Simon Busuttil has not given up his insistence on good governance and clean politics, even though his party has lost heavily at the election. He is, of course, correct because if these values were worth fighting for before the election they still are today and they will remain so, irrespective of other motivations that led the majority to choose the Labour Party again.
As he did throughout the election campaign, Dr Busuttil again spoke with conviction about these values when he addressed the party’s council meeting last week. Hopefully, his successor will keep up this battle for these are fundamental issues that ought to differentiate the Nationalist Party from the indifferent and highly arrogant attitude of Joseph Muscat and his Labour Party.
While often boasting about the legislative measures his government has taken to beef up good governance, the Labour leader has openly made a mockery of the principles he pays lip service to. Not only that, but, through his oratory skills, he has managed to make many believe that the Nationalists were just being negative when speaking about the government’s sharp fall in moral and governing standards. However, not all is lost as a huge segment of the population still believes Labour has no moral compass.
Wrongdoing may be in the DNA of most Maltese, but there is a difference between a petty temptation to bend rules and accepting wrongdoing by those elected to represent the people, either individually or collectively by the party in government. In this last election, many were prepared to give Dr Muscat the benefit of the doubt but for how long will they continue doing so? As more practical needs are met, people usually become more discerning.
When State institutions hold back from doing their duty in the face of wrongdoing, the democratic process starts to corrode, putting in danger the national interest in more ways than one. In this respect, the howls of protests by certain Labour people over the way Maltese members of the European Parliament acted in the recent debate in that parliament was pathetic.
Their reaction suggested warped, weird, and medieval views of how the democratic process works. In their opinion, the European Parliament is a foreign institution when it is our parliament as well, and our MPs have as much right as others to criticise Maltese members.
Membership of the EU has helped instil greater institutional discipline but with the onset of the Labour administration, matters are taking a wrong turning. Life is not just about economic wealth but, also, about values and norms. Dr Busuttil illustrated this point when he said it was the norm for a political party leader to step down on losing an election, as he is doing, just as it was the norm for a political leader to step aside when he is under investigation. But Dr Muscat has other ideas.
While this and other examples of disregard for good governance do not bother Labour, others are shocked at the way governing standards have tumbled down. Simon Busuttil’s legacy is his unwavering stand for good governance and clean politics. Joseph Muscat has time to correct his tainted legacy but his taste for populism may keep him back from changing his ways.