I have to reply, once more, to an article by Desmond Zammit Marmarà, a Labour Party councillor and an insider of Ċentru Nazzjonali Laburista. This follows another and similar reply to a Zammit Marmarà contribution in which he had stated that “Joseph Muscat had shown admirable leadership qualities in the way he handled the Panama Papers affair”.

I would have imagined that he would not resort to other outrageous outbursts. But, I admit, I was mistaken. He succeeded to surpass himself in his latest article ‘The Political Situation’ (February 21). Now he is ranting that “the simple truth is that there is no alternative to a Labour government”.

Let me be blunt. Such a boastful expression of self-praise is nothing new in domestic politics. I happen to be of the opinion that, arguably, one of the most damaging pitfalls a Nationalist government fell into was precisely when certain quarters within it started to think and act as if there was no alternative to it. Notwithstanding this, many positive aspects of that administration, which were very evident, were overwhelmed by a wide-sweeping perception of arrogance.

Zammit Marmarà insists that, on balance, the Labour Party is not only heading for an “easy win in the next general election” but indicates that it would be nearly a walkover because “there is no alternative to a Labour government”. I will abstain from forecasting a result, but I take a very critical view when such an important Labour personality arrives at this conclusion. And this without confronting his statement with what Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said a few months back – that Labour will be once more the ‘underdog’ in the coming election!

I strongly challenge Zammit Marmarà’s statement. It would be extremely serious and utterly preoccupying for our country if his opinion truly reflects today’s reality. If the Maltese political class cannot provide from within it a decent alternative to this Labour government, then we, as a nation, must have reached rock bottom.

It is crystal clear that this is not only a corrupt government, but also the most corrupt we ever had. The innumerable scandals mushrooming by the hour, confirm that Labour reneged on its solemn pre-election grand promise that it will lead the country according to the best standards of accountability, transparency and meritocracy. Everyone can attest for himself that what was promised with great fanfare by Labour was trampled on the very minute it was granted a massive show of confidence by the electorate.

If the political class cannot provide from within it a decent alternative to this Labour government, then we, as a nation, must have reached rock bottom

Through Zammit Marmarà’s subliminal message, it is not difficult to conclude that Labour’s thrust in the coming election will be: forget all about the governance issue; after all this will not guarantee you a better life. Instead Labour will be trying to whitewash all the scandals we have lived through in the last four years – and those still to come – pointing to economic and financial results.

These results, one should keep in mind, were obtained in a situation where the European and world economic climate took a definitive favourable turn, oil prices plummeted to record low, and people are holidaying abroad as never before. Moreover, industries introduced in Malta by the PN in government – such as financial services, ICT, iGaming, aircraft maintenance, pharmaceuticals and the Freeport – are also rendering excellent results.

In his urge to boost his favourite political party, Zammit Marmarà also mentioned by name people on the staff of Labour headquarters and heaped praise on them for their assiduous work. He mentioned Gino Cauchi, Nigel Vella, Louis Gatt and Dominic Grech. Being a Nationalist Party functionary myself, I don’t have anything but respect for these gentlemen because I know for a fact that such work, though satisfying, may be arduous.

But I would like to observe that Zammit Marmarà referred to different sections at PL headquarters without any reference to their finance department.

It may be either an innocent oversight or a conscious choice. It may also be that he had no access to the notorious fourth floor of Labour’s headquarters where a number of ‘dirty deals’ had been concluded prior to the last election and which, I feel morally convinced, will be repeated in the coming months. It would have been very enlightening had Zammit Marmarà supplied readers with the persons manning this crucial department.

As for his highly opinionated view of the Nationalist Party, it is very evident that his vision is blurred by acute partisanship and detachment from the reality on the ground. I appreciate that Zammit Marmarà must have written his article prior to PN’s manifestation on February 19. That national demonstration for democracy and freedom amply showed that the PN is fast becoming more appealing to a vast section of our electorate and is passing from a phase of widening its base once again.

I refrain from making any forecast regarding the PN’s prospects in the coming election. What I know for sure, however, is that the PN is doing its best to offer to the general public a valid alternative based on sound policies.

The seven reports it has already published with proposals which had been thoroughly discussed internally and with relative stakeholders already cover a wide range of subjects such as an economy for the people, good governance, the environment, traffic improvement proposals and the retail sector.

Feedback we continuously receive is positive and encouraging. I know this also from hundreds of home visits I made in the last months but I am aware that we still have a herculean task in front of us.

What I will not do, however, is to resort to self-praise as Zammit Marmarà did about his party, also in the knowledge that as Avijeet Das (an Indian poet and writer) says: “Self-praise is the first sign of insecurity.”

Jean Pierre Debono is PN deputy secretary general and election candidate on the seventh district.

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