It was reported that “the findings of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, published lately, painted a picture of a democracy that is barely functioning as it should and that is in dire need of reform”.

This is being said 54 years after Malta gained its independence and 44 years after it became a democratic republic. Which means the two major political parties have not done a good job to preserve and strengthen democracy as was required of them. Judging by their record so far, it is felt “the dire need of reform” expressed by the Venice Commission is not bound to succeed, not even now.

It seems only the people can do that. They have been clamouring for this for a very long time and the time is approaching for them to put it into practice. The needed structures for this change are already in place.

The people in 27 of the 28 EU states have realised that, to curb the power of any prime minister, truly, and not through the conventional “checks and balances” that normally do the needed work, is curtailing the same power by diffusing it between at least two political parties, and even more, in Parliament through a coalition government.

Every time this subject was brought up for debate in Malta, the big political parties always put the word stability centre stage only for autocrats, authoritarians, oligarchs and cliques to emerge, flourish and prosper. This vicious circle has been turning, and turning, for the past 54 years.

Despite having coalition governments over the past couple of decades, Germany built the strongest economy in Europe and Italy, with similar political structures, has managed, not without greater difficulties than Germany, to do the same.

Only Malta out of the 28 countries of the EU has a one-party government. So far.

In coalition governments, there are no inbuilt loyalties among parties and MPs that can, and do, lead to bribery and blackmail intended to preserve and perpetuate absolute power.

There are only negotiated collaborative agreements on policies, procedures and practices between political parties, which can, and will, be rescinded if and when power is abused and democracy is in danger of collapse, as hinted to Malta lately by the Venice Commission.

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