I want a Nationalist Party whose policies are in sync with the aspirations of our society. To be truly the people’s party, the Nationalist Party must understand Maltese society and analyse its continuous development. It is for this reason that if elected leader of the Nationalist Party I will set up an independent think tank, made up of experts in the field, to provide us with regular analysis. The first task of this think tank would be to come up with a detailed report on the state of Maltese society today – a bottom-up approach of socio-economic analysis that will, in turn, allow us to come up with relevant evidence-based policy.
Firstly, we must analyse the state of the family in Malta. What are people’s aspirations in family life? Which types of family constitute Maltese society? What are the commonalities and differences between different families? What are the impacts of ageing, migration, culture and situations such as health and employment on family life? Which people are most likely to be facing challenges such as loneliness and mental health issues?
We must have a clear picture of the state of Maltese workers today. Where do Maltese people work? What commonalities and differences are there between unionised and non-unionised workers? What is precariousness? How can we give a voice to workers who experience bad working conditions, low pay or both? Are Malta’s middle and working classes overworked? How can the government ensure a decent standard of living? What are the impacts of rent, housing, cost of living and long working hours on employees? Where are there severe problems with work-life balance? How can economic policy ensure solidarity and avoid an increase of inequality and speculation bubbles?
The PN as a force of relevant, effective and game-changing politics, a party one can relate to, an inspiration for young generations and a responsible choice for all
The Nationalist Party must ensure that through its policies, all Maltese people can enjoy a better quality of life. For this reason we need to analyse in detail what the priorities of our people are when it comes to a good quality of life. How can we have a physically and mentally healthier society? How can we have a cleaner and less polluted country? Are Malta’s public services accessible by everyone?
How can we have a transport vision beyond roadworks? How can we get around Malta and Gozo? How accessible is Malta to the disabled, the elderly and children? Which public spaces are valued by people in Malta and which ones are under threat? What constitutes a good lifestyle for people? How important are village feasts, hunting, farming, sport, music and other hobbies for people?
We need to start from the essential, the basic elements upon which everything else is built. Who do Maltese people trust and fear? Who do they interact with? Where do they feel they belong? How important are social identities for people? Which localities are most cohesive? Does Malta have north/south, urban/rural differences in terms of people’s communities? How can we live together? How can we match people’s individual rights with people’s social responsibilities? How are we to discuss and decide on ethical issues?
Being in Opposition is a time to prepare ourselves for when the time comes for us to take the lead. We aspire to be the government that would not let anyone down. For this reason we must start analysing what constitutes good governance for the people of Malta. Who trusts and mistrusts institutions and why? What do people expect from the government and politicians? What do people expect from local councils, government authorities and institutions?
This exercise requires research at macro and micro levels. Social trends and perceptions are very important, but so are particular realities as lived in everyday life: in families, communities, work places, on social media and in organisations. There are plenty of studies already in several of these fields, and in many cases it is a matter of making the links between research and politics.
This is my vision for policy-making within the Nationalist Party – wide consultation, focus groups, stakeholder involvement and internal debates will lead to a policy programme that is based on what our society needs. It will aim to ensure that we provide our people with the country they want to live in, the lifestyle they aspire to and the aspirations they deserve to reach.
This will make the Nationalist Party, once again, a force of relevant, effective and game-changing politics, a party one can relate to, an inspiration for young generations and a responsible choice for all.
Chris Said is contesting the election to become leader of the Nationalist Party.