Despite efforts to keep the backlash expected by the Nationalist Party to its dismal result in the European Parliament election, leaving it to the party leader to try to mitigate the negative impact with measured public utterances that include depicting the result as a draw, there was virulent public reaction to the outcome. This includes very blunt and harsh comments by former top party officials.

One of them went so far as to call the Nationalist administration, leader and all, a bunch of lackeys. Efforts to silence open expression of why some thought things had gone wrong, continue. So far, they seem to have covered the container of hurt and complaints with a tight lid.

Even so, it is clear that there is great resentment that old faces were retained by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil in ap­point­ing his party’s spokespersons, especially since some of his appointees were tasked to shadow their former portfolios, and in regard of the team at party headquarters.

While direct condemnation of or even comment on the leader was not openly made, indirect pointing of the finger at him could not be missed, though his role was not quite fairly interpreted.

The Nationalist examination of their conscience will go on for a long time and there will be much internal controversy on how to start the rebuilding of the party.

On the Labour side, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said, as soon as the extent of the Labour victory became known, that he would not let it go to his head, and he called on his colleagues to do the same.

That was a wise stance. In fact, while the Nationalists will be desperately beavering away at restructuring behind the scenes, the Labour group will be in full sight, both in terms of the management of the Labour Party and of the government.

What goes on within the party will be less immediately open and visible. But there is a lot to be done to maintain and improve the sleek machine so painstakingly built by Muscat and his team.

What goes on in the government will be seen in full view, both in real time and on occasion with a lag. Despite the massive European Parliament victory, what goes on has to be revised continuously if the government is to stay in shape and operate in a manner that will earn it the right of a second term.

The point of departure has to be better recognition that the government is there for the whole people, not party supporters and switchers only. Lawrence Gonzi had set a bad example by stuffing every nook and cranny in the public sector with Nationalists or fellow travellers.

The Labour government has to find a better way of working with the Opposition, though it takes two to tango

Muscat has overseen the necessary replacements which, despite the howls of protest, have not resulted in a public sector with political appointments as extreme as those made by the Gonzi administration.

One has to look back and not forget, yet to do so is not enough. It is time to bring into play the basic philosophy, for that is what it should be, that, yes, Malta belongs to all of us.

At the micro level it is to be expected that the government will work to right injustices carried out over the 25 years of Nationalist administration. But at the macro level, not only should there be efficient government but everyone should get his due.

It is not easy to operate in this manner at the political level. But it is essential that it happens.

It is also essential that ministers and parliamentary secretaries realise that they are not executives. The executives are the civil service and the top echelons in the rest of the public sector. Ministers and parliamentary secretaries set policy and exercise oversight to see that it is properly implemented.

Ministers and parliamentary secretaries also have to realise that they should be responsible for positive action up to the level of their responsibility, achieved with full collaboration with each other.

Muscat has donned executive presidential garb. That should not mean that he has to have a finger in every pie, that things cannot move without his say-so.

The government has its policy, as enshrined in its electoral programme. The Prime Minister and his inner core have to be satisfied that ministers and parliamentary secretaries are carrying out, and not be seen as the easy fall-back for ministers and parliamentary secretaries who do not have a good grasp of their responsibilities.

Common to all is the task of ensuring that bureaucracy is whittled down. The Prime Minister has appointed a unit to see that is being done. I, for one, am not yet satisfied that it is working properly. Bureaucracy still abounds, not least in egoistic delineating of territory.

Moving on after the excitement of the first 15 months in office, the Labour government has to find a better way of working with the Opposition, though it takes two to tango.

I am not saying working ‘together’ deliberately. An Opposition has to oppose.

But there are ways of ensuring that even where disagreement exists, things are done better. And there are areas – in security, foreign affairs, public health and education, to mention but four – where more cooperation should be possible.

We shouldn’t say that after the European Parliament elections life is returning to normal.

Government and Opposition, whatever their internal joys or troubles, should strive for better times.