Last Saturday, 68% of the electorate in 34 localities across Malta and Gozo accepted an open invitation and cast their vote to elect their mayor and other members of the respective local councils. The other 32% couldn’t be bothered and rejected the offer. The reasons, good or bad, justified or otherwise should be looked into and seriously evaluated.
The introduction of the local councilsin 1993, though not all was plain sailing, brought about numerous positive changes and upgrades in various localities. In most localities people have gained an effective and an efficient reference point in addressing their daily concerns. One hopes that more funds are made available to the local councils to further improve their performance and doings.
Concurrently, on a nation-wide scale the electorate was invited to cast his vote in the first abrogative referendum – to abolish or retain springhunting. The result though close was won by the “Yes” campaigners.
The local council’s votes will be counted this Saturday. Undoubtedly, this will be followed by the customary hysteria after the electoral results are announced. At this stage I am taking the liberty to predict the local councils’ elections results. Mind you, I am not in the lucrative business of reading the crystal-ball,extorting good money from vulnerable people. So please do not bet on my predictions. However, having the privilege to observe from a distance I am projecting my forecasts on the feelers I receive from a wide-spectrum of people. Some clearly show they are still irritated, angry or frustrated at the way they were treated by the former PN administration.
A fortnight ago in this same column, I predicted that the PN would be losing this round of local council’s elections on the same premise. I predicted that it could not be any different after two heavy electoral defeats. Some expressed their disappointment at my conclusions. In my opinion the electorate is not as yet in the mood the change political allegiances notwithstanding the gross political errors committed by the current administration. As yet the PL can still get away with murder, metaphorically speaking, notwithstanding the PN is continuously crying wolf at every corner.
What might be of concern is not the negative electoral defeat but the aftermath within the PN structures. The re-enactment of the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, wherein Caesar recognised his friend Brutus among the assassins as he was being stabbed to death should be avoided.
But every effort should continue to be made with the electorate in an attempt to take the heat out of longstanding issues with the Party. Although, I am not on the ball but I can detect some organisational bottle-necks in the new PN structure. One of which is found in the setting-up of the new office called PN Kuntatt headed by Robert Cutajar MP.
Indeed, this might be perceived as a step in the right direction. However, without putting into doubt the skills, capabilities, energy and good intent of both the PN leadership and/orMr. Cutajar I have strong reservations about the effectiveness of this new office.
I say this in the light of the reformed PN leadership organisational structure, which now is beefed-up with another Deputy Leader for Party affairs. Introducing another tier, PN-Kuntatt office, in the organisational structure will hamper communication between the leadership of the PN and the electorate.
The electorate or people currently claiming acts of alleged discrimination should have access to the leadership team. The barring of people from former ministers and the leadership team was a major stumbling block which partly led to the PN to become disconnected with the people.An open line of communication is a must in a political party. The electorate should have access to the leadership of the Party without too much red-tape.
In the coming days the PL and its allies would be mounting pressure on Simon Busuttil encouraging him to throw-in the towel. That would be expected from his political opponents but this should not come from within his party.
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