When the Labour Party rose to power in March 2013, after beating the Nationalist party by some 37,000 votes, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat stood before the country and promised a brighter future for all – both the enthralled and the disenchanted. With talk of cheaper energy bills and a complete overhaul of the justice and health system, it was ordained to be a Spring and Cabinet of hope, a new way of doing things.

The more important ministries – health, energy, justice and finance were lucky enough to receive the undivided attention of individual ministers, all of whom had absolutely nothing else to chew on.

For the first time we had a boutique-style approach to justice, which was relegated to a parliamentary secretariat, left exclusively in the hands of a single parliamentary secretary who had no other distractions, portfolios or Cabinet cooks to spoil his broth. This proved most effective and valuable. General consensus was that the justice portfolio headed by Owen Bonnici was finally being taken seriously and given the attention it merited.

It was more or less the same with Konrad Mizzi’s energy portfolio. Even the electricity tampering revelations in early February this year, which led to an internal administrative probe, did not dim or put the light out on that ministry. On the contrary, it was a clear indication that although Mizzi had inherited an endemically corrupt portfolio, he was taking care of business and there was not going to be any sleeping on his watch.

Still, by winter 2013, there were some definite cracks in the Cabinet with the Health Ministry looking increasingly more unstable. The ministry got off on the wrong foot with the controversial appointment of the minister’s partner as his unpaid aide – a shortlived nomination which was over before it started.

Despite Marlene Farrugia’s magnanimous gesture which saw her leave of her own volition, I rather suspect she never quite did leave and lived through his portfolio vicariously. The pressure for her to step aside was clearly something she was unable to forget – much like a painful molar extraction. In fact, she has been far more vocal about his resignation than he has.

Another unhappy moment in Godfrey Farrugia’s career was the emergency makeshift tent erected on hospital grounds, removed almost immediately, by order of the Prime Minister, some time in early January of this year. At more or less the same time, John Dalli was curiously appointed to the ministry – an invitation supposedly extended by Farrugia himself – which had the reverse effect of undermining both the ministry and the minister.

It was definitely a winter of discontent for health – the underlying tension was palpable. Whether Farrugia was being deliberately tripped up or not is arguable but that he was often made to look foolish and his decisions frequently second guessed is indisputable.

While some claim that Farrugia was somewhat obtuse and not easy to work with, many – on both political sides – who knew his intentions were good have expressed sympathy and feel that he was very shabbily treated by Muscat who did not allow him to perform.

Deserved or not, so far, this legislature has definitely earned Muscat a reputation as a somewhat ruthless commander – whose political bedside manner is unflinchingly brutal, savage and suspect. We got a preview of it with Anġlu Farrugia and we came close to (not) seeing it again with Farrugia.

Because although you see it, you don’t. It’s definitely a quality Muscat seems to have perfected. For a person who is not afraid to cut his losses and who would rather lose the limb and go straight for amputation instead of letting the wounds fester, he is surprisingly good at keeping his frenemies close. And even if indeed there is no love lost, they all seem to find a comfort zone which works.

It works both ways of course. Farrugia’s alacritous resignation and tight-lipped behaviour outwardly devoid of reproach is admirable, gentlemanly and not something we are used to. Few would have walked away in his position. Most would have hung on, if only to create waves and spanners in the works. And yet the Labour Party seems to be bent on maintaining a united front. Phony or not, so far they are keeping it together. Perhaps Muscat does have an amazing technicolour dreamcoat locked up somewhere.

The health, energy and justice portfolios were already cumbersome enough when they were stand-alone ministries

The latest reshuffle, discarding and particularly the augmentation of some of the ministries, has demonstrated who was expendable and who was obviously indispensable. Some might see this as the equivalent of a ‘clique’ and accuse Muscat of favouritism. If Cabinet were a classroom and Muscat the class teacher, Bonnici and Mizzi (and a couple of others) might easily qualify as teacher’s pet although ultimately I’m really not sure whether the inflated portfolios will do them any favours long term.

Muscat has put a lot of his eggs in one of two baskets or ministries. It’s a risk which could make or break his government, especially considering that these ministries are usually where elections are won and lost. The health, energy and justice portfolios were already cumbersome enough when they were stand-alone ministries.

I have the same reservations about the new portfolios that have been added to the Justice Ministry (which now also incorporates culture and local government) and the Health Ministry (which now includes energy – an overload if ever there was one) that I would have if my favourite intimate restaurant with 20 odd covers suddenly expanded and went commercial.

It would take a very extraordinary and remarkable restaurateur to be able to keep things as they were. And I dare say the service, quality and tu per tu style would change. Time will tell what’s in store and whether these ministers will balance all the orders without dropping a plate or three.

michelaspiteri@gmail.com