Since I was young, I was taught to respect the golden rule that in any competition one respects the result, especially when one is the loser. Three years ago, the general elections gave the Labour Party an outstanding victory. As an activist in the Nationalist Party, I was disappointed. However, as a true democrat, I fully respected the outcome since this was an expression of the will of the absolute majority of the Maltese electorate.

Personally, I did not think that the PN deserved to lose, especially so resoundingly. Thanks to sound choices made by the government led by Lawrence Gonzi, in 2008 the Maltese economy not only survived the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression but came out stronger. Nearly 10 years after joining the European Union, Malta and its government were highly respected by the other member states due to the sound political and economic policies adopted.

Nevertheless, the majority of the electorate voted for change. Let’s face it, the PN had been in government for nearly 25 years, except for the 23-month interlude. Some spoke of the need for change for change’s sake, since to them this was the logic of alternating governments in a democracy. Undoubtedly, the irresponsible action of some dissident MPs within the Nationalist Parliamentary Group did little to help the Gonzi administration reacquire the people’s confidence.

The Labour Party leadership apparently does not realise that regardless of party allegiance, a sense of decency is cherished by nearly everyone

Yet, one had to admit that perhaps that which was instrumental in Joseph Muscat’s victory was the Labour Party’s electoral campaign. Cleverly crafted, any minor error by the Gonzi administration was magnified beyond proportion. Tagħna Lkoll became the new mantra. Promises abounded. Even more deceitful was the emphasis on meritocracy and greater transparency in governance, as if the PN administration had failed on both counts.

However, Muscat and his government were barely sworn into office that the trickery became evident. Meritocracy was soon forgotten as the PL faithful, independent of their abilities, were given key positions in the State administration and parastatal corporations, often replacing senior civil servants who commanded respect for their competence and integrity.

Faced with criticism, the Labour government claimed this was necessary because these people were appointed to positions of trust in the adoption of policies, even if these included cleaners.

Lower energy costs and the firm promise of a new power station within two years had featured prominently in the Labour Party’s electoral campaign. Yet three years later, the completion of the new power station is still a long way off. Worse still, with crude oil prices tumbling down from $98 in March 2013 to $35 in March 2016, energy costs for the Maltese consumer have only been revised down marginally, to the advantage of the now partially privatised Enemalta.

With each day that passed, it became evident that the image of efficient planning and fair governance that the Labour Party had projected before the elections was just a sham.

Lack of experience was no excuse. What was daily becoming clearly evident was the fact that for most of the top people and those around them involved in the Labour administration, the most important thing was self-advancement.

In some instances, as when putting the party faithful on the public payroll, there was an initial unsuccessful effort to keep matters on the hush. With time, they became shamelessly bolder with some of those so advantaged boasting about their appointments on the social media.

Unchecked from the top, arrogance led to greater acts of daring, resulting in scandals, main ones being the Premier Café and the Gaffarena deals that have shocked all honest citizens. This not to mention the lack of transparency regarding certain matters of public interest, where taxpayer money is concerned, and the gross inefficiency and disregard to the provisions of the Constitution and the law as was the case of the recent nominations to the judiciary and, even more fresh, the Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri Panama affair.

The Labour Party leadership apparently does not realise that regardless of party allegiance, a sense of decency is cherished by nearly everyone.

Abuse and greed are resented by the vast majority of Labour and Nationalist supporters, since both parties are made up of tens of thousands who work hard to make an honest living.

Therefore, it isn’t just traditional PN supporters and the floating voters who believed the Labour Party promises before the last election who react negatively to the endless chain of scandals that plague the Muscat government. Even more shocked into disbelief are those Labour Party supporters who, because of their honesty, worked hard to cleanse the Labour Party of its image of violence and corruption that characterised the Mintoff-KMB era.

I see it daily with my own eyes in Swieqi when I meet people of integrity known to have supported the Labour Party in the last elections who are crestfallen at what is happening.

It is primarily towards the latter that Muscat is obliged to take the necessary action to rid his administration of persons who seem guided only by avaricious greed. He also owes it to the people, as their Prime Minister, to faithfully and conscientiously perform his duties in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of Malta, without fear or favour.

Honest and hard-working, the Maltese people have a right to and deserve good governance rather than the incredible mess that they have been witnessing for the past three years.

Noel Muscat is mayor of Swieqi and a PN general election candidate.