths by the Gonzi administration today? Sorry but I fail to see the picture here really.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for good governance, but if breaking promises has now become so readily justifiable in the sake of 'good governance' this would set a dangerous precedent for democracy, accountability and transparency in our country.
C Cassar
Oct 3rd 2008, 10:08
"True, political parties are bound to be over-generous when they come to making promises at general elections, ... At the end of the day, however, what ought to count most is responsible governance."
Translation: it's ok to make promises and then break them.
Well sorry but it's not.
Granted, it's better to break a promise than damage the country trying to deliver something that is no longer attainable. But it is NOT ok to make promises that you don't intend to keep or knowing that you won't be able to. That is lying to people. Lying is NOT acceptable.
I don't want to enter the debate which party is more credible. It's a childish and sterile argument that is best left to partisan diehards, and frankly I'm surprised that this editorial took it up. But all too many politicians, on both sides, think it's ok to lie to the public when they're in a tight spot. We need to extirpate this culture, not condone it. We are Maltese - WE DESERVE BETTER!