Earthquakes, bastions and real change

The Labour Party leader's well-meaning but superlatively "light on the details" statements are the very essence of what happens to our political debate when unyielding opportunistic partisanship takes over.

The formula is now a standard one. Raise an issue, question the form, timing and motivation and sprinkle a dose of conspiratorial theory. State the obvious, add some more platitudes and rhetorically assure all and sundry that, come the next general election (assuming the PL wins the electoral contest), Labour will have all the solutions and answers.

Unquestionably, these are difficult times to assume the stewardship of any country or organisation. It is also true that finding the appropriate balance between pressing needs and issues together with a constrained revenue stream is a thankless job at best. This government has for the greater part of this term been constantly harassed by headaches not of its own making. From the start, this Administration had to contend with a spike in food and commodity prices that led to a marked increase in inflation (a veritable thorn that needs immediate address). Coupled with this we witnessed a record oil price that also led to thumping increases in water and electricity bills.

If that were not enough, a financial crisis of quasi biblical proportions struck the world with its subsequent unsavory consequences. Unemployment, something that for a long time fared low on the agenda thanks to a vibrant economy, started to rear its very ugly head. Other side effects of this recession were marked by a slowing economy, significant decreases in manufacturing output and softer tourist numbers. All this has dented confidence and dulled our ambitions.

In the meantime, the government is set on forcing through a stream of reforms in areas considered not only politically charged but sometimes delicate and complex. To name but a few of these sacred cows we have the shipyard saga, the rent reform, the transport reform, the local council reform and the much-awaited mother of all reforms at Mepa. Lest we forget, other issues such as illegal immigration continued to exasperate our already stretched resources. In the background, issues such as divorce, cohabitation and sustainable welfare continue to simmer, all clamoring to be brought forward and seeking a realistic and viable solution.

Most of these challenges required immediate attention. Some decisions were debatably controversial but, by and large, absolutely necessary. Surely, they did not in any way endear this Administration. Clearly, leading by consensus is the natural way forward, yet, it is also true that hard decisions have nothing to do with popularity stakes. Politics is not a beauty contest. This leads to a degree of disgruntlement, which, unfortunately, is also naturally unavoidable.

A columnist boldly stated that this government "has simply negated all the good the PN has wrought for Malta since 1987". I ask: How is this so? Even stranger, others are now equating this government with the terrible shenanigans witnessed during the 1981-1987 Socialist regime. We also have the Leader of the Opposition promising his supporters that they will cry no more. Joseph Muscat has gone to the extent of plagiarising Eddie Fenech Adami's rallying call in the 1980s Is-Sewwa Jirbaħ Żgur! (truth will prevail). If anything, all this is gross historical nonsense. Rather than making such hopelessly incorrect comparisons, I suggest that Labour make an unreserved apology for the horrible times wrought on us during the 1980s!

In the midst of all this, the PL continues to struggle to re-discover a clear unequivocal policy. Labour continues to sit on the fence lobbing stones and making maximum political capital from events. An eminent political Labour adviser has even cynically suggested to Dr Muscat to refrain from getting involved in any serious political debate. This is grossly sarcastic and makes a mockery of the political process. As to other internal political capers, such as witnessed lately and trumpeted as political scoops, I leave to readers' intelligence to interpret.

This Administration must continue to work hard in restoring Malta's economic well being. It must continue to listen and understand everyone at ground level and strive to achieve quality results. It must set standards, observe them and enforce them. Is there more work to be done? Absolutely, so let's get on with it!

info@carolinegalea.com