The recent 13-hour marathon debate in Parliament had its high and low moments. Personally speaking, the best line was uttered by Simon Busuttil when he said that turkeys do not vote for Christmas. This phrase very much encapsulated the spirit of the bi-polar debate. With the Opposition members talking about Panama Papers and corruption and the government members trumpeting the government achievements, it was as if two unrelated debates were happening at the same time.
The debate, or should I say lack of, highlighted a weakness in our democratic system. Parliament is meant to keep government on its toes, to keep it in check. In recent history we have seen this system of counter-balance work during the short-lived Sant administration and during the second Gonzi administration. The checks and balances system works best when government’s own back-benchers question their front-bench.
Despite having a large majority in Parliament, the Prime Minister effectively killed off this counter-balance mechanism by appointing the largest Cabinet ever and giving executive roles to most if not all of its back-benchers. To use the Leader of the Opposition’s phrase, Joseph Muscat turned all government members into turkeys.
In two year’s time it will not be the turkey’s turn to vote. That will be the time when the chickens will come home to roost
Dr Muscat was well aware of what happened in the past and, despite the large majority, worked to limit the possibility of friendly fire. He did not want a repeat of the Sant and Gonzi backbench revolt and made sure that, administratively and financially, every government member feels part of the government crowd. The exception that stands out is, of course, Marlene Farrugia who refused to sell her principles.
Dr Muscat’s strategy paid off because, when the going got tough, his players played for the team. But they did not play for the supporters. And herein lies the problem.
The Labour Party was elected to government with the largest ever majority, on the back of clear promises including two key promises of good governance and accountability. Over the past three years, this government saw fit to discard these promises. The Panama Papers was not an isolated case... Just the most obscene.
Everyone is talking about it. In offices, social media and cafés people are discussing the absurdity of having the most influential and powerful Cabinet minister opening up secret financial structures in the far-flung corners of the world. That and the even more absurd situation of the minister getting away with it. And yet the Prime Minister and the whole of government puts up a show of business as usual.
Not only that. Instead of attacking the root of the problem that is causing the government to lose popular support, the government is resorting to tactics that, by the PM’s own admission are not impressing anyone. The attack on Ann Fenech, Simon Busuttil, Beppe Fenech Adami and Mario de Marco might have galvanised some of the Labour core-vote but it surely must have angered even more the crucial middle-of-the road voter. How can the government lament a negative Opposition while at the same time orchestrating baseless personal attacks about the size of a swimming pool, a bill that was paid or services that are offered by most legal and financial services in Malta? Who exactly is Labour trying to impress?
In the early months after the election, there was a general feeling in the country that the next general election result was a foregone conclusion. Labour would win. And it was within Dr Muscat’s grasp to deliver what would have been a devastating blow to the Nationalist Party.
But the mood in the Labour fold is now completely different. They know that they gambled away the most valuable chip of all: trust. And during that Monday’s sitting, they gave away the little trust they had left in their stables. The government representatives in Parliament were not speaking for the people. They were not even speaking for the Labour supporters many of whom are looking at this government in disbelief. Like turkeys they were voting against Christmas.
In two year’s time, however, it will not be the turkey’s turn to vote. That will be the time when the chickens will come home to roost.
Alessia Psaila Zammit is a PN general election candidate in the sixth district.