The proverbial calm after the storm does not, of course, apply to the political environment, which is always bubbling with new controversies that keep the pot boiling. There is hardly any rest in the domestic political debate. Sometimes, it keeps going even in the heat of summer, as happened this year with the debate over the contract for the extension of the power station at Delimara.

With the presentation of the Budget, however, the tempo of the cut and thrust in the national debate gets faster and the discussion more heated, leaving most people weary of politics and politicians. The real break comes at Christmas time, when all raging controversies are put aside for a well-earned rest from politics. But until then, there is still a long way to go as politicians, newspapers, broadcasters and analysts keep dissecting the Budget, each according to their party or personal political agenda or view. The reaction to the Budget speech by the Opposition Leader today will further fuel the debate.

Perhaps the measure most likely to stay at the very top of the national discussion is the rise in the value added tax on accommodation in hotels, to which the hoteliers have already protested. It goes without saying that the restructuring of Air Malta deserves a discussion on its own. The airline presents another hot spot in the economy that would have to be handled with utmost care.

Otherwise, there have not been any shattering developments that call for any real heated discussion, although in Malta developments need not be all that important for people to get all het up about. Just watch a political debate on any local television station and you are bound to get a good lesson in how best to interrupt your opponent and how to behave horrendously.

Yet, the Finance Minister provides enough choice quotes in the Budget speech to feed not one but a good number of discussion programmes. Take this quote, for instance: “Inefficiency, unnecessary bureaucracy, and corruption are our foes! We unequivocally declare that we shall continue our struggle to overcome them.” Well said, but there would appear to be need for greater determination in tackling them. It is all very well to make such declarations. The difficulty lies in translating them into action.

In fact, inefficient government bureaucracy is given as one of the most problematic factors in a business survey published with the competitiveness index for 2010-2011. There is much to say about inefficiency too, both in the actual government service and also, and in some cases particularly so, in state-owned companies, such as ARMS Ltd, or corporations, like Enemalta, although the provision of online services has eased the problem in some instances.

As to corruption, again, it is far from enough from setting up the infrastructure necessary to fight it. The government has to show, by example, it leaves no stone unturned to ensure it is checked all the time. In objecting to the calling of witnesses by the Public Accounts Committee in the case of the power station extension contract, the government members sent out the wrong signals.

All in all, what is particularly sad in the reaction to the Budget is that the focus on measures considered controversial outweighs the attention that also ought to be given to the way this tiny island state managed to beat the odds and register growth in the face of so much economic adversity beyond Malta’s shores. Such is life.