It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, and it was the age of foolishness.” These are the opening lines of the classic novel A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. It recalls the social and political rumblings in two major cities, London and Paris, before and during the French Revolution.
Paradoxically, this opening statement is very appropriate and relevant to two other European cities today.
Valletta and Bratislava are currently two cities sharing the same hideous tale; the assassination of two foremost investigative journalists. Both journalists shared a mutual undertaking, that of uncovering political sleaze and skulduggery of politicians and their enablers. Both were deemed a pain in the neck to those who dread good governance, legality, honesty and the truth.
My commentary here is not about Daphne. I am confident that after the recent arrest of the chairman of Pilatus Bank, the alleged Chris Cardona’s drinking buddy encounters, and the disturbing disclosure of 17 Black’s account revelations, only the blinkered and the gullible are still in denial that Daphne was right.
My appraisal here is about the aftermath, the political reactions of the two cities.
Although Malta and Slovakia are both members of the European Union and over the years have both registered democratic credentials, the political reactions which followed these horrendous barbaric acts are diametrically opposed.
In Slovakia, the Minister for Culture, the Minister of the Interior (both were being investigated), the Prime Minister and the police chief all stepped down and shouldered political responsibility after several calls to do so by thousands of protestors demanding their resignation. Truly, it shows a country that chose wisdom over foolishness.
Now, spot the difference. Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, Economy Minister Chris Cardona, chief of staff Keith Schembri, the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Police and their minder, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat are still clutching tightly to their seats of power. A culture of impunity has been further cemented.
Although three notorious characters have been arraigned this does not diminish the political responsibility that has to be borne, more so till the identity of those who orchestrated this murder is established.
To add insult to injury, citizens who protested and voiced their concerns were intimidated, targeted, ridiculed and even called for questioning. While the police had time and energy to question dissenters, which in an open democratic society is encouraged, it had no aptitude to question sleaze politicians and their enablers.
Although Slovakia had a turbulent Communist past, this nation is giving us a crash course in democracy on how to be and act truly European. Although the Labour Party converted to the European project and is enjoying its gravy train, it seems to be that it still has a problem mastering the basic democratic principles of European governance.
Sadly, my experience of Labour has always been of a party that struggles to deal with good governance, transparency, freedom of expression and accountability. It seems we are reliving the dark days when Dom and Lorry, abided by their thugs, ran roughshod over us.
Although there is a price to pay for being an active citizen, honest Malta is calling you to stand up and be counted
Admittedly, compared to Keith and Konrad, Dom and Lorry’s endeavours now seem very shoddy and innocuous to say the least. Rallying people for support is part of democracy; rallying support so as to shut up and intimate your critics is autocratic.
Is Joseph emulating Erdogan or Aliyev? Hope not.
We urgently need to make a European quantum. From a mere European member State we need to deliberate and act with a true European mindset. The politics of ‘u ejja, come on’, where the unjustified is justified and embraced is leading to a democratic and ethical deficit.
Sadly, the Panama – Pilatus Bank debacle, Daphne’s horrendous assassination and its aftermath, the everlasting sleaze culture and the systematic meltdown of institutions goes to prove this kind of degeneration.
Although Muscat and his State-paid trolls are trying hard to impress us with the economic surplus (although this success story is not being shared and told by all) and are also deviously trying to deviate public attention by introducing controversial ethical discussions, many law-abiding honest citizens are not swaying at all.
Many citizens are not only feeling embarrassed and disappointed but are outright angry at this disdain and erosion of fundamental democratic values.
Feeling angry is more than justified.
This goes to manifest that we are not indifferent and apathetic, an accusation often levelled and subtly used by government’s spin doctors to achieve their goals. Hopefully this increasing anger is routed into the right democratic channels.
Although the role of civil society and of all political parties have a pivotal role in keeping the government accountable, at the end of the day it boils down to us, that is you and me.
How much are we willing to accept this sleaze culture? How much are we willing to step out of our comfy ‘I’ and embrace, the ‘we’? How much are we ready to compromise our core values of honesty, integrity, social justice and good governance? How much are we prepared to vote in politicians who are bridge builders rather than trouble rousers massaging their big egos? How much are we ready to accept that the country comes before our political alliance?
My sincere appeal to all Maltese of good will is that although there is a price to pay for being an active citizen, honest Malta is calling you to stand up and be counted. The time is now.
“It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.”
May we be wise and courageous enough to choose wisdom over foolishness.
Albert Buttigieg is deputy mayor of St Julian’s and a Nationlist candidate.