It can’t be much fun being a drone working in the PN information/ propaganda office at the moment. Every effort at presenting an image of a can-do political party made up of individuals competent enough to steer the country through the economic doldrums, ends up falling through, and exposing the party to ridicule.

Lawrence Gonzi’s response to Moody’s downgrading Malta’s bond rating was as vague as Joseph Muscat’s no-speak about his plans- Claire Bonello

That’s because the communications strategy of the Nationalist Party is not geared to convey information about the party’s plans and proposals, but only to attack the Labour Party. Casting my mind back over the messages emanating from the PN end which appeared in the media over the last few weeks, the overall impression I have is one of a party more intent on issuing sarky shots at Labour than promoting its policies (if they do exist at all, that is). And because there’s more emphasis placed on Labour’s shortcomings, the PN machinery completely ignores its own very evident ones.

Look at the carping from PN quarters about Labour candidates being a motley crew of dinosaurs from the 1980s with a few inept youngsters thrown in for good measure.

Maybe this is not too far off the mark but then it holds true for candidates in the PN fold as well. The Prime Minister himself indicated as much when he moaned to former US Ambassador Molly Bordonaro that the elected Nationalist Party MPs offered a limited talent pool from which to select ministers that were matched well with their competencies in order to be able to form an efficient working government.

Now the Prime Minister may try to pass this off merely as his indicating that he would like the input of more expertise from technocrats in specialised fields, but it just won’t wash. The only logical reading of Lawrence Gonzi’s admission is that we are lumped with a bunch of lemons (barring a few individuals) who aren’t up to the job they are supposed to be doing.

Another case of ‘Physician heal thyself’ comes up when the Nationalist media criticises Joseph Muscat’s lack of policy proposals. Of course, the Labour Party should bring an end to the suspense and treat us to the great reveal sometime soon, otherwise we’re going to conclude that its idea box is as bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard.

However, if we expect fairly detailed proposals from a government-in-waiting, why shouldn’t we expect the same level of transparency from the government – the one that’s actually (and not potentially) in office?

It’s not exactly as if Nationalist ministers or the Prime Minister are falling over themselves to tell us about how they plan to lead us through these trying times of financial crises.

Gonzi’s response to Moody’s downgrading Malta’s bond rating by one notch and revising the outlook to negative was as vague as Joseph Muscat’s nospeak about his plans.

The Prime Minister’s plan? Simply “We’ll keep doing what we have been doing”. Let’s not dwell on the fact that doing what we’ve always done will give us the same results – namely the squandering of public funds, unsustainable economic models, and a huge deficit.

There’s another thing too. The government is not very up front about its plans to finance important infrastructural projects such as the City Gate renovation. If Labour is being criticised for holding its cards close to its chest, then why shouldn’t the PN be raked over the coals for keeping mum about the way this multi-million euro project is going to be financed?

Or is this another great solution to be unveiled in the weeks before the election? Why not let us have a peek now, when we can assess the sustainability and soundness of the plan away from the distractions of a heated electoral campaign?

Another area where the PN propagandists should heed Michael Jackson’s advice and look at the man in the mirror before hitting out at Labour is when it comes to whining about the dirty tricks department of their opponents.

The constant refrain coming from the PN is that Labour have employed an army of elves to saturate the online comments boards with pro-Labour views, and that there is a proliferation of anonymous anti-PN websites. Again, this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

I’m afraid my heart doesn’t really bleed for those PN exponents squealing away in indignation, when they themselves have set up blogs which are short on comment and rich in rumour-mongering and character assassination.

And the sock puppets and people hiding behind a pseudonym haven’t gone unnoticed either. Maybe they’re the Nationalist answer to Labour elves.

The PN strategy of attacking and playing the faux victim is having diminishing returns for several reasons. In the first place it makes the party look weak and defensive. As former UK Minister Peter Mandelson said, “In my experience of these things, parties which shout about dirty tricks and the like tend to do so because they fear a direct hit in some vulnerable part of their political anatomy.”

Then there’s the fact that the party appears to be completely out of sync with the electorate which is more concerned with issues such as the economy, health and education than the PN bitching about Labour.

Barring the PN diehards who will vote for the party no matter what, people are far more interested in solving the country’s proposals than landing body blows to Labour. As it is, the PN has transmogrified itself from a political party with a communications department to a negative propaganda unit with a party attached. Truly a case of the tail wagging the dog.

cl.bon@nextgen.net.mt

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