Victory in the context of European Parliament elections can in no way have the same implications as a general elections win. But Prime Minister Muscat was quite right to claim that the May election would be giving a verdict on his government at the mid-point or almost of his mandate to run the country.

Not so long ago, it used to be said that Malta was holding too many elections, which was polarizing the island. Today, it certainly cannot be considered that we still hold too many elections. Yet, there has been no let up in polarization.

If one compares the occasions when Maltese are requested to vote with those held by other European countries, it hardly transpires that we are more burdened with elections than others. If anything, our voting burden has become rather light.

Which makes stronger the argument that on the 25 May, people were actually giving their verdict on the “mid-term” performance of the Muscat administration.

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Upstairs, downstairs

As the island’s political history unfolds, the PN finds itself in an unprecedented situation. While the ongoing confrontation between two main parties runs on, the PN continues to register enormous losses, one larger that the other. Meanwhile, true reports about internal rifts have proliferated.

There exists, in political affairs, a pendulum which is expected to operate according to a logic that repeats longstanding patterns. This is why this time round, unusual questions have continued to arise: it seems as if the political pendulum has stopped keeping yesterday’s rhythms.

Who goes upstairs, downstairs is being decided according to new rules that seem not so liable to change in a short while.

Perhaps though one should beware of forecasts that confirm for the future, today’s state of affairs. That same forecast could help greatly to provoke the pendulum of change to once again alter the new rules that it has been implementing.

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St Helena Museum

There’s a lot to see. The ecclesiastical museum in the upper “storeys” of the St Helena basilica at Birkirkara is being laid out with the greatest attention. I visited lately and was impressed by the work carried out to present as best as can be, treasures of artistic and artisanal endeavour. They give witness to the socio-cultural activities that were pursued in the B’kara neighbourhood over centuries.

The museum itself has been years in the making. Its equipment is just of the best. The “items” on exhibit are priceless, as works and as antique artifacts. Due to practical limitations of space, “items” of equal or superior quality must remain in storage.

I asked why a museum of this standard is not opened for the public as soon as possible. Those who welcomed and showed me around seemed to imply that prudence was their order of the day. The organizers want to be certain that they have gotten everything all right and as it should be, before they give the go ahead.

Possibly, they’re being too timid. Before they continue to ensure that thay have a top-grade musuem (but they already have it), it might make better sense, now, for them to ensure (with the care they have always shown in their initiatives), that it gets publicly launched and then to keep it open to the public. So, people from B’kara, the rest of Malta and tourists can come to visit.