Local council elections have always been regarded as second-tier elections. Turnout is always lower than in general elections and party machines are not in full gear. The trend is ubiquitous; parties in government do not perform well and are generally hammered at the polls.

These are local elections and the electorate should treat them as such- Hermann Schiavone

Malta is no exception and, in the past two decades, the Labour Party being the party in opposition for most of the period did very well. It won a number of majorities in traditional Nationalist strongholds. Mosta is probably the most notable example.

Why do voters behave in this manner? And what are the consequences of such voting patterns?

In local elections, a substantial number of Nationalist Party supporters use their vote or stay at home to send a message to the party in government. Disgruntled PN voters may opt to vote Labour not because the PL presents a better programme or better candidates for the respective locality, neither because the Nationalist local councillors did not perform well but because of other unrelated matters. If a decision by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority has disappointed an individual or if one is struggling to find the right job, the local election provides an ideal occasion for one to send the message across.

On the other hand, for the vast majority of PL supporters these elections serve as another occasion to send a message of support to their party and against the party in government, irrespective of the local affairs. Considering that concrete proposals on real challenges have not been forthcoming from the PL so far, it is easy to understand why it enjoys a high consensus among its electorate.

As a result, turnout of PL supporters on Saturday is likely to be much higher than that of PN supporters.

The PN had a good run between 1996 and 1998 when it was in opposition.

Local council elections, therefore, become a platform for the opposition to rally support and acquire momentum. This trend is set to continue.

Local issues will most probably be overseen on Saturday. This is not correct. These are local elections and the electorate should treat them as such. One should vote for candidates who can deliver the best service for the respective town or village. National issues and individual grievances should not be the basis for one’s decision on how to cast a vote in local elections.

It is pertinent to note that the upcoming elections present two localities that have suffered a similar fate. However, the parties in question responded differently and some reflections ought to be made.

Since their inception, political parties have formed the backbone of local councils, from the selection of candidates to the presentation of local manifestos. Success stories have been abundant. Debacles have been registered too. Sliema and Mosta represent two such cases but revealed a fundamental difference of how political parties treat politics at the local level.

The responsibility to ensure that a local council runs smoothly rests squarely with the party that has a majority in the council.

When allegations of corruption against the Sliema mayor surfaced almost two years ago, the PN took the correct steps to remove him. The move shook the PN’s comfortable majority but it was the right thing to do in the interest of the Sliema residents. Dissolving the council when it could not function properly was, likewise, the right thing to do. The PN acted correctly.

Similarly, in Mosta, where the PL had a majority, disorder and confusion became the order of the day during its term of office. In the face of the prevailing situation, Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat remained passive and, as a result, Mosta remained a dysfunctional locality.

The PL leader could have prevented this situation by removing the mayor and those councillors responsible for the chaotic situation. To add insult to injury, the PL had the gall to blame the government for Mosta’s failure.

The verdict is that, at the cost of holding the grip on Mosta, Dr Muscat failed to take action.

There is a very important lesson to be learned from Mosta. Your vote on Saturday does not last for a day but a whole four years. Use it wisely. Do not satisfy your appetite just for a day.

info@schiavone.com.mt