On the 3rd of June, the Maltese stood up to be counted. Malta chose hope over desperation. The people voted for peace-of-mind over anger and cynicism; unity of purpose instead of silly political games and posturing.
Our people worked hard to deliver an economic boom, and clearly did not want to lose the momentum gained over the past four years. They understood that the National interest was at stake. The people opted to continue to change Malta for the better. Ultimately this was an election about principles.
The people chose to retain the new style of politics we have become accustomed to in recent years. They chose a Prime Minister who has introduced an unprecedented feeling of optimism, who delivers on his promises, who holds his hands up when mistakes are made , and who believes that our country’s best days are truly ahead of us. The alternative was a weak, partisan politician in charge of a divided party, who fuelled personal attacks and came up with half-baked proposals, who wanted to take us back to a place where few of us would choose to go: A country locked in instability and mediocrity. People chose prosperity instead.
The Maltese people voted for a decisive Prime Minister who has delivered real, material change to Maltese families. He took the decisions that led to Malta having one of the best performing economies in Europe, cheaper energy bills, less taxes and a more fair society. Whilst acres of media space have been devoted to corruption allegations, these remained a second-tier issue, except maybe with those already predisposed to voting PN. For the vast majority of the Maltese people, the clear priority is to keep thriving ahead on the new path our country has embarked on.
A fundamental value our Prime Minister believes in is that of achieving economic growth and eventually distributing such wealth fairly. He calls it prosperity with a purpose. I believe it is the modern definition of social justice. In four years, operation waiting lists have been reduced drastically; and wages increased. The bankrupt energy corporation has been turned around into an efficient and profitable entity, using much cleaner technology. Maltese families have seen their taxes and utility bills reduced for the first time in a generation. Each and every one of these measures has been met with cynicism from the Opposition. This goes a long way in showing how detached the Nationalist party has been from the electorate.
A lot of things have changed in the past four years. We had reached a situation in the past, whereby unfulfilled promises were the norm; a slow moving economy was acceptable; political instability the order of the day; and political responsibility nowhere to be seen. Four years ago Malta opted wholeheartedly to change that. The people got the change they voted for. And today, it is clearer than ever, that the people are happy with the change they received.
Each electoral campaign has a story of its own. The PN message all along was about honest politics, good governance, and to vote out ‘the most corrupt government ever’. Well these are very noble principles. Everybody wants politicians that are honest and not corrupt. But how credible is the PN to talk about these principles? Where was the evidence to back these accusations? The electoral result has shown that the PN has no moral authority about these values. The people did not believe that the PN can be a catalyst of honesty and good governance. Probably more so due to its line-up of candidates.
The PN presented a team of candidates that failed to inspire. The Leader of the Opposition has played some wild cards in picking out some of his candidates. A decision that failed miserably. And what about the coalition? How considerate was the PN in forming some sort of an alliance? From inception, the idea of the coalition was not clear. It raised more questions than it ought to answer. Take the racetrack and hunting as issues for instance. A coalition with two diametrically opposed messages. The result was one that confused the people even more, and irked party hardliners.
I believe there are a lot of lessons to be learnt from this election, for all political parties. The result in itself is a loud and clear message for those who want to take it. People want politicians that keep their promises. People want politicians that are accountable and take responsibility for their actions. People want to live in a fair society with a thriving economy that offers opportunities to each and every one. The Maltese do not want to revert to the older style of politics. People want political stability and an Opposition that is a true alternative. People want politicians that strive to unite our country. The Maltese believe that the best days for our country are yet to come.
Alex Muscat is Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the Prime Minister and a Labour MP