European way of doing politics

Today marks the ninth anniversary of our accession to the European Union. It is a day when we should celebrate our European identity.

We need more politics of the people. The attitudes with which we conduct our politics must be more people-oriented

In the space of nine years we have firmly integrated our country into Europe.

But have we become truly European in mindset? Here is our next challenge. And this is not just a matter of the wider public. It is also about the way we do politics.

So, coming as it does on the eve of the Nationalist Party leadership election, this Europe Day provides me with an opportunity to make my final reflections on where I feel that the party should be heading in this sense.

My candidature is based on the rationale that I would like to bring a more European way of doing politics. In this sense, I hope to rely on my nine-year experience in the European Parliament.

What does this European way of doing politics really entail, you will readily ask. I have five points for you to consider.

Firstly, politics must embrace high levels of political correctness, whether it is integrity in public life or ethical standards in office.

This is not just about abiding by the rules or having good intentions. It is also about respecting the highest practices of ethical behaviour. People draw a clear line when it comes to sleaze and impropriety in public office. So politicians must lead by example.

Now, despite its pre-election rhetoric, the Labour Government is already failing this test in a clamorous manner. We have a part-time minister who has been given the dubious go-ahead by the Prime Minister to breach ethics and pursue his private practice. We have a Labour MEP taking up her seat despite facing criminal charges of fraud. And, if I understand correctly, we have a Prime Minister, no less, who is effectively renting his personal car to himself against payment of a handsome allowance.

And that’s after just one month in office.

Secondly, politics should be based on the force of reason.

We need objective-oriented decisions, which take into account the long-term and not just short-term goals. People might well find reasonable arguments unexciting. But normality is often achieved by those whose decisions are based on reason. And people yearn for normality the very moment they lose it.

Reasonableness also calls for less confrontation. This is not to say that an Opposition should not hold the Government to account. Far from it. It is to say that opposition to government decisions must be based on reasonable arguments rather than political expediency.

When we oppose we must oppose on issues of substance, to create a better outcome, and not simply to say no.

Thirdly, politics must be based on cooperation.

Cooperative politics takes you much further than confrontational politics. This does not mean that we should shy away from our views, still less from our core values. But it does mean that we should be open to talk, negotiate and reach agreements with people who hold different views.

Cooperation can lead to agreement because it can lead to a compromise. And compromise is not a sign of weakness. It can actually be a sign of strength because it can achieve results and achieve them faster.

One thing that I have learnt in my years in Brussels is that you get much further by sitting at the table, negotiating and finishing off with a handshake then through confrontations, barriers and by trying to bluff your way ahead.

Fourthly, politics must be inclusive.

Politics is for all and, therefore, nobody should be left out. Everyone has the potential to bring something good and different and we must, therefore, create room for all.

The politics of inclusion must also be reflected in the way we deal with different sectors in society, especially the less-represented sectors and the marginalised groups. Society, if it is to be cohesive, cannot live in a straitjacket. And the sooner we understand this, the better. Finally, we need more politics of the people.

The culture and attitudes with which we conduct our politics must be more people-oriented. This is not about forgetting the big picture but about remembering the small picture. Nor is it simply about listening to the people or about popularity.

Still less is it about populism. It is about reflecting a people-oriented approach at every single stage of the political process. And to do this constantly and relentlessly. For this, PN councillors will need to pick a candidate that is people-oriented.

To be sure, putting all this into action is no mean feat. But the PN is well placed to take on this challenge. As a party with firmly established European credentials, adopting this European way of doing politics should be second nature.

This will be the ultimate challenge of the future leader of the PN.

Simon Busuttil is Nationalist Party deputy leader.