What ultimately undid the former Nationalist administration, apart from the inevitable passage of time, was not actually the process of governing. They were doing that quite well: the economy was sound, investors had confidence and there were no major shocks.
Their overriding problem was an ability to rid themselves of the constant sideshows, whether these came from errant backbenchers or from public relations disasters of their own making, such as the honoraria issue, water and electricity, and public transport. Voters, and perhaps even the party itself, reached a stage where they could take no more.
It is still too early to say what kind of track record Labour will have in governing, though there are already worrying questions about the state of the economy.
People within government are not helping the situation, as they embark on a blame game rather than seeing what they can do to boost market confidence. Such an approach, as we saw after the 1996 election, will only cause harm.
However, of equal concern are the constant sideshows that have taken centre stage so early into this government’s term. They are just not going away. On the contrary, they appear to be becoming more serious.
Former Police Commissioner John Rizzo’s testimony in court last week that he had the Attorney General’s support to charge John Dalli is worrying in the light of his successor’s decision not to proceed against the former European Commissioner.
Commenting on this revelation, Nationalsit Party leader Simon Busuttil said: “This is a dark week for democracy.”
The then-Police Commissioner could not proceed because Mr Dalli was abroad, citing a health condition. Shortly after he returned, Labour replaced Mr Rizzo with Peter Paul Zammit, who said there appeared to be no grounds for proceedings. Labour then appointed the former EU Commissioner to head the reform at Mater Dei Hospital.
Has the Attorney General’s position changed? If so, why? If not, the perception among the public will be that the Police Commissioner’s decision had political undercurrents. This is a most unhealthy state of affairs, which has prompted Dr Busuttil to call for Mr Zammit’s resignation.
Politics definitely appears to have played a part in the move to replace the Armed Forces of Malta’s Brigadier (his deputy was also moved some weeks ago before retiring). Why did this happen? Everybody acknowledges that these two men were the most highly trained for their positions in Malta. They were extremely well qualified, committed no known misdemeanours, and yet have been moved on.
If there is one party in Malta that must take extra care in its handling of the police and army, it is Labour, whose past history in this area is anything but glorious. But because of its huge majority at the polls last March it is steaming ahead with impunity.
It has been brazen too about the appointment of the Energy Minister’s wife to a highly-paid post at Malta Enterprise, as an envoy (or is it ambassador?) for Asia.
There was no call for applications, no discussion at board level, and no consideration that no matter how well-qualified the woman in question may or may not be, the fact that she is the wife of a minister, and that things were done in this way, smacks of a government that is already living in an ivory tower.
The very things Joseph Muscat used to criticise about the former government have already become hallmarks of his administration. How’s that for progressive?