At the polls two and a half years ago, the Maltese people robustly decided for a change in government. The electorate did not mince its words and sent a clear signal that it longed for a change in the style of governance, a style it had been accustomed to for at least three legislatures.

And hence the political roles of the two major parties were completely reversed. Whilst the PN was cast into seemingly political oblivion, Labour was given its much anticipated opportunity to confirm and implement all that it had promised.

The people’s expectations from a new Labour administration were indeed high given the political prose so magnificently extolled during the run-up to the general election. Labour’s electoral mandate rested on four unequivocal covenants:

Malta Taghna Lkoll (Malta for everybody) – in essence Labour was promising to eradicate its percieved discrimination of the many and pledging the eradication of partisanship and discrimination on political grounds;

Tista’ taħdem magħna – Labour will collaborate with everyone without distinction even if one is known for his political affiliations. Throughout the electoral campaign Joseph Muscat unendingly spoke of a need for a revamped administration grounded on meritocracy and equality, free of favouritism and prejudice;

Road Map – Labour in government was supposed to hit the ground running with plans for essentially every imaginable sector be it planning, the environment, traffic management, health, education, inward investment, Mater Dei, AirMalta;

Energy bills – a comprehensive and detailed plan for the energy sector and the maligned electricity bills. This was based on the assumption that a power station would be built within 24 months and make up for any shortfall arising from the lower rates.

Two and a half years have passed from the 2013 result, plenty of time one believes to substantiate if the Labour pledges have come true. One would have imagined that a fresh, dynamic party returning from the political desert after almost 25 years of near uninterrupted opposition would impress. Yet with the benefit of hindsight one can safely establish that Labour’s 2020 vision is all skewed.

Labour is accused of being biased and extremist in its policies of social engineering

Effectively what we have been promised has not been delivered. On the contrary one feels we are at quite the opposite of what had been proposed and contracted.

In less than 30 months Labour hasthrown caution to the wind and made short shrift of our principal institutions. Outof the window went accountability, transparency, meritocracy and the good sense to govern within the expected parameters of a modern, democratic government supposedly shaped by newly found European ideals.

Indeed the very first political decisions upon Labour’s entry into office were a sign of things to come. Within the first few weeks a whole class of civil servants was wiped out. A whole class of management liquidated and with it a massive wave of inexplicable tansfers of individuals who had served this country well of many years.

Malta now boasts the largest ministerial cabinet since Independance. To boot, all backbenchers were accomodated with all forms of new titles and privileges along with perks and handsome financial rewards. All this with inexplicable acts of irrational greed in cases such as those of Cafe’ Premier, amongst others.

Indeed some form of reduction in energy taxes did come true. Definitely not the 25% so much vaunted pre-election. But a reduction anyway. Surprisingly enough the new power station, supposedly the gaurantor for these reductions, is nowhere to be seen so far. To add insult to injury the cancer factory in Marsaxlokk so vilified by Labour ante-election, trudges on with no sign of the heavy fuel oil being replaced any time soon.

This is nothing short of a veritable slapin the face to the people of Marsaxlokk and the ‘south’.

Constituted bodies are clamouring for further reductions in fuel prices in view of a massive 60% reduction in the oil price this year. And yet Labour in goverment carries on with this stealth tax hoodwinking the many as it is wont to in these circumstances.

In fairness, Labour has kept its word to be ‘progressive’ in matters of civil rights. It took the bull by its horns, something PN in government had dragged its feet on for too long to its own peril. And yet even here something is now going horribly wrong. In its frenetic race to be ‘progressive’, it is proposing amendments that are clearly half-baked if not also unconstitutional. The debate on the ban of religious vilification, surrogacy and the IVF saga amongst others is irking not only the Church but also stirring dissent in civil society. It seems sectoral interests today control government to the detriment of good sense and profound debate. Indeed some have gone as far as to accuse Labour of being biased and extremist in its policies of social engineering.

This country deserves better. This is one of the principal pledges the PN leader repeats time and time again. The PN’s renewed vision is one of politics for the people. A style of politics that is honest, transparent and unbiased. It it within this context that the PN must strive to prepare itself to be a credible alternative to this wayward goverment, punch drunk on power and clearly directionless.

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