Today, I am representing Partit Demokratiku at the annual congress of ALDE in Madrid along with the Secretary General in a delegation including Dr Anthony Buttigieg. At this congress, Partit Demokratiku is offering its vision for a more democratic Europe, and an equal Malta inside it.
Next week, ALDE Vice-President Timmy Dooley will be coming to Malta for the event entitled “Young People and Political Renewal in Europe”. We will be discussing many of the themes covered in the ALDE congress. The winds of change are bringing to an end the old political order in Europe, and we find ourselves at a crossroads. All are encouraged to attend the event which starts at 9am at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
Guy Verhofstadt in his opening speech this weekend spoke specifically about the death of two party systems across Europe. In the European Parliament elections next year, Malta only has two real choices. We can either live in fear and stick to what we know, which is doing us no good, as evidenced by the latest 17Black revelations, or we can take responsibility and vote for what we actually believe in instead of settling for the lesser evil. The lesser evil always brings us back to square one. It is simply not good enough.
This week, one of Malta's leading authors, Immanuel Mifsud, also rightly pointed out that Malta's two party system is the root of our problems today. The winner of the European Prize for Literature in 2011, Mifsud is joined by many others of note longing for a better Malta, free of tribalism. I note that the latest trend is for politicians from the two main parties to argue against tribalism, while waving blue or red flags. Sorry, it does not work that way.
While it is part of our identity to be Labour or Nationalist, there is something wonderful in opening oneself up to something greater and meeting one's fellow citizens halfway. Political renewal is within reach if we are brave.
In a way, Partit Demokratiku is a party made up of Nationalists and Labourites. What I would like to share is the wonderful feeling of getting along with your fellow citizens regardless of their origins. Partit Demokratiku is the wonderful mixture of the best of both worlds. It is freedom to think clearly and rationally. It is not abandoning your roots or forgetting your origins. It is maturing into something greater.
For example, I consider Prime Ministers Borg Olivier and Pawlu Boffa to be, in a sense, two of the spiritual founding fathers of Partit Demokratiku. Boffa is remembered for his principles and zero tolerance to corruption and clientelism. In the words of his grandson, Philip Micallef, he preferred having his government defeated in Parliament than offering a simple government job in Gozo to someone who did not deserve it; instead, he started a proper transparent selection process. This led to Boffa's minority government losing a vote of confidence in Parliament. Boffa preferred to lose power than offer a single job to somebody who did not deserve it.
Just as Partit Demokratiku broke away from the Labour Party, so too did Pawlu Boffa's Malta Workers’ Party separate on principle and successfully enter into a coalition government with George Borg Olivier when needed. Similarly, Borg Olivier was a man who refused to solve problems with extremes, and his calm hand guided us safely through various crises.
People are afraid of betraying their traditional party, but to join Partit Demokratiku and believe in a better Malta is not a betrayal, it is sticking to one's principles. By sticking to the same parties no matter what terrible things they do, one gives them a free pass to get away with anything. A party changes its ways when it feels public pressure, and public pressure is best expressed by votes.
The role of Partit Demokratiku is the watchdog in Parliament, calling out both major parties for their errors. Partit Demokratiku has done so without fail since the general election, calling for a better Malta even when the other parties did not have the courage to do so.
Partit Demokratiku in Madrid is speaking about Malta as an equal partner in Europe, respected by all. Malta's role in Europe should be that of a diplomat and a consensus builder. Malta is strategically placed to shine as a beacon to inspire the world. We have always punched above our weight, and we can keep on doing so, but to reach our full potential, we have to stop cutting corners. It is no use blaming everything and anything for our problems except ourselves.
We have to accept responsibility for our mistakes, and always strive to be the best versions of ourselves as individuals, as a people and as a country. By writing to the Venice Commission, the Maltese government admitted that we have a good governance problem. There is no shame in seeking to improve oneself; there is only shame in choosing the road of fear and missed opportunities.
A vote for Partit Demokratiku is a vote to encourage the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party to strive to be the best versions of themselves, instead of rewarding them for their mistakes. A vote for Partit Demokratiku is a vote for Malta to be the best version of itself. We are still in time to save our heritage and environment, to build a proper infrastructure which reduces traffic instead of increase it, and to become leaders in Europe. Let us lead from the front and truly make Malta the envy of the world.