Why calling an election now makes sense
Franco Debono must be relishing all the limelight he is getting through his political antics, leaving people guessing all the time as to the next step or steps he plans to take in what looks like an obsession to hit out at Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
What exactly does he want? No one knows; what is definite now is that he has ruined his political future with the party that has helped him win a seat in Parliament.
It would seem that at times he appeared even keen to burn his bridges with the party, choosing to press his demands relentlessly and acting as if he were a kingmaker.
Dr Debono’s impatience has led him to disrupt the political serenity of his own government. He has also been displaying a kind of arrogance that ought to be abhorred in politics. It is fine to be enthusiastic and to work unceasingly towards seeing shared ideals being implemented, but there is a line that ought not to be crossed in pushing one’s demands. Dr Debono has crossed that line.
Dr Gonzi, whose government was returned to power with a very slim majority at the last election, has done his best to try and deflect the blows and to give the impression that all is normal. But he has only been deluding himself.
However much Dr Gonzi denies that the country is in an election mode, the truth is that it is. The completion of this or that project would not make a difference to the party’s political fortunes. It is too late for that now.
The sooner the country goes to the polls, the better it would be for all, as the present uncertainty is doing no good to the economy. The economic situation in Europe is unlikely to be over within a few months; indeed, the likelihood is that it will get worse and not better.
Even if Dr Debono were to fall in line with the rest of the party, the MP could hardly be politically relied upon not to upset the applecart again at a most disadvantageous time for the administration.
Indeed, the Prime Minister ought to have seen this well before Dr Debono was given time to continue playing havoc with the government’s programme.
Calling an election ahead of more turbulent economic times in Europe makes sense at least on two counts. The first is that if the Nationalists are returned to power, they would be able to consolidate, in time, their programme of meeting adverse economic circumstances.
On the other hand, if the country opts for Labour, the new administration would have to find its feet first before getting to grips with the situation. An election now would give it time, if elected, to prepare itself for the storm.
Then of course there is the need to remove the uncertainty of the political situation, which has gripped the country since Dr Debono set out on his political shenanigans.
The people would seem to be all ready for an election. All that remain before the fever gets sharper are the installation of the election boards and, of course, the publication of the parties’ electoral programmes.
The language and the mood have been there for quite some time already, with the parties’ stations going overboard in the extent they go to project their opponents in as bad a light as possible. But that is par for the course in an election campaign, even though, strictly speaking, it has not started yet.
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ANTHONY PAVIA
May 3rd 2012, 18:48
A well written editorial that sketches the political scene accurately and makes extremely valid recommendations.
Joseph Calleja
May 3rd 2012, 15:32
" ''Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive'' . Here are two politicians butting heads at the expense of the citizen and the whole country. First there is Dr Gonzi who did not nip the problem in the bud before it all started. Dr Gonzi should have made some changes in his Cabinet instead of making excuses and covering up for some of the messes created by some of his incompetent Ministers.. " The buck stops here" did not account for much, because he proceeded business as usual. Dr Gonzi saw Franco Debono coming from afar and decided to meet him head on, and that is why the PN is in the shape it is in right now. On the other hand Franco Debono is a very smart ambitious man and he knows when he is holding all three aces in his hand. Even though he abstained from voting twice, he knows that he can almost dictate what goes on in our parliament and Dr Gonzi is very well aware of that. True or false? A vote by Dr Franco Debono can bring down the government and Dr Gonzi will have to call for an early election. I think it is about time for President Abela to intervene and do what is best for the country because otherwise it is up to Franco Debono which way this country goes. Other EU countries are looking at us very carefully and they are very curious about what is happening on this beautiful island of Malta. I look at this as a confrontation between two ambitious politicians who will not cede, no matter what. The problem is that all this is effecting the future of this country, and the victim is us the citizens, they are leading us blind.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
May 3rd 2012, 14:26
I fully agree with today's editorial that in the interest of the nation now is the time to call an early election hopefully a late summer or autumn one. The truth is that we have for the past six months witnessed a weak government in which a number of mavericks have been directly or indirectly obstructing the freedom of action which a government needs to work effectively. It is not only in parliament with the avoidance of voting or the speaker's cating vote which is leading to instability but one feels a a state of suspended animation permeating all across the system as if a sort of albatross is hanging over the PN current government fortunes. It is unlikely that by stalling or delaying the inevitable the PN can improve their chances of improving their standing with the electorate for no ieconomic or employment prospects are visible anywhere across the horizon. An early election will thus help to turn a new political leaf and provide the necessary weeding out of the current crop of MP's whilst offering a chance for new candidates on both side of the electoral divide to project themselves forward. I must add that I see some new interesting faces hoping to make it to the next parliament. Next year is going to be quite a difficult one for the elected government given the possibility of a deteriorating European economic climate as well as the difficult EU negotiations which will have to take place to retain some of our development funds past 2013. It is only fair for the disturbances of a general election to be concluded well before the end of the this year so that the newly elected government can start 2013 armed with a new budget and a clear timeline to spring into action. The only persons who may not enthuse such an early election is the clique of chairmen and persons in well remunerated positions who probably sense they are enjoying their last days of the gravy train. If the PN is to close the gap it will simply happen because of their good electoral machinery whenever the election is held and not because of sudden rainbow aross the sky. Let us therefore in the interest of the nation and to remove current uncertainties resulting from a hobbled government agree that the time is ripe for both political parties to go under starters order.
Guido Farrugia
May 3rd 2012, 12:10
the party that has helped him win a seat in Parliament.
Could it be the other way round Mr. Editor?
Please choose the reason of your report below: