Time to try a new electoral system

In light of the recent political developments, I think Malta needs to shift its electoral system to a pure system of proportional representation.

Unfortunately, the current bi-partite system does not work in a southern European context. It works in the UK and Australia due to the fact that the mentality is different and the parties offer a diversity of choice in the form of factions.

Malta is essentially a microcosm of the Eastern Mediterranean states, Greece and Cyprus, where clientelism forms the backbone of political allegiance. Even those in Malta who are opposed to this form of politics feel obliged to vote for the ‘family-party’ for fear of recriminations: fear of being left on the sidelines; or ending up jobless and powerless in the case of bullying from the authorities, as well as fearing the loss of business and the non-awarding of contracts if ‘their’ party is not elected. Of course, the election of the ‘other party’ inadvertently results in payback being dished out – something that predictably, most people try to avoid.

At least a portion of the 36,000 swing to the PL is accounted for by people who must have believed the false promises of meritocracy, ‘Malta belongs to us all’, and all the rest of the empty rhetoric that was used during the electoral campaign.

We all now see the ingrained mentality has not changed, in fact it has hardened. I fear the PN will take note of this confirmation, or rather intensification of this tendency, if or when they win themselves in future.

The only way Malta will ever free itself of these chains will be when a plethora of parties are represented in Parliament, thus ushering in a new period of coalition government. The stranglehold would thus be lifted and a truly meritocratic society would at least have a chance to emerge. There are examples of this not having worked in a Southern European context – take Sicily for example – but it would at least provide the right environment for this to be achieved.

Then and only then will Malta rid itself of the kind of nepotism, clientelism and fear that has marked Maltese politics since Independence.