The photos of the Prime Minister sitting cross-legged on the floor cuddling a puppy and surrounded by children must have melted the heart of dyed-in-the-wool Nationalist supporters. But for the majority of people in Malta the Prime Minister latest image enhancement exercise is yet another attempt to promote the politics of deceit.

After 20 years of almost uninterrupted Nationalist Party rule, the spin doctors at Pieta know that their best chance of surviving is to depict a soft, warm and colourful image of the Prime Minister, while at the same time demonising the Labour Party leadership. We have seen ample evidence of this in the last few weeks.

When certain journalists start to knock the Labour Party leader on matters which are purely personal and of no importance to the people he will serve when elected Prime Minister, you know that the “men in grey suits” at Pietà are not liking what the opinion polls are telling them. So out comes the character assassination weaponry from the party’s armoury.

On the other hand they depict the Prime Minister in glowing light, just stopping short of putting a halo round his head wherever his picture appears. We will no doubt see more pictures of the Prime Minister in a friendly and reassuring context that tries to tell us that with Gonzi “what you see is what you get”.

But most people are seeing things that Dr Gonzi and his acolytes would prefer us to forget and ignore. What our families are seeing for instance is a serious threat to the quality of their lives as a result of the ever-increasing cost of living. And these are not just destitute families who seem destined to be the underdogs of society throughout their lives.

We are increasingly seeing middle class families who were used to living a decent life with what they earned, but now have to struggle to provide for themselves and their families. They rightly feel that the State has let them down because they have to pay for the health services they need since the public health system is simply not delivering. They also have to cope with the ever increasing cost of educating their children in private schools, without the state ever giving them some significant acknowledgement for the burden they are shouldering.

The Prime Minister tries to project himself as a statesman who is prepared to listen and who treats all Maltese with equal respect. And yet he and his ministers surround themselves with trusted diehard Nationalist stooges whose only aim in life seems to be to enrich themselves at the cost of the hardworking families who pay their taxes regularly. Just recall the various incidents of sleaze that has plagued the government over the past several years.

The Prime Minister holds regular meetings with the public to “listen” to their suggestions, only to then do what he believes will most favour his party’s chances of gaining electoral success. He announces projects for the future and promotes his vision in glossy publications, forgetting that only a few years back his party promised, but failed to deliver, the rebuilding of the national theatre in Valletta, the redevelopment of Dock No 1 in Cottonera, and the construction of a new golf course.

Decent, hardworking people who resent being taken for a ride will not be impressed by the Prime Minister posing with cuddly dogs and surrounded by innocent children. There is nothing innocent about this administration. What we see is a tired team which has run out of ideas, and whose only interest is holding on to power at all costs.

It is for these reasons that the majority of Maltese will look beyond the rosy pictures of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet members that will no doubt adorn the publications our letterboxes will be littered with over the next few months.

It is for these reasons that they will opt for change because they know that what they see in glossy brochures is not what they will get from a dysfunctional team of dispirited politicians.

Dr Mangion is deputy leader of the Opposition.