The term ‘failed state’ is used in political science to describe a country that has failed in its statehood mission. It is used for those states whose political or economic system has become so weak that the government is no longer in control.

One may argue that this definition does not hold for our country. The economic system is presented as robust and, from time to time, we are reminded that international agencies are lauding Malta’s economic performances. On the political front, the country is very stable with a government that has a comfortable majority in Parliament. Yet, if one looks at a series of events that have taken place recently, one starts to doubt whether our government is truly in full control of the political and economic situation in Malta.

One may agree or disagree with the comment made by Werner Largen, Chairman of the Pana Committee. On evaluating the evidence gathered, his first assessment was that there is a possible case of money laundering. While Largen used the conditional to describe his reaction to the findings, there is no doubt that he weighed his words carefully before rendering public his comment to the media.

If one makes a web-search on the term money laundering, the first thing that comes up is that this term is used to describe an illegal activity. Normally, trusts are set up for tax evasion reasons by individuals who are making money in a legal way. They seek tax havens to avoid paying hefty taxes in their country of origin.

With his statement, Largen is hinting that the trusts in question were not opened for tax evasion reasons, but to recycle money earned through illicit activity. The term money laundering has a broader meaning. There is no doubt that money derived from political corruption needs to be recycled before it can be put back in circulation as clean earnings. The first thought that comes to mind is that this term was used because there is a possibility that someone, somewhere, is making money through what the Italians call “mazzette” or “tangenti” or better still kick-backs in English.

However, if one has a look at how academics define money laundering, political bribery is not at the top of their list. For them, the expression in question refers to gains from drugs and the illegal selling of arms.

So far, political speculation has focused on government projects, in particular the power station running on gas. But in the wake of the many car bombs and assassinations that we are witnessing, one needs to investigate further into whether these trusts were actually set up for the recycling of money coming from such forms of criminal activity. Unfortunately, to date, the police has not reached any conclusions regarding any of these attacks-cum-murders. It is an open secret in Malta that these bombs and killings are all related to drugs and yet nothing consequential is forthcoming from either the police or the Minister responsible for Home Affairs and National Security. Nor has anybody in government deemed it fit to let the public at large know how the administration intends tackling this problem which it has allowed to get out of hand. 

In truth the Prime Minister took it upon himself and admitted that there are gangs fighting each other. For this reason, it is more than justified for our Prime Minister to be worried. But expressing anger is not enough. Clearly, these are mafia-style killings and the history of the Mafia tells us that there are always individuals, in very high positions, cashing in while guaranteeing state immunity to such gangs.

We must not forget also the fatal crash of a French plane on Luqa airport carrying apparently ‘military’ personnel. Nothing more has been forthcoming. Total silence.  One wonders whether Malta is or was being used for illegal arms-trafficking to Libya. Had this mission been one of peace, why shroud it in mystery? The irony here is that it is the current Labour government that is rendering the Neutrality Clause in our Constitution obsolete.

So precarious has our home front and national security become that the PM felt the need to send a message to attract empathy, declaring that fifteen minutes before the car exploded in Msida, he was passing by and could have been easily another victim. In this scenario, the image of the Police and that of the State is becoming even more untenable.

While the Police are appearing as ineffective and oppressive, many are starting to believe that the corruption stories levelled at Castile are true. The Police are being seen as only good at dishing out driving fines and standing at strategic points whenever we have ‘important’ visitors. However, the force remains inadequate when tackling organized crime. This sentiment is already being expressed on social media.

In this scenario, government needs to thoroughly examine its conscience. This is Carnival time, a period to be followed by Lent. Pope Francis is suggesting to his Catholic followers to return back to basics and hence is proposing spiritual exercises. This government needs to undertake a serious examination of conscience with regards to how it has managed to disintegrate its grand electoral majority in such a short time.

Elections are won or lost on two points. People judge a Government on its performance and the Opposition on its promises. Government’s performance is going from bad to worse. The fatigue on the Prime Minister’s face expresses his concern.

But are Opposition’s promises appealing? The government is cashing-in on this point, and will continue hammering that the Opposition’s promises are out of tune. The cases of presumed or true corruption made by Opposition members are destined to continue haunting the media. Government will exhibit these cases as trophies of the Opposition’s deception each time that the latter is caught on the wrong footing.

While government’s performance remains disastrous, the Opposition’s promises are appearing not good enough. In many instances, the proposals made are appearing divorced from the real problems of the people.

When a country is facing the possibility of becoming a failed state, Nationalism is destined to make a comeback. In my opinion, this is already happening under the guise of populism. It is not my intention to explain why this is happening. But contrary to what is being said by mainstream politicians in Europe, populism is not dissonant. These European politicians are wrongly defining populism as discordant, and that those embracing it are not apt to govern.

In truth, political might rests on collective principles. This is one of the reasons why populism is successful. It is this element of collectiveness that gives power to a political party and its leader. This collectiveness is not led by empty words, but by respecting a common and shared history. The shared history of many individuals in Malta, today, is that, despite being capable, they are still being discriminated.

They are not being granted their deserved promotion because they are not part of a political clique. Furthermore, there is the problem of security and the feeling of betrayal as a result of political deceit. The shared idea is that the Police and the State have lost control of the Maltese territory, which is now being controlled by gangs. In the process, social inequality is increasing while particular political clans are becoming super rich.

It is this common history that turns a community into a political party. It is the representations of these feelings that give a political party its much needed strength. Passionate, robust and articulated discourses will definitely help but a lot more needs to be done, if the Opposition wants its promises to be credible for the Maltese electorate. It is the correct interpretation of these feelings that can help a political party in Opposition to defy all adverse forces and makes its electoral promises appealing.