As usual, in Malta the ferment is at its best when we are taken up by what is sold to us as a national issue even if I must admit that to me this is a storm in a teacup! Important but not decisive, notable but not critical, weighty but not vital.

But with a country that seems to have a “scarcity” of pressing national issues, having an MP disagree with his party makes the news and the media world goes in first gear and journalists in fits! So all cameras and mics are now set and our bloggers are writing reams of reviews, reflections and opinions discussing Franco Debono’s antics. Everyone is hitting the keyboard with consternation!

Well, this is how it should be, no? We can afford to put all other “insignificant, tiny and unimportant” issues on the back burner.

Who cares about the insistent need to have a decent mental health legislation?

And who is this idiot who thinks that if we do not review our welfare services and benefits our poverty rate will propel to astronomical proportions?

And the situation at Mater Dei Hospital ...?

And the unsustainable use of our water assets, traffic beyond control...?

And the inaccessibility of services and opportunities for disabled people?

Oh all this can wait.

And the need to review parts of the Constitution that needs serious rethinking?

And a media institution in crisis?

And an environmental agenda that is coughing up blood?

And services in the youth domain that need urgent review and address?

And youth and women unemployment?

All this can wait as well...

I cannot but go with the tide and would like to give my take on this “mammoth” issue we have at hand.

Have a look at my blog post, I am no pigeon. Dr Debono, like many others, is no pigeon, at least he definitely is not ready to be cast into a pigeon-hole. Dr Debono is an “issues” person. The way I see him, he’s a young man with loads of ideas that have been repeatedly brushed under the carpet. His shrewdness will keep “getting him into trouble”.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has made one massive miscalculation: He hasn’t realised he has a coalition on his hand with all the dynamics that such a state of affairs brings with it.

Considering the covert and overt collusion the Prime Minister’s had with some Nationalist Party stalwarts, namely, European Commissioner John Dalli, President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami and his junior “assailants”, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Robert Arrigo, Jesmond Mugliette and, obviously, Dr Debono and the bad blood that flows in the backbench, it is clear that if this government wants to see through this legislature, a change of pedagogy is called for.

Let’s admit that Dr Debono’s reaction to the transport reform is what most of us felt and thought. We have given this reform all the time in the world to fit in nicely with a “modern” country. But all we got was people being taken for a ride (apologies for the pun). We have gone absolutely nowhere with this reform (and this is not only metaphorically speaking).

Austin Gatt has hit a brick wall. His casual attitude has earned him a legacy I wouldn’t want my enemies to have to carry. He has done good things for his party. He has modernised the PN, won them elections, reformed the party, helped coin Dr Fenech Adami. On the other hand, his arrogance is beyond redemption.

The Prime Minister is on the wrong side of history this time round. He should have toned down Dr Gatt’s powers one or two times these last years. The Prime Minister has been changing the wrapper too often. Dr Gatt has been botched in Arms Ltd (now taken over by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech), has not offered a lasting local councils and local wardens model (now taken over by Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said) and has miscarried the PR campaign when selling the new power station project. Apart from that, he has convinced the Prime Minister on an €80+ million project for a Parliament and theatre (without too much of a function) and all of this against the grain of public opinion.

This is the time (the last opportunity in my eyes) for a much-needed Cabinet reshuffle. The Prime Minister has an excellent opportunity to bring in people like Beppe Fenech Adami, Charlo Bonnici and, yes, possibly Dr Debono and perhaps advance junior ministers Clyde Puli and Jason Azzopardi.

Unfortunately, this has ended up being Dr Debono versus the stability of the government. This political/party instability doesn’t do any good to the country. It needs fixing.

www.andrewazzopardi.org

Dr Azzopardi is senior lecturer at the Department of Youth and Community Studies, the University of Malta.