The Americanisation of Maltese politics was not born yesterday. But it has definitely intensified over the years as evidenced by the presidential style of campaigning and by the increased reliance on social networking.

… (the government’s) key strategists are proving to be by default the (Labour Party’s) major assets- Leo Brincat

But one characteristic that has definitely stood out in recent months and weeks has been evident mainly on the government side. Rather than taking a gamble, the party (without a majority) in the coalition government (or, should I say, the one that seems to be cohabiting with some discomfort) has long been compelled to go negative as it seems to be the only option and card left for it to play.

I am reliably informed that, while in past legislatures the Nationalist Party felt that it had the edge in that it could try to get away by projecting itself as “the natural party” fit or even predestined to govern, this time round it knows full well that this mantra does not wash anymore.

So it has no option but to try and convince the electorate that although it might be perceived as a dysfunctional government it so happens that, according to spin, “the Labour Party is a far more rotten lot”.

As a result of this perception, the strategic decision has been long taken to resort to gutter tactics of the worst kind. One does not need to dig deeply to come across evidence of such a strategy.

Anybody who dares to criticise the government or its untouchables – even if in no way associated with the PL – stands to be hunted, gunned down and/or sniped at. Even if metaphorically speaking. And tainted with political apartheid too.

We saw the outgoing auditor of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority attacked frontally by none other than the Prime Minister and the Mepa chairman as well as by a number of regular columnists.

Although he exposed innumerable scandals that included the villa in Baħrija belonging to Victor Scerri, the Ta’ Baldu permit and certain key appointments within Mepa itself. His biggest “sin” was that, apart from regularly exposing abuse, he showed through his findings that Mepa had often run foul of its own planning and environmental rules.

That his department was further depleted of resources was common knowledge. On the other hand, his daring reports in the otherwise staid Mepa annual reports were always something to look forward to. His revelations proved to be a most inconvenient truth for a government long past its sell-by date. Let us hope that his legacy will live on.

The same fate is meeting all those who dare to question the government’s wrong priorities when it comes to capex on certain mega projects. While some conveniently choose to keep silent on these issues, the same way that others have deliberately steered clear of commenting on any scandalous environmental health issues not to embarrass the government, the government itself seems to have made one serious miscalculation: that its key strategists are proving to be by default the PL’s major assets in the unfolding campaign.

On the one hand, we have Austin Gatt’s arrogance – which seems to know no limits – on which many disillusioned Nationalists are inclined to comment about vocally during our regular home visits.

On the other hand, Paul Borg Olivier’s lacklustre underperformance as general secretary of the PN is making some of his predecessors stand out as gurus of the first order by comparison.

It is bad enough to have ministers weighing their own party down due to their economic and financial mismanagement of their portfolios. It is definitely far more alarming when those who should be steering the PN ahead on the road to electoral recovery happen to be the ones shooting their own party in the foot through their own actions and/or attitude.

As the frustration grows and the PN appears to find it even harder to regain lost ground since the beginning of the year, its reliance on negativity is far likelier to grow faster too.

This has nothing to do with certain people giving as good as they get or simply refusing to sit idly by. It is more a question of forgetting all about offering hope and change and becoming ossified.

With all this in mind, it might be easier to understand why such a concerted effort seems to be under way to eviscerate the Muscat team.

Possibly since they have realised that GonziPN has suddenly become its own worst enemy.

In politics it is standard fare for political parties to go for a more balanced mix in their way of attacking but the scales have long been tipped towards negativity within the GonziPN ranks. No doubt, with the Supremo’s blessing.

The projects that they are boasting most of will simply earn the PL more brownie points once they are launched with much pomp and circumstance. Take the new Parliament building and the roofless theatre as two glaring examples.

Even the Air Malta rebranding was ill-timed, to say the least, coming as it does at a time when the restructuring process is still a work in progress and when there is still much pain ahead for its personnel. The celebratory mood of the launch merely rubbed salt into the wounds. I am convinced that GonziPN will not hold back with its vitriolic attacks, which can only get worse in the coming days, indifferent to the fact that they will merely continue to come across as out of touch with present day realities, concerns and aspirations of society at large and the shrinking middle class in particular.

So be prepared for what Americans tend to call the “poisoning of the water table”! You have all been warned.

Brincat.leo@gmail.com

www.leobrincat.com

The author is opposition spokesman for the environment, sustainable development and climate change.