No changes at all in two years

Joseph Muscat has been at the helm of the Malta Labour Party for already two years now. Two years in which we have been eagerly waiting for the slogans to turn to substance, for the promises to become facts. Two years since the façades of the PL clubs have been graced with the image of a smiling Dr Muscat who has promised us a new political season, which season has yet to arrive. His election two years ago undoubtedly sparked a lot of interest, especially when he promised us an earthquake within the PL but, so far, there is not even a sign of a breeze at the Mile End headquarters, never mind the earth shaking that we were promised.

During these last two years, Dr Muscat, with the aid of consultants, has tried to portray the image of being modern and progressive, liberal and open minded, ready to discuss and find solutions. But when confronted with reality he has shown that not only did he not have the guts and the qualities to change his party but that he has succumbed to pressure and that he is the one that has changed.

Events over the past months are enough proof for us to see that militancy is still the only way for the socialists. He has been led by the current and tried to take advantage of a genuine mistake by a Nationalist member of Parliament to attempt to gain political advantage, all this for two reasons: to quench the thirst for power the PL has and, even more dangerously, for Dr Muscat himself to satisfy his personal ambition to become Prime Minister while still in his 30s. This reminds me of another famous and notorious phrase uttered in Parliament by another Labour leader (Alfred Sant) back in 1998: "War, war, war against the Nationalists" and I wonder whether when he speaks of a new political season Dr Muscat really had this in his mind.

All this shows us that Labour may change its leaders, its headquarters and now even the emblem but, in truth, it never changes its tactics. Dr Muscat has tried to be more subtle but, so far, he has failed. He promised the world but has as yet delivered next to none and it worries me to see him using quotes such as "Those who live by the sword die by the sword" when addressing his faithful. Surely, he was not encouraging dialogue when he made that statement and I don't see how he can be progressive and modern when his tactic is to instil fear and anger.

When the Nationalist media and its exponents criticise the PL, saying that it is made up of wolves in sheepskin, it may sometimes sound repetitive but the truth of the matter is that those who forget their past are forced to relive it and, as a responsible party in government, the Nationalist Party knows all too well that it would be too dangerous to give the socialists a chance at leading this country once again. We have seen quite clearly that, in two years, Dr Muscat has not managed to change anything in his party. Excluding the fact that Jason Micallef, the person that facilitated Dr Muscat's election to the top job of the party, was politely sacked, much is still the same at the glass house in Ħamrun and I am sorry to say that the glass house is now looking even more fragile than ever.

The Maltese have by now realised what is best for them. We have become accustomed to living without fear of any drastic changes. We have become accustomed to freedom of expression and freedom of choice, so much so that we take them for granted but we must remember that the socialists denied us of all this a mere 25 years ago. I am not saying that Dr Muscat will necessarily reintroduce bulk buying and ban foreign imports if he becomes Prime Minister but, then again, with a Labour government, you never know what you're going to get!

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.