Writing this column for publication before the election results were announced was an interesting experience. It made me realise that, regardless of the outcome, there are some key lessons which have already been learned and no matter the outcome, the way forward is very clear to me.

We have suffered a European election which has, unfortunately, not in any way been about the European Union. Issues which have nothing to do with this election, such as abortion, were thrown onto the table as a desperate gambit for relevancy. Such dishonesty is incredibly transparent in terms of the motivation behind it.

As part of the accession to the European Union, Malta made sure it had a clause that ensured abortion would never be imposed from abroad. Furthermore, it is not the remit of Europe to legislate it, no matter what panicked politicians say. The real issues facing us were swept aside. It also serves as a classic strategy to try and divide conservatives and liberals, even when they may be united in their agendas down to every detail with the exception of this item on the agenda.

What is done is done, however. Looking to the future, we may observe that the Nationalist Party may make a third attempt to eject Adrian Delia, while the Prime Minister might also step down this year. There is a chance that soon we will face a radically transformed political landscape.

What will not change, however, is the fact that many people are waking up to the need for a change in our system. Topics which Partit Demokratiku had discussed, such as the importance of more open spaces and the necessity for lobbyist money to be taken out of politics, have become more mainstream. The new President had signalled his intention to go forward with Constitutional reform. We face a busy few years until the next election.

Just as certain genuine concerns have sprung to the forefront of the public agenda, and as the environment becomes more important, we see more and more people waking up to the need to fix a broken system, both locally and globally. Our quality of life in the short term remains threatened, while our climate and ecosystem spiral into an abyss. Activists such as Extinction Rebellion will continue to play a key role in waking people up.

I will be blunt about one disappointment which emerged this election. Many anti-corruption activists sprang towards familiar faces at the last minute, refusing to strategically use the Single Transferable Vote to reward smaller parties for their consistent good governance principles. In the end, they seemed ready to close an eye to all the injustices committed by incumbents to take the familiar road. Career politicians, who only criticise wrongdoing when it is committed by an opposing party, are complicit in their silence.

The way forward is clear, even though the political landscape is uncertain. Smaller parties and independents must keep making inroads, especially in local councils. In five years, if a high number of third party councillors are elected, it will be a game changing springboard to Parliament and in European elections. What victories and foundation achieved this election must be part of a five-year strategy for the next council elections in particular.

Younger generations are less partisan in their mentality, and a significant shift will occur in Maltese politics, as long as the field is tended accordingly. There is much work which has been done, and much work ahead. I wish all my countrymen the very best, and I look forward to the day when we will find a way to come together as active citizens, rather than tribal loyalists, for the genuine good of the country, the environment and our community.

 

Timothy Alden is the Deputy Leader of Partit Demokratiku