To function well a democracy needs a credible Opposition. To be credible an opposition party needs a feasible alternative policy and a leader with sufficient political judgement to justify his position and able to show a genuine ability to lead and appoint a team able to carry through that alternative policy to the benefit of the nation.
Unfortunately for Malta, recent events have given rise to grave doubts as to the ability and judgement of the current Leader of the Opposition to fill his role effectively, and indeed the ability of many of his team to fill theirs.
On the whole, since March 2013, massive improvements have been registered in the economy, reputation and lifestyle of Malta, which now registers high in European and indeed world standards and achievements. Nevertheless, mistakes have been made, largely through inexperience. Some of these mistakes, for example, the Café Premier and Gaffarena episodes, have been major errors of judgement; the latest, “Panamagate”, is still rumbling on.
The Prime Minister has taken the decision to handle “Panamagate” on a longer term basis, waiting until all the factors are disclosed and assessed before taking any final action, rather as a judge would hear a full case before delivering a judgement. The public will also judge him on his final verdict and reasoning.
By contrast, the Leader of the Opposition immediately leapt onto his soapbox to rouse the party faithful with rallies and demonstrations, led by honking loud hailers and party hats. Aggressive and abusive billboards are still posting their partisan messages around the island.
However, despite all the accusations flung and bellowed, very little has really been exposed. No criminal activity has yet been found, a professional audit has been ordered; indeed the rest of the world has been shamed far more than Malta by the Panama Papers. Despite the British Prime Minister having been involved in legal tax avoidance schemes, the British Standards Commissioner has stated he has not broken any regulations and will not be “investigated”.
A wise and subtle Opposition Leader would surely have waited, using skilful political judgement, to watch carefully to see if a criminal act was carried out, then, if so, pounced to blow the government away. The actions taken by the Opposition over “Panamagate” have exposed huge political naivety and misjudgement, and poor leadership. Timing is everything in politics, and rousing the party faithful from their clubs a whole two years before the next election is a big mistake.
One result of the “hue and cry” which may result in embarrassment is the focus on the building work carried out for the two PN Deputy Leaders.
Michael Falzon, a previous PN Minister, quotes in his weekly Opinion column: “… making Busuttil look as if he is looking for a street brawl could have been more damaging than beneficial”, and yet the Opposition Leader clearly adores the adulation of the faithful from his soapbox, a very dangerous addiction, as history shows.
One asks who is directing the policies of the Opposition party when they embark on a “Party before country” move to crave poorly based criticism of their sovereign government by foreign politicians. It is almost as if they would rather smash everything rather than let anyone else play with the toys. The “form sneak” policy of using like-minded or gullible foreign media to attack their own country surely leaves a very nasty taste in the mouths of all true Maltese. Are they really trying to “return to the eighties”, reviving such characters as “Charlie the Hook” to bully the media, and digging up ex-media man/Parliamentary Secretary, Richard Muscat, last heard of in the “Voice of the Mediterranean” fiasco. Surely the younger people of Malta will not find this an attractive policy for a potential government. Back to hatred is no policy on which to build a future.
I have many good friends who support the Nationalist Party to whom I ask a big question regarding the governance of Malta. Is the Opposition fit to govern? They have two years to prove it.
Michael Turner