Lawrence Gonzi has won the general election. …. Just, but just is good enough. He will be the Prime Minister for the next five years. As a friend of mine put it, Dr Gonzi managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

His charisma prevailed. By the end of the day more people believed in him than in the alternatives others proposed. Many people were ready to forget mistakes made by his government, the arrogance and incompetence shown by several of its members at different levels, the pettiness of those who find magnanimity towards others something too complex to understand. He readily acknowledged mistakes, apologized and promised to do better. Besides his charisma, Gonzi had positive results of great significance to show. These results were achieved thanks to his hard work and that of many others around him.

Dr Gonzi successfully faced many challenges. Now back at Castille he faces several other others. I would like to focus just on one of them, i.e. the transition from gonzipn to gonzimalta. The transition from a party leader (gonzipn), a role which by its very nature is partisan, to a prime minister (gonzimalta), a role which by its very nature is national.

During the electoral campaign he repeatedly said that “Kullhadd ghandu valur”. “Flimkien” was the operative word. Now, as Prime Minister, he has the duty to change these slogans into an action programme.

We can look at this country of ours as a country split in the middle. Two almost equal halves. This kind of analysis shows a negative attitude. It shows the attitude of those who are not able to change a threat into a possibility. On the other hand we can look at our country as a living organism with two lungs, not two halves. It will be the challenge of Lawrence Gonzi to see to it that both lungs are used. We will move forward only if we move forward together.

In 1981 Mr Mintoff, faced by a country split down the middle with the majority rejecting him, decided to put forward the most divisive policies. Undoubtedly Dr Gonzi is not that kind of politician. Quite naturally he has a political programme to put forward and it would be wrong of him not to do so. But while doing so, he has to be wise enough to throw overboard the dead weight, prune the arrogant and give room for all possible and available talent to give a contribution. It would be a disaster if people feel left out because of their political leanings or attitudes. The people who now feel hurt, abandoned or betrayed have to be shown by concrete measures that there is a place for them and their talents in the building of the country.

I think that the best way to achieve this is for Dr Gonzi to leave the greatest possible place and space for civil society to actively participate in all sectors of society. Past experience has shown that in the environment of civil society people of different political persuasions work together for a common aim. The civil society organism is using both lungs to breath. The forging of more civil society/public partnerships is consequently the best way forward.

Competent people of different persuasions should find a place in boards of different entities, councils, companies etc. One could consider the feasibility of asking the MCESD to put forward names of competent people who could then be considered together with others to fill in the posts that will now be vacated on all these groups, councils, company boards etc.

While acknowledging that all the Presidents of Malta, whatever their political persuasion, excelled in the execution of their task, one should make an effort to have the next President either from a political background which is different from that of the government or from a non-political background.

The Maltese bishops addressed the post election period in their pre-election pastoral letter. The Bishops stated that: “After the elections: Besides, we would like to suggest that, as from now, the political parties start taking decisions, which are made known to the people, on the kind of attitude they want to follow after the elections, whatever the service the party will be giving to the country, in Government or in Opposition. We would like to see, as from now, the political parties promising to collaborate together as servants of one nation, especially in social matters, such as the drug problem; young people and their future; usury; the protection of stability in marriage and the family; the environment; and the historical heritage.”

The electoral campaign should be now put behind our backs. Our politicians take up this challenge proposed by the Bishops because it is the challenge being proposed by the country.

The other winner

This election gave us two winners. Lawrence Gonzi on the PN side and Michael Falzon on the MLP side.

Dr Falzon’s behaviour at the Naxxar counting hall put him head and shoulders above his colleagues in the Labour Party. All the country appreciated immensely the way he and Joe Saliba of the PN worked together. At a difficult moment (which looked like an eternity) he was the only visible face of the top leadership of the Labour Party. He carried the burden with dignity till the very last moment.

The cooperation shown at these very difficult hours is a good sign for a cooperation between a revamped government and opposition.