Does the Nationalist Party understand that there is a new smart threat, and not just a smart city looming on the political landscape? That the lesson learnt from the European elections, when support for AD translated into another seat for Labour, has been well learnt by thinking Nationalists?

That this may come back to haunt the PN not only in local elections, but also in a general election unless there is a tangible change of heart, of deeds and of presentation? That the threat is much less of a vote for AD and far more of a simple non-vote. That people, many former Nationalists as well as a large number of thinking Labourites, who have silently supported the PN since 1987 (and never get much acknowledgement for it!), will use this and will not vote because they see no other way? That this needs to be tackled as smartly and as sensitively as the negotiations with the Dubai based company that may bring a smart city to Malta... not with attacks on AD but with a change of heart and mindset within the PN, if it wants to remain a major political force, and not suffer the same kind of handicap the UK Tories have been battling since the demise of Thatcherism?

At any other time of course, the news that we may have a Lm110 million IT city at Ricasoli and the eventual creation of 5,600 jobs should be the news of the week, and good news for a very beleaguered government or political party which is trailing badly in the polls, despite some other major and fairly recent good news like getting over e850 million from the EU to spend on various projects.

None of this appears however to be translating into more support for the PN on the ground. Why?

In fact, despite all this good news you don’t need opinion polls to tell you that the Nationalists are getting more unpopular by the day, particularly with those thinking middle class voters who abhorred all things associated with Labour’s past, and feel that abhorrence again every time Tony Zarb hits the streets, or any Labour politician makes any pronouncement reminiscent of the bad old days of the eighties (something they do much less often these days).

Does the PN understand that politics, and political allegiance particularly, is certainly about our upbringing and “the pocket” (so the new electricity bills are hitting hard), but it is also just as much about emotion? And it appears from certain articles and pronouncements by certain PN ministers and opinion writers that the party has not grasped fully the extent of this emotional detachment and disenchantment. The articles of Dr Deguara and Dr Tonio Borg particularly, show they are blind to reality and have no idea how middle class people are thinking, which is truly remarkable, (remember the same middle class ones who read newspaper articles, which is not a pursuit of the popolin in general) but more on that later. They (the articles, not the people) show a pomposity, a moral superiority that is just putting everyone off. They are ministers not bishops, although sometimes the style makes one wonder.

It is important to acknowledge where this disenchantment started and how it has tarnished the new government. Unless this is dealt with and really understood, the PN cannot win back the hearts and minds of thinking voters, despite the undeniable fact that both Dr Gonzi and his superb wife Kate look every inch the perfect pair as leader and spouse.

Ever since a former PM became a President the PN has been hampered with a credibility problem. People, at least thinking middle class people didn’t like it. Worse, once that happened, everything else that happens is now seen in that light, so everyone has become totally cynical and sceptical of moves the government makes to appoint or to not re appoint certain people, and of government initiatives in general. People don’t forget these things. It discolours everything we see, sometimes deservedly, other times undeservedly.

But everywhere you go, the lack of enthusiasm for the PN in certain social circles is abundantly clear. Too many are turned off although they acknowledge that Dr Gonzi works hard and does his best with the constraints he has.

PN strategists need to be aware that a unique selling point in the form of a well-perceived leader would be enough for Labour to win an election (so if Alfred Sant can refresh his presentation he can win again). The PN though has a far harder task ahead of it. We may get investment, we may strike oil. But it still has to win back our hearts to be elected again.

Their articles and more besides, give the impression they are not even interested, not even aware there is an emotional battle to be won. Emotional knowledge is power and this is severely lacking at present. There is a new smart threat, the threat of the non-vote, and they had better take notice, because without it the PN will not get the credit for good things being achieved.

The non-voter will not vote with his / her heart and not only with his / her head or pocket in the coming elections.