Few would doubt that the quality and grade of governance of the present Labour administration is sinking fast, and hope is fading even faster that it can be restored to some level of decency very soon. So far, 2015 is proving an annus orribilis for Labour, as week in week out it is being tarred with scandal and sleaze.
As we slide further into the summer doldrums, one would have expected that the tone and level of the political debate would gradually fade. Not so much this year as the crookedness of the many decisions taken by this government comes to light, thanks to a vigilant media and an unrelenting Opposition.
Pressure is mounting on our Prime Minister to take his Cabinet to task in an attempt to arrest an increasingly wayward legislature faced with a multitude of allegations of corruption, nepotism and unbridled partisanship.
Unfortunately for us, the Prime Minister feels there is no rush for him to exercise his executive powers to clear the stables. It has become apparent that the massively overcrowded Cabinet he himself has put together is proving too unwieldy to control and has left Premier Muscat breathless in trying to quell the charges facing his government. While some of his ministers proceed quietly with their business, other elements in his troupe seem unwilling to behave by the book and relish in their untouchable fiefdoms they have hastily constructed over the past two-and-a-half years.
Political observers, the media, core elements of civil society and no less the Opposition have repeatedly voiced their disapproval at the way things are panning out. Muscat’s unilateral decision-making process baked in secrecy and spin have made short shrift of the politics Malta had become accustomed to – a decision-making process that strikes at the heart of many vital organs of our country be they the economy, the environment, health and education. At the present rate, and as we are midway in this legislature, things increasingly look unlikely to improve.
We are now faced with an even more unique situation. Doubts are even creeping in as to the legality and constitutionality of some of this administration’s decisions. A typical example is the Delimara / ElectroGas saga that is turning into a veritable farce. This week’s unceremonious dismissal of Gasol from the consortium intending to complete the project has been languidly handled by Castille. Clearly, our government has no intention to trip over the niceties of procedure and the rules that should be applied to such a crucial endeavour. In an effort to save face, Labour has dismissed all calls for revisiting the power station decision, preferring to save its political skin at all costs.
Doubts about certain legal notices are now also being voiced publicly by legal experts. One such example is the hasty dismemberment of Mepa. Clearly, the whole manoeuvre is intended to decapitate many of the powers the Authority had gained over the years, handing the same powers to the government that can take its decisions without undesirable resistance from the institution. The same legal expert doubts the very constitutionality of the whole exercise!
Two-and-a-half years into this legislature, it is abundantly clear that Labour had not drawn up a holistic plan for governing. We can safely wave bye-bye to the infamous Labour roadmap so proudly bandied about prior to the election. Now Labour handles its continuous hitches with unorthodox and novel band aids in a panicked rush to keep its populist image intact. This government is cutting corners and, alas, the chickens are coming home to roost.
Ironically, as Labour continues to paint a rosy picture of the economy, no significant real inward investment has come to fruition so far, barring the sale of national assets and the flogging of our passports. Our economy continues to rely on tourism and the financial and i-gaming industries while no further diversification appears to be on the horizon. Meanwhile, as Labour basks in its soundbites, significant investors in our economy such as TECOM are packing their bags and preparing to leave the island.
It’s time the government woke up to smell the coffee. Hopefully the laissez faire attitude and circumspect approach adopted by Labour will not persist as the next election beckons in 120 weeks.
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