Those who watched last Friday’s Xarabank edition, in which the leaders of the three main political parties were asked to share their views about the budget and answer questions put by members of the audience, must have been rather disappointed.

For different reasons too.

Some expected sparks to fly as the politicians discussed what was included in the budget and what was left out, but this did not come about. Others believed that it was a chance for the leaders to tackle the issues head-on, but they did not, preferring on most occasions to beat around the bush.

It could be that the various interruptions – for adverts, for questions to be put and with presenter Peppi Azzopardi repeatedly insisting that they keep their comments short – did not help the discussion to develop and flow as it should have.

It could also be that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Alfred Sant are still keeping their cards close to their chest in view of what will take place in Parliament this week. Dr Sant will give his reply to the budget today, with Dr Gonzi replying on Wednesday.

In fact, there were instances when there was reference to the parliamentary debate, and it seems that they both left their (hopefully) better arguments for today and Wednesday, when they will have more time to develop them. Maybe they both felt that a television programme like Xarabank was not the ideal setting for them to be more specific.

We wait and see what they will come up with.

In a sense, the leader who spoke the least during last Friday’s programme, Alternattiva Demokratika’s Harry Vassallo, was probably the one who came up with the most valid reasoning.

Of course, Dr Vassallo’s position is the most advantageous in this regard. Alternattiva are not in government and neither is it the alternative government. It is not aiming to hold on to the government seat and neither is it aspiring to take over.

And so Dr Vassallo who, as said, was not given as much space as Dr Gonzi and Dr Sant, lifted himself above partisan politics and focused more on the issues that need to be tackled. He used his little time well to get the message across – that is, it is pointless to argue on who did what and what not, the problem is that the country is in difficulty and everyone has his or her contribution to make to get it back on track.

For their part, both Dr Gonzi and Dr Sant were more concentrated on shooting down what the “other party” did or did not do, rather than what needs to be done now to push the country forward at a time when the results that have been achieved and those that are projected might be good, but are not good enough.

Again, it is a question of winning an election. Reminding people of what happened in the past, as Dr Gonzi did, might score a few political points, but people are living today and they need solutions for tomorrow.

For his part, Dr Sant must come forward with concrete suggestions as to how current problems need to be challenged. Pointing fingers will not get Labour anywhere; it must be perceived as being a party that is prepared to govern.

After the debate, the people watching the programme were none the wiser and, worse, they probably became more worried about their future too. The government continues to insist that the economy is on the right track when the man-in-the-street believes it is otherwise. The opposition continues to criticise without offering proposals as to how things can be done differently, possibly better.

Today and Wednesday, Dr Sant and Dr Gonzi will be addressing the people again, this time in Parliament. It is another scenario, another setting, very different from Xarabank.

We are all hoping that their speeches will be different too.