It is no coincidence that in the same issue of the Times of Malta (May 12) we were presented with three leading articles concerning the decline of moral and ethical values in our society.

In the editorial it was stressed that we are living “in a society in which ethical standards are taking a nosedive, with the party in government giving the worst possible example in this direction”. In another article, Robert Busuttil comments that “integrity is the absolute must for those who hold (public) office”, while Ranier Fsadni, in his weekly column, deplores the way we are being gradually and subtly forced to accept standards that in no way tally with the principles of democracy.

“It’s the standards we are being asked to accept that are twisted,” he writes. This is the present state of affairs in our society.

These are the signs of our times, signs that should make us, citizens, who are sovereign, air our voices and take guard of such false principles that run counter to what we believe in and stand for.

It seems corruption has infiltrated all sectors of society.  We are losing all sense of what is right and our democratic system is slowly being eroded.

Those in power think they have an absolute right to reverse what is morally correct. Opposition leader Simon Busuttil is promising and promoting clean politics under the slogan Politika onesta and independent parliamentarian Marlene Farrugia, a former Labour MP, has disassociated herself from all that is corrupt and unbecoming in the Labour Party.

This gives us some hope but, we, as citizens, have also to give our share.  We are vested with the power to elect whom we deem fit to govern us.

We expect from all MPs integrity and honesty.  We therefore need to scrutinise each candidate before we put our trust in him/her in the next election for only those with moral integrity can assure usof a society based on sound moral principles.