People are not easily fooled by political stunts

Sliema deputy mayor Cyrus Engerer, who has just said goodbye to the Nationalist Party and joined the ranks of the new movement Joseph Muscat is supposed to be building in his party’s bid to make it to government after so many years in opposition, has made quite a frank comment.

Arguing that he still disagreed with Labour’s stand not to disclose its economic policies for the time being, he said he had come round after being briefed about what the party was planning.

He was quoted as saying: “In this past week, I have met and learnt what Labour is planning and I really feel comfortable with it. My opinion is still that the Labour Party should discuss these plans with the public and disclose what its policies are.”

So, it is all right for the big bosses at the PL to explain to a select group of people, or to those who are just gravitating towards it, what it plans to do if it is returned to power but the rest of the country is to be kept in suspense as to what the party has in mind. The party has already been sharply criticised for this, particularly after some comments reportedly made to this effect by the Labour leader in one television show, but it does not seem that Labour is in any way bothered by criticism. Nor, it appears, does it care. All it cares about is getting to power. Labour may well argue that, in the last election, the Prime Minister only announced his promise to cut tax in the very last days of the campaign. So, what’s wrong with Labour doing the same?

Well, both parties are wrong. When the Nationalist Party announced its tax cut plan, it did in fact sound as a last-minute ploy to salvage votes. It may or may not have helped the party to just make it to power, as it did, but surely this is not the kind of politics the people expect today. With the Nationalists making so many glaring mistakes as they plod through the last lap of this legislature, clearly fatigued after long years in government, Labour is already sensing victory at the polls.

But, contrary to what Dr Muscat may think, the people and, particularly, the uncommitted voters, will not vote for his party blindly. Given that they hardly know anything substantially important as to how Labour will govern, they may, after all, decide it is better to vote for the devil you know than the devil you don’t know. Labour’s tactic of keeping its plans and ideas to its chest may in fact work against it for the impression being given is that all it wants is to get to power at all costs. Every time the party tears apart a government decision or policy, the people expect it to give its viewpoint, not just mere criticism.

Also, the people would no longer accept scaremongering. Dr Muscat was reported saying last Sunday it was unacceptable that Lawrence Gonzi agreed with the EU to raise the retirement age for the second time in five years without informing anyone.

The government has already said that no decision has been taken to raise the retirement age and that there is no agreement this should be the case.

So, if the PL has any information that would contradict the government’s statement it should say so and not let the people feed on his claims.

Both Labour and Nationalist parties have yet to come to terms with the fact that people today are not easily fooled by political stunts.