When I say Labour leads I mean that it looks more exciting; especially when you have an exciting two M tandem like Marlene Mizzi and Manwel Mallia running the business show. I suppose all business gurus are going to run after them, nose to tail, in a fun run. I am all in favour of new initiatives but not led by disgruntled Nationalists who failed where they wanted to succeed. They do not inspire me in the least.
I would say that half the Labour Party consists of failed Nationalists. But then, still, Labour leads in the sense that we have a barrel of Joseph Muscat initiatives which, being goaty-like, tend to be exciting to many, young and old. The young like a young, smiling face, who will never know how to translate sweet talk into reality and they will be carried away by a man who promises divorce, gay marriages and all sorts of untraditional habits. The moment he moves into Castille (if he really does) be assured he will show a different style (very different from the "noveau" style of furniture that Alfred Sant opted for in 1996) and will he deliver?
Labour is being cool and cool is popular. Not only with the young, but also with the old Labour cronies, who having been out of government for so many years, are very happy to have young Joseph in place at all costs. That is why he is single-handedly bulldozing the PL into submission in so many reforms, including the abolishment of posts and the change in names.
We now have a "movement" of moderates, progressives and whatever other nonsense.
The last time I heard of a movement was in the 1980, and that was Eddie Fenech Adami and the Nationalist Party, who led the Moviment Nazzjonali against the illegitimate government led by Dom Mintoff since 1981. Dr Muscat has taken to copying Dr Fenech Adami once again. Yet, the young man can never, ever, aspire to emulate Malta's most seasoned politician. He is finding it so easy to dish out sweet talk but will he deliver? Only time will tell. Days of workshops and loads of committees and commissions will not deliver on their own.
But, the PN must not be spared. It is a party in decline and, perhaps, despair. It has reached the stage where it must follow the PL act, albeit in a mature rather than a frenzied PL way. It is unfortunate for the PN, as for any other party, for that matter. It is also unfortunate to read of Nationalist MPs speaking of a coterie - and I think that really is the case.
The PN has been bereft (by design or otherwise) of its best elements over the years; in fact, there are absolutely none of the best elements left. That, in itself, is not necessarily negative but it leaves the Prime Minister (who is of relatively recent breed) with little room to manoeuvre in the choice of governance. There are loads of baying young pups on the back benches but, with all due respect to the many that I know, young pups they are and I doubt they can carry ministerial responsibility. Even the PN is led by a young pup, with no experience in administration, political or otherwise. He also is largely surrounded by young pups. The PN must take a lesson or two from the PL but do things better.
But back to the PL, if I will be excused. Dr Muscat is also a young pup indeed, showing plenty of yapping but surely nothing to show for himself in terms of a bite, that is, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and I doubt he will show this proof.
But then, Dr Muscat is surrounded by a few old dogs. His deputies have all shown signs of intolerance and exhibited undemocratic views when put to the test in both present and past. He did get rid of his secretary general and that was a positive and commendable move. But then, he was saddled with a dinosaur of an international secretary, who, however, seems to tow the line, so, OK. And we also had this post and all others totally uncontested this time round.
On a final point, I would like to have a word with a fellow columnist. Up until last Sunday (it is Friday evening now!) I had a look at this columnist's blog. I must admit that I am totally against blogs and this was the first I had ever had a look at. I think blogs are really a whole load of nonsense and a waste of time (although I have now unfortunately taken to have a look at them). But I must say: "Take it easy!"