When the political language starts getting unduly intemperate, it is usually a sure sign of tension building up, either in relations between two or more opposing parties or in the country.

The general election, won with a most handsome majority by the Labour Party a year ago, has already receded into the background but another one, that for the election of members of the European Parliament, is around the corner and that is stirring up some political tension again.

It is only natural to expect the use of harsh political language at election time. What is usually distressing is that it is getting more abusive and intimidatory.

The use of harsh language in politics is not something peculiar to Malta. It is resorted to practically everywhere, except, of course, in North Korea and other places where the people are politically repressed. But, while in larger, politically stable countries, politics often takes a backseat, as it were, except at election times, it often takes a constant dominant role in small communities.

Yet, though this is still very much the case here, more and more people find the political atmosphere stifling, to the point that they often go against the national grain and refuse to toe the party line or, even, to follow politics on party radio and television stations. This makes sense since listening or watching the stations of the two parties can lead you to believe we are living in two different republics.

The turnout in elections remains high, indicating that the people still have politics in their blood. So, what is so unusual in all this? Nothing, except that in the last election many thought that Joseph Muscat, very much mirroring now Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in rhetoric and pledges, would pull Malta out of the political vice that has been gripping the people for so long.

As in the case of Renzi, at least to some extent anyway, they were carried away by his youth, his panache and, most of all, by his pledges. He was playing politics all right but he transmitted a feeling that he could lead the country to nirvana. Not only did the people believe that he had a problem-solving road map up his sleeve but that he even had a shortcut to it.

One year on, his main pledge, that of making the people feel that the country belongs to all, irrespective of party political allegiance, sounds so hollow that even his most ardent supporters probably cringe when they recall the promise.

Dr Muscat has not only failed to actuate his pledge but the way his government acts is making the situation worse.

This has produced the greatest disappointment so far and it does not seem likely that Dr Muscat is anywhere near to doing anything concrete to rectify it. His attempt at deflating or contradicting the onrush of criticism by pointing to the few Nationalist activists left in their posts is pathetic.

Meanwhile, his political talk is becoming more than intemperate. Accusing the Opposition of attempting to incite the people, as he has done lately, takes the country many years back in time.

The Opposition is not holding back from using harsh language either.

The vitriolic wind that is building up is reflected in the online responses to news stories, often leaving readers bewildered by the degree of aggressiveness shown. As the situation stands, it does seem that the political language is bound to get worse, not better.

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