From a very young age, I was taught to abide by the golden rule that in any competition one should respect the result, especially when one is the loser. Three years ago, the general election gave the Labour Party an outstanding victory. As a Nationalist Party activist, I was disappointed. But as a true democrat, I fully respected the outcome since this was an expression of the will of the absolute majority of the Maltese electorate.
I did not think the PN deserved to lose, especially so resoundingly. Thanks to sound choices made by Lawrence Gonzi’s government, in 2008 the Maltese economy not only survived the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression but came out even stronger. Nearly 10 years after joining the EU, Malta was highly respected by the other member states due to the sound political and economic policies it adopted regarding national and international issues.
This notwithstanding, the majority of the Maltese electorate voted for change. The PN had been in government for nearly 25 years except for the 22-month interlude during which the PL governed under Alfred Sant’s leadership. Some spoke of the need for change for change’s sake, as this was the logic of alternating governments in a democracy. Undoubtedly, the irresponsibility of dissident MPs in the PN Parliamentary Group did not help the Gonzi administration reacquire the people’s confidence.
Yet one has to admit that the PL’s electoral campaign was instrumental in Joseph Muscat’s victory. Any minor error by the Gonzi administration was magnified beyond proportion. ‘Tagħna lkoll’ (Malta belongs to all) became the new mantra. Promises abounded. Even more deceitful was the emphasis on meritocracy and greater transparency in governance, as if the PN administration had failed on both counts.
But Muscat and his government had barely been sworn into office when the trickery became evident. Meritocracy was soon forgotten as the PL party faithful, irrespective of their abilities, were given key positions in the State administration and parastatal corporations, often replacing senior civil servants who commanded respect for their competence and integrity.
Faced with criticism, the Labour government claimed this was necessary because these people were appointed to positions of trust in the adoption of policies, even if these included cleaners.
Abuse and greed are resented by the vast majority of Labour and Nationalist supporters
Lower energy costs and the promise of a new power station within two years featured prominently in the PL’s campaign. Yet three years later the new power station is still a long way off. Worse still, despite oil prices tumbling from $98 in March 2013 to $35 this month, energy costs in Malta have only been reduced marginally, to the advantage of now partially-privatised Enemalta.
With each day that passes, it is becoming evident that the image of efficient planning and fair governance that the PL had projected before the 2013 general election was just a sham.
Lack of experience is no excuse. It is becoming clear that for most of top people in the Labour administration and those around them, the most important thing is self advancement. In some instances, as in putting party faithful on the public payroll, there was an initial effort to keep matters hush-hush. But with time, they became shamelessly bolder, with some of those advantaged boasting about their appointments on social media. Arrogance led to greater acts of daring, resulting in scandals. The Café Premier and Gaffarena deals have shocked all honest citizens, independent of their political leanings.
There is lack of transparency regarding in matters of public interest where taxpayers’ money and gross inefficiency are concerned, and disregard to the provisions of the Constitution and the law, as in the case of the recent nominations to the judiciary, and now the Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri Panama affair.
The Labour leadership apparently does not realise that regardless of party allegiance, a sense of decency is common to, and cherished by all the people of Malta and Gozo. Abuse and greed are resented by the vast majority of Labour and Nationalist supporters alike, since both parties are made up of tens of thousands who work hard to make an honest living.
So it isn’t only traditional PN supporters and floating voters who believed the PL promises before the last election who react negatively to the endless chain of scandals that plague the Muscat government. PL supporters who, because of their honesty, worked hard to cleanse the Labour Party of its image of violence and corruption that characterised the Mintoff-Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici era, are even more shocked. I see it daily in Swieqi as I meet people of integrity known to have supported the PL in the last election who are crestfallen at what is happening.
It is primarily towards the latter that Muscat, as Labour leader, is obliged to take the necessary action to rid his administration of people who seem guided only by avaricious greed. However, Muscat owes it also to the people of Malta and Gozo, as their Prime Minister, to faithfully and conscientiously perform his duties in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of Malta, without fear or favour.
Honest and hardworking, the Maltese people have a right to and deserve good governance rather than the incredible mess they have been witnessing for the past three years.
Noel Muscat is mayor of Swieqi.