Labour is biggest loser in political saga

If the Labour Party’s recent political manoeuvres can be taken as indication of the length it is prepared to go in its bid to get to power, then it is safe to assume that the island’s political scenario is bound to get murkier than it has ever been before. Make no mistake about it, the biggest loser in all that has happened since Franco Debono decided to take a personal stand over his demand for reforms is not the Nationalist Party or Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici but the Labour Party.

Dr Debono, ever so keen to talk about the work he has been doing in order to push forward much-needed reforms and, also, about how much he has suffered in the process, is wrong if he thinks that the electorate sympathises with him over the tactics he has resorted to. Most people would abhor the way he has handled his war-like campaign against Dr Mifsud Bonnici. It now seems all too evident that Dr Debono was more interested in paying back the minister for an alleged bad act against him than in anything he has been preaching about.

The comment Dr Debono is reported to have made in Dr Mifsud Bonnici’s presence immediately after voting with the opposition in its motion calling for the resignation of the minister is most shameful. Dr Debono is reported to have said: “Take that! This is what you get for badmouthing me with the Chief Justice”. This scrapes the bottom of political behaviour.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici may have not worked wonders in his role as Justice Minister – any Nationalist or Labour Justice Minister who did, please stand up – but his political behaviour has been impeccable.

Dr Debono has displayed the ugly side of politics and has thrown into the debate the need on the part of the political parties to examine well the qualifications of candidates aspiring to contest elections on their behalf. More than that, he has now helped to strengthen the people’s growing disenchantment with politicians.

In the eyes of many, Dr Debono is today seen as a self-centred politician. His apparent egomania has now eclipsed his zeal for the reforms that he has been trying to push forward.

He has stepped back from voting against his government in Monday’s vote of confidence but, as a result of his attitude and actions, he has deflected the government from concentrating on its work programme.

Labour, on the other hand, has a different agenda. Seeing that in Dr Debono’s political antics it has the possibility of unseating the government, it has produced one motion after another in the blind effort to get to its aim. With the “cooperation” of Dr Debono, it has managed to fell one minister but, in the process of doing this, it has done big damage to its image with that segment of the electorate that is most important in an election: the uncommitted voters.

In other words, its actions are seen as nothing more than opportunistic ploys.

If uncommitted voters are disgusted at the way Dr Debono has handled his own case for reforms, they are equally hugely disappointed by the blatant opportunistic tactics the Labour Party has resorted to.

If Labour keeps acting in this manner, it would surely not deserve to be given the opportunity to take over the country’s administration. It is on sound and realistic ideas and proposals to make the country better that the party ought to concentrate not on cheap, opportunistic ploys.