They say a week in politics is a long time; a few long weeks of letting the country bleed and not function properly because of the Panama scandal is not just too long but a downright scandal.

This is a scandal of immense proportions and the only one who could have solved, or saved it, was the Prime Minister. He failed and he is now not just part of the scandal but the scandal itself.

As a doctor first and a politician second I cannot but draw a similarity between the two professions. If action is not taken quickly a small ailment can become serious. A silly problem can potentially have such serious repercussions that the patient could end up in a life-threatening situation.

Unfortunately this is what Muscat—not a medical doctor—has done. The problem was not small: having your most trusted, close associates connected to cover-ups and involved together in setting up companies in shady jurisdictions just after taking office is hardly a small thing.

The connection to intended graft, money laundering and bribery is not yet proven but why set up the companies and try to open secret accounts? If nothing was planned then no trusts, companies and accounts would have been opened or tried to be opened.

The premier could have, like a good doctor, taken immediate steps. Malta, as a patient, would have been spared so many weeks of suffering and blood-letting with such terrible consequences.

To be even more drastic: if a doctor knows you have a problem which can spread, he or she takes immediate steps to incise it away.

Even the good book, the Bible, tells us that it is better that a man plucks out his eye than risk not getting to heaven because of that eye.

Three years after winning his election, Muscat, instead of the cocky, cheeky man of old, is seen as tired, politically naïve and desperate

Taking action to throw out the bad, the wrongdoers, the ones who dabbled in Panama cover-ups would have made Muscat be seen as a saviour, a decisive man, a man of true vision. He would have been seen as a man who truly loved not his vote-catching powers but his country above all else.

Instead, Muscat let the patient bleed then pretended to take remedial steps when it was way too late. He didn’t even boot out the culprits but left them in his office. Not to stare into thin air—but to be close, very close to projects and decisions which could have potential graft connected to them.

The way the Prime Minister has failed to take decisive action is making this country, both as a financial centre and as a nation that adheres wholeheartedly to good governance, take a decisive step down and be seen as shady, with the possible corruption of ministers and officials.

If a week is a long time in politics, three years should be an eternity. But three years for a super premier who promised earth-shaking changes not only in his party but in the whole country is short, very short.

Muscat had a 10-year vision —and all diehard, softcore Labourites and independents, as well as some PN commentators, thought ten years could also easilybe extended to 15 if not 25 years ofLabour government.

The vision is now very blurred.

Three years after winning his election, Muscat, instead of the cocky, cheeky man of old, is seen as tired, politically naïve and desperate to save his, and his close associates’, skin. He now has gone to the extent of retaining Konrad Mizzi when ministers, MPs and even high-ranking spokesmen of the party are rooting for his complete removal.

Jason Micallef used the comparison of a ship and its captain. Slowly the sailors and even those in command are getting angry, bored and worried. Not just for their own skin but for the ship’s position and buoyancy.

More rocking of the ship will mean that either Muscat takes proper action and rights the direction of the ship or it will go down with all in it. Malta, even the Labour Party itself and their dreamed-of movement, deserve better.

Even the best, most advanced ships, are vulnerable and can go down easily and quickly as we saw some years ago in neighbouring Italy when a cruise ship hit a reef and sank in an incredibly short time.

Muscat has no way out except to go himself as he is too closely associated, too closely linked to the Mizzi and Schembri pair. If he goes and another captain—or doctor—takes over, the ship might make it. Otherwise, Labour and Malta’s reputation are doomed.

Mario Rizzo Naudi is a Nationalist Party election candidate.