The PN and its allies in the so-called independent press made a song and dance about the government’s decision to hold public consultation about its proposal to postpone local council elections so they would be held at the same time as MEP elections in 2019.

The PN, as usual, has gone overboard with its usual negative stance on whatever is done or proposed by this government.

It accused the government of “playing with democracy”. Way back when the PN was in government, it had no qualms of conscience or fears of undermining democracy when it decided to withdraw a number of its candidates at the last minute before the deadline for applications to contest the local elections at Żejtun and Marsa, if I remember correctly. This was so that no elections would be held in these two localities where Labour was known to enjoy a very strong majority.

That was indeed a case of “playing with democracy” because the PN chose the localities where they did not want elections to be held. This time, if the government finally goes ahead with its proposal, all local elections would be postponed and not just those where the PL thinks it would be in its interest not to hold elections. In this way many more voters would be expected to take part in both the local council elections and the MEP elections.

Besides, Maltese voters would be spared the fatigue of yearly electoral campaigns.

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