This article’s heading is inspired by one of the songs in The Girl from Utah (1913) whose lyrics go “So follow our lead, ‘tis but a puppet show”. Our political leaders too seem to believe that they are taking part in a musical comedy.
Pretending that it is not in the public interest to call an election is just absurd- Joseph Vella Bonnici
Philosopher Joseph de Maistre maintained that “Every nation gets the government it deserves”.
If this is true, we are all accomplices in sustaining a fast degenerating political system. We have been repeatedly promised a new way of doing politics, one based on citizens’ rights and not favours. Things seem to go from bad to worse and now one prominent MEP is even warning us about a possible request by our country for a “bailout”.
A bailout will make good for past sins not future ones.
Many believed that EU membership would help bring about a change in the way this country is managed. Others hoped that the local councils would bridge the gap between the political class and the people. These developments led to the fragmentation of power at the system’s periphery, but the core remained intact. Politics has been reduced to rushing into people’s kitchens whenever an election is imminent.
To legitimise their rule, the political elite continue to play with numbers and half truths. Their spin is excellent fodder for the media. We are made to question whether the glass is half empty or half full, but we never get to know what lies behind the question itself. Unfortunately, life is too fast to stop and think about what we are being fed.
Ideology may be a matter of the past, but we seem to have fallen into a black hole. It is no longer clear what is right or wrong.
This subject was touched upon by the Prime Minister in his address to last month’s meeting of the Bureau of The Group of the European People’s Party at the European Parliament. Lawrence Gonzi emphasised that politicians should place values before votes.
He added: “We should ask ourselves: what values lie at the root of the crises that our societies face? . The so called non-negotiable values became very negotiable, to the extent that truth became the orphan of a society designed only on one basic concept ‘I want it all and I want it now’ (The Times, September 6). The Prime Minister is right, but he is the one who must drive the necessary change.
Almost a year ago the discontent among the Government’s backbenchers started to turn into outright rebellion. It was clear that economically the country was in for a rough ride, and the Prime Minister felt the need to ask for a vote of confidence in Parliament, so as to send a clear “message of stability”.
Since then we have been having a musical comedy, with ‘tragic’ overtones. The PM keeps insisting it is “business as usual”.
Yet Malta’s economic growth is anaemic and our families continue to face real hardships in coping with the cost of living. GonziPN seems unable to overcome the political impasse brought about by its internal friction. This political uncertainty and instability carries a price, which ultimately will be borne by us citizens.
The irony is that this political deadlock is not winning the Government any votes, as shown by recent electoral polls. Pretending it is not in the public interest to call an election is absurd. GonziPN continues to confuse party with government interests.
Gonzi has been saying that he will not continue governing if his rebel MPs impose any conditions. Yet the Government is now subject to so many conditions, and every day brings with it a new twist to the ongoing saga.
The latest relates to a motion by the Opposition on the privatisation of 32 car parks. What appeared to be a straightforward motion could potentially evolve into yet another vote of no confidence in the Transport Minister, and maybe, the Government itself.
In the circumstances, it is legitimate to ask who is running the country. It is definitely not GonziPN, which has brought the situation upon itself. During his first tenure as Prime Minister, Gonzi practically obliged John Dalli to resign from his ministerial post. Close to the 2008 general election, Dalli was quickly rehabilitated and encouraged to contest two districts. Like Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Dalli was instrumental in securing the electoral victory for GonziPN.
We all know what happened afterwards and what Dalli thinks about the current PN.
This time round the PN strategists decided on a different tactic, opting to discipline the dissident MPs by not allowing them to stand for the next general election. Why the change in tactics which inevitably led to Government losing its parliamentary majority?
Pullicino Orlando has gone “independent” but making it clear he will vote on a case-by-case basis. Franco Debono has been telling the whole nation he will not vote in favour of the Budget. And this time, given that he has been practically expelled from the PN as from the end of this legislature, he means it.
Of course, the timing of an election is the Prime Minister’s prerogative. Will Gonzi wait for Debono to steal his thunder or will he pre-empt the situation? Ultimately, it boils down to acknowledging that politics is not a musical comedy but a matter of values.
fms18@onvol.net