Next election: the gloves are already off

When politicians start using very strong language or resort to unpleasant political throwbacks, it is usually an indication that an election is not far off. Political tension is building up, as shown by the kind of talk resorted to even by the leaders of the two main parties. For instance, the other day, both used, in different contexts, the word vindictive, not a word that goes well in everyday political parlance. But the election is getting closer and it appears there is no room for language niceties.

The gloves are already off and the two parties will go to any length to put their opponents in bad light.

Lawrence Gonzi used the word vindictive when commenting on opposition motions in Parliament against the Permanent Representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana, and against Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, the Home Affairs Minister. In his view, not altogether without justification, the motions showed the dark side of politics based on backstabbing and personal attacks rather than constructive debate. He remarked: “What we are seeing is nothing other than the vindictive face of the Labour Party that is coming up with false accusations”.

Given the convoluted political circumstances as they have developed ever since Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono started rocking the boat for his own party, it is not hard to arrive at the conclusion that the Labour Party has taken advantage of the situation in the hope of bringing the government down.

Labour leader, Joseph Muscat, used the word vindictive in the context of an argument built up over the fact that a number of self-employed had found themselves in prison for not paying value added tax.

He agrees that taxes have to be paid but then he seems to wonder what the country was gaining from jailing offenders. Dr Muscat is treading on dangerous ground here. What, exactly, is he suggesting? Those contravening the law are given adequate notice of their failure to pay what is due to the state prior to being hauled before the courts and fined.

It would be interesting to find out what the party is suggesting as an alternative to the non-payment, in time, of any VAT due or of the fine imposed by the courts. However, as in other matters, the party is short on details, suggesting that it is only reacting in this manner to win votes.

Take the undertaking Dr Muscat has been making, the one about what he is calling a guarantee that the party would offer to young people if it is elected. The first impression was that, besides guiding young people leaving school to take up education again, or training in skills suitable to them, they would also be offered jobs.

Now, following intensive pressure on the party to flesh out its plan, it seems that the idea is not to directly provide jobs, as, for instance, Dom Mintoff did when, in the time of his socialist government, he set up the labour corps to mop up idle workers, but to incentivise the private sector to offer training and internships. Dr Muscat has now explained that the “guarantee” the party has in mind is similar to an outreach programme that followed up young people who left school and remained unemployed.

The idea only makes sense when it is stripped of its gimmicky trappings. Both parties will resort to gimmicks as the election approaches and it will be up to the electorate to pick the best election programme and candidates.