Emmy Bezzina’s programme Il-Parlament tal-Poplu on Smash TV may not be one of the most popular programmes but it does attract a number of viewers with interesting questions and comments.

Unfortunately, the programme also attracts a few twerps who try to pester and provoke the presenter with insulting, senseless and vulgar comments to which Bezzina reacts by rising to the occasion.

I write, however, to expressdisappointment at the ungenerous answer Bezzina gave to one ofthe questions put to him on December 21.

Rather than showing appreciation for the efforts and sacrifices made by the smaller parties in trying to put an end to the LP-PN hegemony – which is after all the main, if not the sole objective of his programme – he made no distinction between small parties and defined their candidates as “people who like to be seen and heard” but who do not have the wherewithal to see the challenge through. I found this most uncharitable and unfair.

Bezzina criticises both major parties with a heavy hand; and also a good chunk of the population for not waking up and renouncing the LP and the PN. We need new, capable alternative leaders, he says.

Good, but until these are born, or appear as they have in Greece and Spain, what are those reluctant to vote LP or PN to do? Not vote? Invalidate their vote? Or indeed choose the lesser evil of the two major parties? Will not the party chosen still be ‘an evil’? I should not think that Bezzina opts for any of these.

Does he therefore think that a vote for any of the smaller parties is a wasted vote?

While considering the answer Bezzina gave on television to that question as evasive and defeatist, as one having little faith in us “out there”, as one who does not offer any plausible alternative, I still appreciate the time he dedicates to his self-imposed, generous and brave mission in the political killing fields.