Malta Labour Party leader Alfred Sant last Sunday challenged Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to adopt a number of measures the party was suggesting “in the national interest”. If Dr Gonzi accepted, Dr Sant said that he and the MLP parliamentary group would do their utmost to encourage and assist the Prime Minister.

Dr Sant was closing the MLP’s annual general conference, which saw delegates approving the party’s policy documents on the environment and tourism. These documents will form part of the MLP’s next electoral programme.

It is not the intention, in this leader, to discuss the suggestions made by Dr Sant or to say that they should be taken up and implemented by the government or otherwise. That is a decision the government has to take.

What is important is that the MLP, and in particular its leader, has come up with suggestions that it believes can be of benefit to the nation.

The opposition has often limited itself to just criticising the government without coming up with concrete proposals. It is easy to shoot down what other people do or say, but far more difficult to come up with other ideas.

Apart from being critical, the opposition has other roles to play: that of coming up with its own proposals. Criticising just for the sake of it is one thing, and it could lead to some good results; but criticising and offering alternatives is a much better way of doing politics because, in the long run, it could increase a party’s credibility.

The Malta Labour Party has not been very much upfront in this regard. It has often preferred to simply criticise the government without suggesting other solutions. Last Sunday’s speech might have been the start of a “new beginning” for Labour, although the title they chose for the

conference was obviously not referring to this

particular topic.

The Malta Independent has often mentioned certain sectors where the two major political parties could find common ground in the national interest. The environment, education, health and tourism are all basic pillars of the economy and society, and therefore more cooperation is needed between the two parties because, on the whole, everyone stands to benefit if there is consensus.

Unfortunately, these are sectors that on many occasions have led to bitter disputes and political controversy, and unfortunately, the public was worse off at the end. With some extra effort and goodwill on both ends, Malta could be a much better place to live in.

Dr Sant last Sunday challenged the Prime Minister. But Dr Sant is himself facing a

challenge, which is altogether different from the proposals he made to the government.

Dr Sant won the first general election as party leader in 1996, but had to call an early election 22 months later. Since then, the MLP has not fared well at the polls, losing both the 1998 and 2003 general elections, and the European Union membership referendum. Of course, Labour has won the last two local council elections and that for the European Parliament, but general elections are a different kettle of fish.

In two years’ time, Dr Sant will be leading the party in yet another national election campaign.

It is probably his last chance to win one as party leader. A fourth successive defeat in national ballots – technically speaking, the EP election is not the same as a referendum and a general election – would almost certainly push him out of the

equation.

The coming two years are therefore crucial for Dr Sant. To win the election, he must get the people to think that he would be a better Prime Minister and that his government would be a better government, no more, no less. He must avoid committing the same mistakes that have cost him dearly, and focus on showing the public that Labour is really the alternative government he portrays it to be.