Political parlance extends a honeymoon to a freshly elected government – its first 100 days in office. This randomly chosen period is somehow meant to signify two contradictory things.

Gonzi waxed lyrical about the economic success of his government. But he said not a word about the failed Budget forecasts and the mountain of debt he left for his successor to deal with

One, that the new Government is still in its infancy, the start of its learning curve, and may be expected to commit mistakes.

Two, that its actions and decisions in the first three months will be indicative of how it will perform over the rest of its term of office.

The Labour Government is midway through its honeymoon. Already, pronouncements are being made about what it will be like as the months and years roll by. As always, opinion is divided.

The Government’s critics, including substantial parts of the so-called independent media, are already lambasting it for actual or perceived mistakes. Yesterday, they were given an expansion of the political terminology they can use. The defeated leader of the Nationalist Party, Lawrence Gonzi, dubbed Joseph Muscat as “emperor” in an interview with The Sunday Times. Gonzi first used the word unthinkingly. Having pronounced it, the jibe appealed to him and he started calling Muscat just that.

The outgoing Nationalist leader also demonstrated that he continues to live in denial, talking about 2008 as if he had won a thumping victory and about 2013 as if Labour had no say in his defeat.

(Gonzi also revealed that he has serious trouble in his left eye. I augur him that he can ride out the problem successfully.)

Those who support the Government, in contrast, think that the Labour Government has started well. It set about its early tasks with vigour, suggesting that Muscat’s will be a robust Administration.

The reality, as always, is a mixture of the two opposing views. Muscat has made some controversial decisions, including roping in the former Nationalist MP, Franco Debono, to coordinate preparations for constitutional reform and giving a waiver from the ministerial code of ethics to new Labour MP and parliamentary secretary, Franco Mercieca.

The Prime Minister has also made good decisions. Behind the scenes he is impressing people with his focus. A person involved in delicate negotiations about a public service told me that he was struck by Muscat’s grasp of the issue and his negotiating abilities.

Honeymoon or not, these are early days yet. The new Government will take a while to get to grips with the situations and issues it has inherited from the long-serving Nationalist government. Problems are to be found mainly in public finances.

In his interview, Gonzi waxed lyrical about the economic success of his government. Partly with good reason. But he said not a word about the failed Budget forecasts and the mountain of debt he left for his successor to deal with.

Not a word either about the deplorable state to which Enemalta Corporation has descended, running up a debt of €804 million, backed by a government guarantee, and a persevering deficit situation.

Not a mention of the substantial loan taken to build ‘tomorrow’s schools’. Though wisely used under the foundation chairmanship of Ray Fenech (who will now be chairing Air Malta), there is not the slightest indication how the €73 million bank loan that financed the building programme of ‘tomorrow’s schools’ to date will be repaid to the bank that gave it.

To go along with the honeymoon analogy, the new Labour Government has moved into a residence that was supposed to be finished and fully functioning.

Instead, it is finding that key parts of it are functioning badly. This calls for full focus to identify the damage fully and to come up with the necessary remedial action.

Some remedies are long term. There is no way that the Government will be able to reduce the ballooning public debt soon. It will continue to grow as long as there is a Budget deficit.

The first step is to attempt to reduce the rate of growth by lowering the Budget deficit, then trying to bring it into surplus.

That was the aim of the outgoing Nationalist Government. The Labour Government has to aim better, both on the revenue as well as the expenditure side.

There is much to do. The sooner the Prime Minister and his team finish the job of remanning the public sector machine, with sound appointments to the multitudinous committees and boards and in positions of trust, the better.

While some controversy is always inevitable, the Government has to concentrate on implementing its programme, under the watchful eye of the Opposition.

That the honeymoon period is halfway through is neither here nor there. It’s the results over time that count, particularly in terms of economic growth.