Maltese History Examination Paper, May, 2059

The Negative Post-2008 Period In Malta

(Answer All The Questions).

1) Despite the Nationalist Government’s statements that it was creating new employment opportunities in the Maltese Islands, unemployment rose to 7.3% in June, 2009. Analyse the causes of this failure of the Lawrence Gonzi administration.

2) “Malta under the Nationalist Government, which was re-elected to power in March, 2008, was a place where noise pollution was rampant despite the EU’s Environmental Noise Directive. There were also no laws regulating noise pollution in the country”. Comment.

3) During the first part of 2009, Malta had the dubious distinction of having reached the top of the Eurozone’s inflation league. Which factors contributed towards this situation?

4) Despite a crushing defeat at the European Parliament Elections on 6th June, 2009, the PN Government persisted in following policies which were highly unpopular in the country and which many Maltese regarded as being anti-social. To what extent did this create dissidence within the Nationalist Party itself?

5) Evaluate Joseph Muscat’s work as Leader of the Opposition. Would you agree that, at an early stage of his leadership, he was already manifesting the qualities which would later serve to help him bring about a long period of prosperity and progressive change in the Maltese Islands?

6) “The Nationalist Government brought about change at the pace of a tortoise”. Would you regard such a statement by a contemporary historian as being too harsh on the Lawrence Gonzi administration or is it a correct reflection of the truth? Support your arguments with historical examples.

7As a Leader, Dr Lawrence Gonzi had his faults and failures but nobody could fault him on his democratic credentials”. Comment.

8) “The PN Government’s outstanding debt of 3,820.4 million Euro at the end of June, 2009 is a crowning example of its failure to tackle this problem in the period after the 2008 General Election”. To what extent did the Government’s inefficiency and incompetence contribute towards compounding this problem?

N.B. Remember to be objective, critical and fair in your comments.