The Sliema local council election has come and gone. An analysis has been carried out by all the three political parties, and these have been made public.
On one hand, we had Alternattiva Demokratika proclaiming an immense victory, when it increased its number of votes by an odd 33.
The Malta Labour Party voter turnout was also less, by some 120 voters. These two results were achieved, notwithstanding a two-year ongoing campaign within Sliema on various issues, mainly the opposition to the car park at Qui-si-Sana.
Sliema residents were inundated with leaflets and letters sent by high exponents of the Labour camp, leading all to believe that Labour would have taken the third seat off the Nationalist majority.
Alternattiva, on the other hand, disappointed its would-be voters by fielding only one candidate, as the assumption was that two seats could have been won easily, seeing the time and energy they devoted to propaganda and media presence.
Both sides played hosts to us, Sliema residents, in public meetings and took part in a live TV programme. Certain persons were invited to attend – even those who do not have their vote registered in Sliema.
The issue had a smell of overkill and over exposure. It became a national issue and the pros and the cons started coming in.
The issue was taken away from the residents, and the ball played in a political field. Information was meted out and the Opposition Leader paid various visits to Sliema in the run-up to the election. The plan was masterfully plotted and all the actors played their part.
However, the voter is the ultimate judge. The people who chose to go out and vote did so and the verdict was posted as above. There was a good chunk who decided not to vote for a variety of reasons that ran from the factual to the absurd. Meeting people gave me the feeling of indifference, of hurt and of expectations. They think that by not voting they were protesting about a personal issue.
This part of non-voting residents will have their say in a national election that may prove all predictions wrong. One data is certainly relevant. The amount of people who refrained from voting is bigger than the number of voters who cast their preference for both parties.
Now, it’s all over. Silence reigns. The issues are still there though. It is our duty to see to the residents’ needs always, and not only at election time. Dialogue is of the essence always. The new Sliema council must show a better approach to residents, and learn from past experiences.
In the rest of the country, the MLP has claimed victory because the day’s voter turnout led it to win a clear majority.
If people again will opt not to go to vote on the next election day, as they did in the European elections, then Labour will win again, albeit out of consequence, and not because it has the majority of all Maltese behind it. Reading this message is vital. This message, though, is there for the government to see, for the opposition to analyse. The electorate is the supreme and responsible judge. A “non vote” has became a vote, with all the collateral damage it can do.
The government has carried out a lot of work in these past three years, and the people will realise this in the near future. Pushing down the deficit was a priority for these islands, as eventually our cost of money is less, and that will give more liquidity to the government to implement projects, and ease somewhat the burdens, that all of us were called upon to bear.
Judging by the opportunistic way of going about national politics by the opposition, whereby in six months all the woes will be healed, I am sure that the politics as adopted by the Gonzi government makes more sense to the man in the street. A down to earth, truthful politics always works.
Promises just to get people into power, promising heaven on earth for six months, then last 22 months, is no big deal. The Maltese certainly prefer their way of life today. It is getting better as times goes by.
Robert Arrigo is Nationalist MP
