Since the last electoral budget, which had the effect of making people say that only a small percentage of what was taken away from them was given back, prices have been going up without control. People of all political opinion are quoting hefty price increases in food stuffs, medicines, etc far beyond a few cents - which is making the Lm1.50 cost-of-living increase (dissolved by parking for a short time at Mater Dei Hospital) look like a slap in the face.

The government has an agreement with some importers that no price increases will be effected between January 1 and March 31. To my knowledge this agreement of a national importance has not been made public and we just know the surface of it. We also know that the result of this agreement is that price increases gone berserk have taken place before January 1 to re-explode on April 1. This will be the first April 1 when people will not feel like joking as they will be reeling under the big bang of price explosions - as aptly described by the former president of a commercial association recently.

Obviously, the government can't afford to hold an election after April 1 as it would be the best exercise in political suicide.

The last budget - and the quicker its wobbly intentions are forgotten the better - was meant to be an electoral budget placing the PN in a comfortable position to call a snap election and carry it away. But the people's enthusiasm turned out to be as exciting as an early Monday grey, humid, drab morning. And Dr Gonzi and his jolly team were very visibly shaken and angered at this "ungratefulness" of the people.

But what do you expect when you have been battering the people with insensitive taxes and giving back a tiny part of what you have taken? Do you expect people to have short memories and jump for joy in euphoric somersaults when you take liri out of their pockets and put back miserly cents?

So the government has embarked on Plan B. The budget has not impressed. OK, so we postpone the election and commence our new strategy meant to eliminate the more or less six per cent difference by which the MLP is leading the PN. Separate agreements, sand castles and candy distribution exercises behind forced smiles are being made with every Tom, Dick, Harry, Pupull and Filomena to bring back some enthusiasm and lost sheep.

This is not working either, as people are recognising it as a weary attempt at the crisis management of a sinking ship. The resulting stiff percentage difference will only determine whether Dr Gonzi will be opposition party leader after the next election or seek the safety of the back bench behind the more efficient John Dalli.

Australia goes left

After more than 11 years of high cost of living brought about by the conservative government of Australia, the time has come for a new beginning down under. As in Malta, the cost-of-living issue was of major importance in Australia. Several excuses were offered by the Conservative party but, as in Malta, the people believed that the few were comfortable and the many frustrated. The Maltese and Australian Labour parties have had excellent relations for a long time. This should serve to strengthen ties between the two countries - without any danger of frisking in Perth as happened to the gentle Dr Gonzi.

The Australian Labour government will also sign the Kyoto agreement - proving that the Left's respect for the environment is serious and not affected by the greed of developers.

Petrol in Malta

Those who drive and fill up their petrol tank in Europe are surprised that a tank-full of petrol will take them quite a few kilometres. This surprise comes from the fact that petrol in Malta is one of the costliest in Europe. Thus, if you tell the petrol station attendant that you need Lm5 worth of petrol, he will ask you if you want to fill up your lighter or your new version of musbieh. But like everything else, petrol prices rise from abroad - not for the people in Europe, but for the Maltese only. This explains why cart ruts in Malta are preserved and protected - in preparation for the year of excellence 2015.

Billboards not edible

The government is under the false impression that billboards promoting this or that of its last-minute gasps, will make a difference in its downward incorrigible slide to sad unpopularity. I have heard people exclaim that the cost of living, especially of foodstuffs, is a harsh reality unaffected by billboards. Alas! Billboards are not edible!

VAT on spinach

You will eventually succeed if you try and try again. This is an optimistic suggestion we sometimes hear when several attempts fail. When one has tried and tried and crashed, it's very easy to say: "Keep trying; don't give up". This reminds me of the six failures in local council, Euro Parliament and Commonwealth results obtained by Dr Gonzi. This serial loser pattern inevitably makes you conclude: "Can this man not get one right?" Can the PN under his "strong arms" on the rudder - and a new way of doing politics - not win any voting event? Makes you wonder if there is a heavy VAT on Popeye spinach.

Bridge

We are told that the blessed Manuel Dimech bridge will last 100 years (like the roads that were to last 25 years and cracked in less than 25 months). But with some luck, babies born in the year of excellence 2015 can still enjoy this bridge when they are 85 - even if they drive their cars with two strong hands on the steering wheel.

Terinu

As the election approaches, you hear more and more about the Terinu story. It's too long to be repeated here, but the web makes this story of political intrigue rather exciting. It's enough to type Terinu on your search engine. May I suggest to Super One TV - which has won the best television station award - to make a programme about Terinu and Gerald Strickland. It should be an eye opener.

Euro near you

I noticed that town and village centres for euro information in Malta and Gozo are in parish halls although local councils are a more logical place for this. One parish centre was left out: Centru Parrokkjali Opus Dei.

Popeye

I disagree with the pantomime's name Popeye. Some politicians with two strong hands on the rudder may feel taunted.

Dr Licari teaches psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics and geolinguistics at the Department of French of the University of Malta.