Will the PN bounce back?

Last week saw a string of important if not crucial develop­ments within the Nationalist Party. Following the elections of leader, deputy leaders and president of the General Council, the team was completed with the election of the other officials. This team is a formidable one.

Also, a number of commissions have been set up by Simon Busuttil to investigate various issues and make recommendations on the way forward. The week was rounded up by the party’s statutory General Council.

Dr Busuttil has moved fast during the first 100 days of the Labour administration. We also previously had the appointment of his shadow cabinet, with all MPs being given posts to shadow all government portfolios.

The oft repeated prediction that Labour will be in government for the next 10 years seems to be a shaky one

If these developments are anything to go by, then there is the probability that the Nationalist Party will bounce back within the next five years, and the oft repeated prediction that Labour will be in government for the next 10 years seems to be a shaky one.

The comprehensive report drawn up by the Fenech Commission should also go a long way towards achieving success. It is an honest report outlining the many reasons why the PN lost the last election; and so resoundingly. Nothing and no one was spared. Yet there are no failings that cannot be remedied.

Of course, there are some problems that are greater than others, such as in the financial and commercial sectors, but none are insurmountable. In this context, the appointment of a CEO, as recommended by the commission, is a must.

The general secretary will be able to concentrate on political issues, ably supported by the deputy leader for party affairs.

A plus of course (although a nine seat deficit does not render it so important) is that the party has been cleaned out and there are not expected to be any rebels. Further, the PN is already being opened up to its grass roots and supporters, in terms of physical presence at headquarters (we’ve seen this during the General Council) and clubs and in actual participation.

The recommendation to set up a college of former MPs and candidates is a commendable one, as is the right to vote in the council being given to PN local councillors. I’m not sure about the 10-year term limit for ministers, prime minister and party leader. But, anyway, all is set to go.

A resurgence of the Nationalist Party has been helped in no small way by the Labour government’s declarations and decisions, not to say antics, over its first 100 days.

I will not harp on the various appointments of Labour sympathisers (and more) to government boards and agencies, some of who are not competent for the posts. Enough has been said. But more recently we have had controversial decisions regarding the 100-day amnesty, the proposal for three carnivals and the relocation of the Monti, to mention just three.

The first would be a farce, were it not so serious. I will not go into the merits of the amnesty. There are arguments for and against pouring out from all quarters. But the minister’s behaviour at the Corradino Correctional Facility, where he held a mini mass meeting, allowed the chants of “Malta tagħna lkoll” and intermingled with the inmates to receive hugs, was totally unbecoming of a serious minister. I wonder how many of those inmates Manuel Mallia defended before the courts? A stark conflict of interest perhaps? Why did the Prime Minister not announce the amnesty?

Further, I had understood that homicide cases would not be covered, but... The same for those relating to crimes against children. And what about those serving life sentences?

A veritable dog’s dinner. Then we had the Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Jose’ Herrera, and his three carnivals. Carnival is carnival.

It is a traditional event steeped in history and it has a specific slot in the calendar (the days before Lent). Dom Mintoff had tried to mess around by transferring it to May, but this failed.

It is ironic that when there are discussions to, at least, reduce the number of national feasts, possibly to one, we then increase the carnivals. Perhaps the Maltese saying “karnival kuljum” (every day is carnival) is apt here. And we will also have the Monti, which we are told will be moving to Ordnance Street, a corner away from the grand, refurbished entrance and square to our capital city. Hardly a dignified set up in (agree or not) a noble environment.

All this and more, I have noted from my contacts that already many PL voters (not the traditional ones of course) have regretted their choice. We are obviously seeing the honouring of pre-election pacts. But these voters feel that Joseph Muscat already reneged on his vaunted slogan of “Malta tagħna lkoll”.

Alfred Sant once stated that he was prepared to make a pact with the devil to win an election. I would be tempted to throw in the Maltese expression “issa ħudha ġo fik” (now take what you asked for) to these voters, but anyone can make a mistake. We’ll see!