The concept of "post-truth" has entered the realm of politics. Political Science is now studying what the political strategy of the future is going to be after this new reality.
In this context, President Donald J. Trump is being scrutinized. He has been dubbed the first "post-truth president" of the United States of America. No political strategist can ignore this new reality. For any political message to reach the audience, this new factor needs to be taken into account, otherwise the political message will have little impact on political debate. It will simply become a useless manifestation.
For those interested in how all this works, I can suggest The Art of the Deal, a book written by President Donald J. Trump with Tony Schwartz. The authors argue that the key to successful public relations is 'truthful hyperbole'; a mouthful of a phrase, which is normally explained as the use of bravado and exaggeration in politics. In brief, the politics of the future is going to be one of stimulation and playing with people's fantasies and emotions. However, any successful political campaign needs an articulate leader. This is not a job for the dilettante.
Until now, the image of our local Opposition was one of a party steeped in chaos. I can remember when Fr Peter Serracino Inglott began writing a book entitled Chaos inspired by Alfred Sant's failed Government. He started writing it when Sant was elected in 1996, as Fr Peter found he had more time for his thoughts. This unfinished work was a political reflection on Labour's internal problems between 1996 and 1998 and how this leads a country or a party to chaos. For obvious reasons, as any philosophical material transcends time, the change in government deterred him from finishing the book. However, the concepts Fr Peter was developing at the time could be used today with the PN in mind. His main line of thought was that chaos leads to dysfunctional politics.
In the PN's current situation, the important question would be how can chaos be avoided? French history can give us some answers. On the battlefield, no politician can work without good generals. This was a key concept that led Napoleon to his many victories. Historically, it is said that Napoleon once said "Give me lucky generals". When Napoleon met his Waterloo, his generals were no longer able to turn luck into a virtue. In politics, like in warfare, knowledge alone is not enough.
Politicians need an element of luck. In this, Napoleon relied on the thoughts of Niccolò Machiavelli. Machiavelli wrote that in politics, one needs 'fortuna'. This is often translated into English by the word 'fortune'. But the most appropriate translation should be 'luck'. But what did Napoleon understand by the word luck? To him, this word stood for skill. Luck did not come from heaven. Machiavelli knew this very well. This is why he linked 'fortuna' or luck to virtue. Napoleon insisted that his best generals were those who were sufficiently virtuous to create their own luck.
The PN's leader, Adrian Delia, is a well-known lawyer who has not yet shown that in politics he is capable of creating his own luck. What he is revealing is that someone who is a successful lawyer does not necessarily translate into a brilliant politician. The same holds for brilliant politicians who might not have been successful lawyers.
Eddie Fenech Adami is a case in point. He will be remembered not as a barrister but for his political contribution. A good politician is one who understands that the aim of politics is to create acceptable solutions. This is what Joseph Muscat did between 2008 and 2013. He first solved the internal problems within his party, before moving on to offer solutions for Malta.
Unfortunately for Delia, Simon Busuttil's liberal faction is hell-bent on keeping the leader penned in the wrong political fray. This will not allow Delia to rise above internal partisan politics, thus denying him the possibility of becoming a statesman. While it is true that Delia can adulate his audience with brilliant speeches, the noise, agitation and clamour that is perpetrated by the liberal section will continue fighting him. In this scenario, for a leader to believe in any type of healthy bilateral, political relationship is committing sheer suicide. Furthermore, it makes the PN appear lacking in consistency.
Kowtowing to Gonzi and Zammit Dimech was not the right approach either. What Delia needs is to start working on recapturing the floating voter and the honest switcher. Those who switched because they felt discriminated will never be enticed back with Busuttil still hovering within the party. In fact, the number of switchers continue to increase because of Simon Busuttil and his cronies.
The PN needs to apply solutions based on principles and clear objectives, otherwise it will carry on disintegrating. This path has already been charted in America. Traditional floating voters and honest switchers can be grouped under one of the following four categories: a dismantler, an expander, a streamliner and a rebuilder.
Dismantlers are those who speak against fraud, waste and abuse. Expanders want government to deliver more. Streamliners want to cut government expenses while Rebuilders want focus on major reform.
Until recently, in America, the dismantlers were the largest category. Like Trump, Muscat was a dismantler. Muscat tried to deconstruct GonziPn. Trump dismantled Obama. Unfortunately, for the PN, between 2013 and 2017, it continued thinking in these terms. The PN, under Simon Busuttil, tried but failed to dismantle Muscat's image and achievements.
Normally, those in favour of any current government, are streamliners and expanders. Any government who feels secure wants to appeal to them. If one looks at Muscat's political strategy, he is appealing to these two categories. It is useless for the Opposition to follow suit. Muscat is better situated here and will win hands down. Muscat has not abandoned the dismantler card either. He is using it against the Opposition, in particular, to hit out at Simon Busuttil.
He wants to ensure that he is a liability for the PN. He is also using this card against Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna. But the archbishop is a hard nut to crack. Returning to the PN, as long as Busuttil remains in the party, honest floaters will not revert back, as he has become another Alfred Sant. After 1998, Alfred Sant decided to remain at the helm and Labour could not win an election.
There remains the fourth option, the one of political 'rebuilders'. This is still untouched territory for Muscat and certain political choices he is making, have left him weak on this particular political terrain. Nonetheless, the choice of rebuilding is backed by what is happening in America. At least in America, the rebuilders are making progress. This can help us get an idea as to how our local Opposition should act. The Opposition should rebuild the image of the party based on this political strategy. Unfortunately, the 'new-way' team is far from proposing any major reforms for Malta that could make the electorate dream again, except for taking on board the migration issue. Unfortunately, this too is being done in an amateurish way, with the result that the PN will not earn any votes from this strategy. Simon Busuttil and his faction are still insisting on dismantling this form of politics. Yet, they do not realize that their conspiracy theories are no longer convincing. The third way, therefore, for the rebuilding of the party and the country, needs to be considered beyond the present political scheme. It needs to be grounded in post-truth theories and realities.