In a few weeks’ time, the Labour government will celebrate its third year in office. Some time before the last election, Joseph Muscat solemnly promised that Malta would witness a political earthquake should the electorate choose him as the next Prime Minister. Indeed he has kept his word. Throughout the first three years of this legislature, Muscat’s government has broken quite a few dubious records in quite a substantial number of competences. All this in fewer than three years!
There is no doubt that the style of this government evidenced itself very early on. The conduct of this administration has not ceased to amaze all and sundry with its seemingly rash decisions, some utterly unacceptable, while others reeked of questionable, unscrupulous profiteering and sheer nepotism. It has become such a hallmark that we have lost count of the number of U-turns performed when things became impossibly untenable. No wonder that this government has lost no less than six Cabinet members and a backbencher in such a brief time.
The earliest decisions taken at the start of this legislature were a true harbinger of things to follow. Notable among these were the unceremonious culling of almost all civil service heads, the nominations to handsomely paid positions in quangos, commissions and government agencies to backbenchers and a Cabinet of prodigious proportions which clearly a country of 400,000 people does not need or afford.
I must admit that like many I put down these initial decisions to lack of governing experience seeing that Labour had spent most of the last 25 years fumbling in Opposition. Yet as months and even years went by, it has become clear that rather than errors of judgement Labour’s moves are part of a well thought-out strategy. A stratagem that seeks absolute control. An exercise that has reduced many best practices to nothing; practices that have been painstakingly built over many years by successive governments.
The political scorchers keep coming thick and fast. Not a week goes by without the independent media or the Opposition revealing some hot potato cleverly disguised or hidden away in some dark closet. No division of government is immune to the machinations of Labour. Some decisions may be charitably defined as gaffes, others not so much! Lack of clarity and consistency has permeated to Justice, Home Affairs and public order. As regards the environment, Labour takes the biscuit and surely the Lands Department/ Old Mint Street expropriation saga left nothing to the imagination!
These choices are costing the country millions; millions that could have been spent more wisely.
The latest blooper regarding the nominations of the judiciary condenses this administration’s unacceptable oversights. Some apologists continue to blame the incompetence to inexperience, others are not so convinced. In this case there are two possible explanations to the failed nomination process. On the one hand, this may be an administration that has no inkling of the Constitution. Alternatively, and clearly more plausible, the choice smacks of political arrogance. A ‘take a shot in the dark’ approach in the belief that spin and rhetoric will win the day, come what may. Sadly, this approach is anything but a display of good governance.
As time goes by more, and more individuals are turning towards the Nationalist Party as an alternative government so early in this political cycle. For the PN, the last three years have been a constant ‘works in progress’. It has been no mean feat for the party to rise from the ashes of the crushing defeat suffered in 2013. The party has risen to the challenge with commendable vigour. Regenerating itself while positioning itself as a formidable Opposition that is vigilant and consistent. This does not mean that there is not some way to go. The party still faces headwinds especially with a section of the electorate that may still have an axe to grind for past mistakes. A healing process that takes time whether one likes it or not.
In the meantime, the ball remains firmly in the Prime Minister’s court. Although Labour perceives that its popularity is slipping, it remains the party in government. It is amply clear that Labour has not delivered on many of its promises of transparency, meritocracy, accountability and an end to political patronage of the first order. There are still at least two years to the next election. Is there enough time for Labour to reverse the swelling tide?
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Ms Galea is a General Election PN candidate on the Fourth District