The European Parliament elections have come and gone. The people have spoken. But what messages they have sent will be the subject of much analysis and debate in the weeks to come. Perhaps the most important message that was sent, was sent to us – the Nationalist Party.
For the first time in 10 years the Nationalist Party has managed to elect a third member of the European Parliament – a feat that, while significant, is overshadowed by the fact that this was the third national election (after the EP elections of 2009 and general election of 2013) that we lost by over 30,000 votes.
It is no use trying to paper over the cracks. Despite a year characterised by Joseph Muscat’s many bad decisions, we were unable to strike a chord with a large part of the electorate.
Let me be clear, I do not interpret this result as an endorsement of Muscat’s policies. It is not. No-one suddenly believes that his infamous meritocracy pledge has become anything more than a sad joke.
However, people have stopped listening to us. The result shows us that we did not manage to attract many new voters to our fold or win back those people who have always voted PN but who now no longer feel represented by the party.
It is true that this test came too early for us to register inroads. It is true that the necessary focus this last year has been on internal finances and re-organisation. But the result is a strong sign that we must take stock of the situation. There are decisions that must be taken sooner rather than later.
We need to shore up the foundations that our party was built upon, while updating our policies to reflect the new reality that seems to have crept up on us.
We cannot be bogged down in having to defend positions and policies that may no longer apply today. Where we were right we should say so and not be ashamed to do so, but we also need to be able to hold our hands up and admit when we make mistakes.
The politics of principle is a formula that will always work and is one that will constantly expose the biggest contrast between the PN and Muscat’s government.
Where do we go from here? Our positions on issues should not be conditioned by what was done years ago. We need to look at every policy with a fresh pair of eyes and take stands on the basis of what is best for our country now. What was a necessary reality in 1999 or 2005 may no longer apply with the same vigour in 2015.
It is not only the content and context of our message that we must focus upon. Selling our message is crucial and we need to use every tool at our disposal. While the resources we dedicate to our media have to increase, the result shows us that just relaying our message on party media is not enough anymore. We need to keep ahead of the curve and have to come to terms with our presence on social media in particular.
We cannot be bogged down in having to defend positions and policies that may no longer apply today
Malta needs a strong opposition – an alternative government in waiting. We need to show that we are that alternative. We must show that we have better policies and will be held to higher standards than Muscat. I know that we have the team and the leadership to do just that and while the road is long and steep, I am convinced that with the right push we will get there.
Together with David Casa and Therese Comodini Cachia, our focus will be on the European Parliament and how best we can represent your views to ensure that every piece of legislation that comes our way takes into account the best interests of the people of Malta and Gozo.
I know that the eight other PN candidates who gave so much to the party and the country will remain involved. I have only words of gratitude for Ray Bugeja, Kevin Cutajar, Helga Ellul, Stefano Mallia, Kevin Plumpton, Jonathan Shaw, Norman Vella and Francis Zammit Dimech.
In the last months we have become closer to friends than colleagues. They have so much to offer and have made too many inroads with the electorate for their invaluable experience not to be fully harnessed. The European Parliament’s loss must be the PN’s and Malta’s gain and I am grateful that I will be able to rely on their advice and expertise in the years to come.
Allow me one final word of thanks to everyone who went out to vote, to those who believed in the team of Nationalist Party candidates and in particular to those 32,360 who gave me their first preference vote. I am humbled by your trust. I will not let you down.
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Roberta Metsola is a Nationalist MEP.