Maybe it was expected but, when it finally happened, it still surprised many, perhaps because it occurred in Malta many years ago. I am referring to Mgr Paul Cremona's decision to step down as Archbishop of Malta after just over seven years in office.
In the past few years, particularly following the divorce referendum, many felt that Mgr Cremona was suffering. He looked tired and somehow burdened with a cross that might have been too heavy for him. Perhaps he was too kind, too saintly for a post that requires a thicker skin, more shrewdness and a strategic mind-set. Today's society presents a big challenge. It is miles away from what Mgr Cremona's predecessor had to deal with. A dangerous form of individualism has taken over our society, which makes it harder for any community leader, political, religious or otherwise, to exercise any kind of effective influence, let alone shape or mould it in line with a set of values or beliefs.
The nation will now await a new leader for the local Church. The vacancy arose earlier than one expected following the enthusiastic welcome the affable Dun Pawl was given seven years ago. But it happened. Mgr Cremona showed a lot of courage when he spoke to the media to talk about his illness and his decision to resign. It reminded many of Pope Benedict's surprising and sudden resignation a few years ago. Both men showed a willingness to give up their seat of power so that someone else could take their place.
The process to nominate another archbishop may seem long. However, I believe that looking for the right person is crucial. Names have started being mentioned. Normally, such gossip proves to be irrelevant to the ultimate outcome. However, will it be the case of better the 'devil you know' this time? Should one read too much in the tapping of one's shoulder or in one's connections in the Vatican? We will wait and see. Hopefully, the final choice will be one that provides this Island with a leader who is able to lead his flock into a challenging present and future and to be a major positive influence on our nation. The new spiritual leader of Malta and Gozo should not be one who distances himself from controversial issues, if his input is expected or required. He may not be popular for expressing his views, he may also be criticised, but those who belong to the Catholic Church expect their leader to speak out, to guide them, to contribute to a national discussion and, why not, to influence, in a positive way, the outcome of such discussion.
Government has been cornered
This thought crossed my mind on seeing Prime Minister Muscat using dry humour when replying to the Leader of Opposition's incisive criticism on the government's failure to keep a major electoral promise. It was evident from the very beginning that Dr Muscat had nowhere to escape this time around. There were so many clips that showed very clearly what he had said in the run-up to the 2013 election and its aftermath, that ultimately nobody was in doubt back then he had made it clear that it's either a power station in March or 2015 or he would quit. Amazingly enough, in his panic he tried to make us believe he had never said so. Then he told us that what is important is that he still lowered the water and electricity tariffs. And then, like a rat who finds itself cornered, Prime Minister Muscat and his ice-bucket partner, Minister Konrad Mizzi, indulged in a spate of attacks on the Leader of the Opposition and other members of the Nationalist group, particularly George Pullicino. Muscat decided that once there was no way he could defend himself against breaking a major electoral promise, he could only 'escape' by going on the attack. He was sure that some of the lackeys in the pseudo independent media would give him the headlines he desired. And in fact they did. But ultimately, at the end of the day, he was not able to explain why he broke a promise he so vehemently boasted about up to a few weeks ago. He couldn't even answer one of his own, Marlene Farrugia, who interrupted Minister Mizzi to ask him to speak about the new timeframe for the completion of the (in)famous power station.
I expect this government, who seems to be fuelled by lies and perceptions, to continue diverting attention onto other issues until such time when another major issue dominates the news and grabs the people's attention. It is the duty of the Opposition to keep reminding how this government had the cheek to deceive the electorate in such a big way. They deceived people by saying that that the new power station would be ready by March 2015; now we know it will not; they deceived people by telling them that as soon as they are elected they will stop using HFO and change to diesel until the new gas power station is ready. We are still using the HFO, the 'cancer factory' as they called it and apparently we will be using it for a long time; they deceived people by telling them that they have everything in order and are on track in their dealing with the partner-companies they will team up with. Now we suspect they are in big trouble, so much so they are now mentioning other companies that were never mentioned, such as Siemens.
I cannot say that I expect this government to own up and admit that it had lied to the people in order to get their vote. So my hopes are pinned on the timely awakening of this nation to realise that we have all been taken for a ride by a party which is more interested in tightening its grip on power and the perks that come with it, than to safeguard the interests of the nation.