Who am I? What do I stand for? What do I want from life? These are fundamental questions in our life journey. To reach a level of maturity, one needs to ask and work tirelessly to attain a convincing reply. In the absence of any significant answers, one faces an identity crisis.

Are our main political parties facing the same dilemma? Do they need to undertake a serious soul-searching exercise to avoid one? What do they stand for? What is their identity?

The Labour Party, after almost 25 years in the wilderness, came back to administer the country with a bang. It had to win the last election to avoid closing shop. In doing so, the party had to seek wider consensus. Its traditional hard core voters were not sufficient. The party had to appeal to the middle of the road voters. It had to reach out to the traditional disgruntled middle class Nationalists.

To secure their vote, the Labour Party embarked on a slick marketing campaign. It updated its emblem. It replaced the boilers suits dress code with elegant suits and blue ties.

Stereotyped images of supporters made way to new well-groomed good looking young faces. The party promised transparency, accountability, merticocracy as a way of good governance.

The message was loud and clear: the Labour Party was now a new all-inclusive and a pro-business party, a party which had road maps to take Malta to a higher level. Its efforts paid off.

But in doing so, the Labour Party had to pay a price. It had to abandon the identity of the Left. The core values of the Labour were the values of Left-thinking parties: the low earning workers and their families, the elderly, the vulnerable people, the environment, the central role of governance.

Privatisation was always considered a ‘dirty word’. Over-familiarisation with large businesses, corporations and construction developers were always seen with suspicion. National patriotism was always encouraged over self-centred interests.

However, during these last two years, the Labour Party has almost transformed beyond recognition. It failed not only to renew its membership of the International Socialists group but distanced itself from main Labour dogmas.

From the mantra of turning Malta into another Switzerland, the new-found mantra is now that of turning Malta into another Dubai or Singapore!

The selling of our citizenship, justifying spring hunting, encouraging mega unsustainable projects, the privatisation of key national assists, lack of political will to protect the environment, shady dealings with developers, unethical behaviour by certain ministers and party members and threatening to push back those who seek refuge are surely all ‘black stains’ in the Labour Party’s books.

The vulnerable made way to developers and the big business gurus. Marlene Farrugia’s recent outburst that this is not Labour she worked hard for summarises it all. Finance Minister Edward Scicluna’s Budget speech, saying that single motherhood is not a profession, is a clear example. It was no surprise that a number of Left-leaning intellectuals sought assurance from the Prime Minister.

Now it will not come as a surprise that, on the eve of the general election, the Labour Party will try to recuperate some lost love by dishing out electoral goodies. The ‘power of incumbency’ will, once more, become convenient.

In doing all this, and more, the Labour Party has, in my opinion, compromised its core values. The Labour Party has deserted the Left. It has become more of a neo-liberal and neo-capitalist party. Dom Mintoff surely would have been saddened.

May both political parties renew their identities so that Malta will be a better place to live in

Is the Labour Party facing an identity crisis then?

On the other political spectrum, the Nationalist Party is still struggling hard to find its new role and identity within today’s secular and consumerist society, which, ironically, is the result of that same party’s silent revolution.

The Nationalist Party was always a rainbow of various political currents. Its objectives were always clear: the common good and dignity of each and every person.

The Nationalist Party always challenged the country to think big. Through Ġorġ Borg Oliver, the party challenged the country to be an independent State. Through Eddie Fenech Adami, it sought to secure a quality of life within the European Community. Through Lawrence Gonzi, the party worked hard to attain financial stability through the eurozone.

The party always challenged the country to see the sky as its limit. It empowered all to believe in themselves to achieve and to think outside the box. The Nationalist Part has always been a party with a vision that made people dream. It always had a forward-looking approach. The moment it became an inward-looking party, it lost.

And now? What does the Nationalist Party now stand for? What is the next challenge that will captivate the intelligence of the Maltese electorate?

The Labour Party’s commitment of Malta tagħna lkoll – a deep-seated desire by all to end the political tribalism - failed miserably.

What will be the Nationalist vision of governance? How does the party envisage Malta in the next 15 years?

The Nationalist Party needs to be bold once more. It needs to be visionary once more. Past mistakes, which might have distorted the identity of the party, need to be addressed. Without this, credibility with Joe Public will be economical.

Without a convincing reply, the party risks being only an Opposition party. Opposing for the sake of opposing leads you only to the Opposition benches. So Simon Busutill’s decision to set up various policy fora was reassuring. It was also a good decision to rope in new faces.

Seasoned politicians are still valuable. No seasoned politician who loves his/her party should feel threatened by newcomers. Through their experience, seasoned politicians can encourage, sustain and promote new candidates. Political life is like a relay marathon – passing the baton to others till reaching the common goal.

On the other hand, the party still needs to revamp its marketing strategy. It is through new candidates, good marketing and, mostly, through good policies that the Nationalist Party can find its renewed identity. And it is with a renewed identity that the party can be in a position to be an alternative credible government.

As a new candidate myself, I am all out for the Nationalist Party as a people’s party. A party where people do matter. A party that stands by the people and empowers them to go to a higher level. A party that takes account of the daily struggles and aspirations of the common people. An inclusive society, social justice, equality, education, protecting the vulnerable (which includes the environment) and good public governance are all central to attain this.

May both parties renew their identities so that Malta will be a better place to live in.

Albert Buttigieg is a PN electoral candidate.