The Labour Party is advocating change and during these five years it has positioned itself to strongly promote this change. Labour’s election campaign must have cost a fortune.
But it is now evident that Labour is more prepared to take power than to administer it properly. It is more prepared to overthrow government than to govern. Labour’s election programme is proof of this. Many of the proposals in this programme are unashamed copies of the Nationalist Party’s new proposals or of what is actually already being done during this legislature. So quite a few proposals simply promise to maintain what is being done today and sometimes they go a bit further by suggesting mediocre so-called improvements.
For instance, promise No. 2 of Labour’s manifesto promises that a new Labour government will keep education in state schools free of charge, as if anybody has been lately discussing the introduction of fees. Another proposal states that Labour will maintain the school building programme but, unlike the Nationalist Party proposal, it does not go into details regarding the number of new schools. In other proposals, however, they go as far as proposing the cleaning of schools and programmes of maintenance and upkeep. Wow! What a vision for education!
The attractive and expensive way Labour have packaged their proposals make their leader look like the innovative architect of a vision for modern Malta. In substance, however, the election programme relegates the leader into nothing more than a mediocre political handyman proposing the politics of maintenance.
Muscat’s idols: Sant, Hollande and the Cypriot model
What a Labour Government cannot promise is a solid future with solid finances. Muscat suggested to the Prime Minister that “we should copy Cyprus”. Lawrence Gonzi ignored this advice and was proved right. The current situation in Cyprus is not a happy one at all. Austerity measures have had to be introduced, while unemployment has soared.
Muscat also looks up to Hollande’s economic model. He should, of course, have a chat with the French Employment Minister who has declared that France is totally bankrupt. Of course, the easiest way is to blame it on the predecessor and that definitely rings a bell with Muscat, as he was a disciple of Alfred Sant when he discovered the renowned hofra.
Muscat has defended – and, indeed, adopted – all Sant’s 1996-1998 decisions, including his campaign against Malta’s membership of the European Union, the removal of VAT and the transformation of students’ stipends into loans by the notorious Labour government.
The fourth floor connection
Anglu Farrugia has made some very interesting revelations about the previously despised fat cats. Tony Zarb’s pushes, Tony Abela’s white block and Manuel Mallia’s accusation of Joe Cordina’s “fraudulent activity” reveal the true colours of the repackaged red square.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The Nationalist Party has proved itself in both its vision and implementation: sound finances, jobs, quality education and quality health care. Why take the risk of trying the clique of the fourth floor?