Despite claims of being progressive, modern and approachable, the true colours of the self-confessed Mintoff aficionado are slowly but constantly blooming – political intimidation and blackmail.

Joseph Muscat needs to thank his lucky stars that the press and its audience are so engaged with envy fomenting spins on adequate pay to MPs, how Lawrence Gonzi should vote in Parliament on the divorce issue and whether Arriva was to be temporarily allowed to use Bisazza Street. I would find it otherwise very difficult to understand how the press failed to report on things to come by the default Prime Minister following the next election in an effort to put some sense to his fetishes.

In his sad performance on Xarabank, in the absence of any substantive indications of what the country will be like when he fulfils his ambition of becoming Malta’s youngest Prime Minister, he certainly did show some very worrying inherited traits that will form his actions, namely political intimidation and blackmail. The first was very evident when, rather than answering a question by a member of the audience he thought it was fit to make it clear he knew who the person asking the question was. The latter was even more evident when the only alternative he proposed, other than his infamous nod to letting migrants drown, was the use of vetos to block EU progress unless they play ball. To add insult to injury the poor thing sees this as negotiating excellence.

Let alone other dangerous suggestions, such as taxing employers, overriding court decisions and what sounds like a “Blue Sisters” remake, these traits send shivers down my spine. As they say, people get the politicians they deserve!