It is crucial that a prime minister does not lose touch with the people because that is the only way to be sure one is acting in their best interests. Joseph Muscat is certainly not acting in the best interest of the people when he suggests the postponement of local council elections till 2019, mentioning election fatigue and costs as two main reasons.

As Times of Malta rightly noted in its editorial ‘Healthy democracy at work’, Muscat is partly to blame for this election fatigue when he turned the campaign into a personal challenge between himself and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil.

As to costs, it was equally right to say that there is no price for democracy, but costs could be kept down.

In my opinion it is incredible how Muscat could think of doing away with such costs - a percentage of which go to a substantial amount of common people serving as counting staff and assistant electoral commissioners – while exorbitant salaries regularly go to the few.

The elimination of election fatigue is the responsibility of political parties. The new PN style of politics is precisely what this is all about, safeguarding the dignity of every human being by providing people with tools for self help within a participatory democracy having more know-ledgeable citizens.

People and leaders are constantly talking about ideas, following trends in other democratic parties and governments and following closely how others are meeting the challenges we are trying to meet.

It is when leaders act in the best interests of the people that a truly sound basis for a better society is enhanced and not by postponing elections and distorting democracy.