The big question: has Labour in government over the past 12 months been what it said it would be in Opposition?

On the economic front, the answer is largely yes. Joseph Muscat has adopted a pro-business economic policy, the economy has remained in relatively good shape and government finances seem to be improving. The recent economic forecast by the European Commission has predicted two per cent GDP growth for both 2013 and 2014 as well as a deficit of 2.7 per cent for 2014. These are encouraging signs.

However, its Malta tagħna lkoll (Malta belongs to us all) slogan, which was nothing more than a confidence trick to woo floating voters, died even before the electoral result was known. Labour’s partisan appointments in the public sector have proven to be a huge disappointment over the past year and contradicted Dr Muscat’s electoral pledge to appoint people on merit rather than political orientation.

The ‘purge’ of the Armed Forces of Malta and the consequent rapid promotion of a number of middle-ranking officers was partisan. The government’s decision to give Labour MPs executive roles, furthermore, smacks of ‘jobs for the boys’.

The government has also committed a number of blunders, the worst one being the way it handled the citizenship issue, which bordered on the farcical.

The government’s ‘them’ and ‘us’ EU policy, its hardline attitude to migrants and its labelling of the Opposition as “lackeys” of Europe in response to criticism has also been worrying. Moreover, it got us nowhere.

Labour’s pandering to the construction and hunting lobbies is also disappointing and it should now consider adopting more of a balanced approach; the Prime Minister should take the concerns of environmental NGOs more seriously.

The government seems to be serious about justice reform and deserves credit for this. The Justice Reform Commission published an extensive report making 450 recommendations, and last week Parliament approved in committee three amendments to the laws on criminal court procedures in the first phase of the reform of the justice sector.

But, and it’s a big but, the disregard this administration is repeatedly showing for the country’s institutions is becoming more worrying by the day.

Its handling of the impeachment process involving Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco is particularly shameful. When the motion was submitted by Lawrence Gonzi, Dr Muscat said he would abide by the recommendations of the Commission for the Administration of Justice.

Once that commission reached a conclusion that was obviously inconvenient for the government, Dr Muscat and the Labour-appointed Speaker went out of their way to ensure he would not be impeached before he reaches retirement age in the summer.

The decision to halt proceedings because the judge has initiated a court case would be laughable were it not so serious. Aside from the fact that Parliament is fully entitled to move ahead (if not, how can a judge ever be impeached?), if one takes the argument to its logical conclusion, courts should not convict a defendant just in case the decision in the first instance is overturned on appeal. Such a state of affairs makes a mockery of the system and, as justice reform commission head Giovanni Bonello said, reinforces the notion that judges in Malta are untouchable.

The decision to grant an amnesty to consumers suspected of bribing Enemalta officials has also overshadowed the good work it has done in the justice sector.

Dr Muscat’s apparent disregard for the Opposition in the nomination of Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca as president also smacks of an arrogant approach on the back of a 36,000 majority.

With the exception of 2009, when Dr Gonzi had the courage to nominate a president from the Labour camp, appointments of the head of State have always followed party lines and the occupant has never met with the approval of the Opposition. However, the Opposition has always been consulted. Simon Busuttil says he was afforded no such opportunity.

It is for Dr Muscat, of course, to choose how he intends to go on, though a blatant disregard for norms is likely catch up with him in the long run.