Simon Busuttil does not seem to understand the Maltese electors, probably because he is such a decent man. It strikes me, and obviously this is only a personal opinion, that the majority of Maltese electors do not want a ‘clean’ system. Voting for a candidate is doing that person a ‘favour’ and, if the candidate is elected, a ‘favour’ in return is expected.

Start with the canvassers, who go all out, often ruthlessly and without scruples, to get their man or woman in. When that happens there is a warm glow in anticipation of all the ‘favours’ which will accrue to them and their families and friends. Michael Falzon explained this very well in his Sunday column.

When the candidate becomes a minister, the demand for ‘favours’ increases exponentially. The minister may have the power to grant ‘favours’ which will be highly profitable to the grantee. Human nature will induce that minister to feel that he or she too should benefit in one way or another.

Those notorious brown envelopes may well change hands. Of course not all ‘favours’ are financially motivated. They come in all shapes and forms too numerous to enumerate. One often hears bitter complaints from ‘staunch’ party supporters disappointed in not receiving an expected ‘favour’: “That’s the last time I vote for them!”

“What is the point of voting for someone if I get nothing in return?” There you go, that’s the way it is. This is how the people, or most of them, like it. And it is hardly likely to change soon.