The political implications of the announcement, earlier this week, that Dr Alfred Sant will not be contesting the next general election but will be contesting the election for the European Parliament did not miss many a pundit.

Many, included fellow bloggers on this website, reminded us of the anti-EU stance of Dr Sant when he was Prime Minister as well as when he was Leader of the Opposition. That stance continues till this day. I have once had a conversation with a person who knew Dr Sant quite a lot. He told me of their walks together in Paris, many years ago. Dr Sant was always critical of the EU, he told me. His anti-EU stance is a matter of principle not political convenience.  And, I guess, he will always be.

However, I do not wish to comment on the political implications of this decision.

I must confess that I was very happy to read about Dr Sant’s decision for a totally different reason that the political one.

When, quite some time ago, it was announced that Dr Sant would not be contesting the general election it was rumoured that he would not be doing this for health reasons. I am happy that it now transpires that this is not the case.

I am happy for Dr Sant but I am also happy for the hundreds, perhaps thousands, who have an on-going battle against cancer. Dr Sant is showing that there is life after cancer. The fact that he kept on going with his political as well as literary activities will give hope to these people. It will perhaps instil in them some of the courage that is being shown by Dr Sant who is now planning on the embarkation of a more strenuous kind of activity than the membership of our national parliament implies.

The actions of people in public life do have an effect on other people as they act as role models.

I wish him well.