The Nationalist Party has just suffered a massive defeat in the local council elections; yet for Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, the results of the elections do not mean that the world has caved in.

According to some local newspapers, the Prime Minister heard so much criticism against his leadership that at a meeting in the Nationalist Party club in Birkirkara he asked for a vote of confidence.

Although Nationalist supporters were rather blatant in the words they used to voice their anger at the defeat they got at the local council elections, the party expressed its confidence in Dr Gonzi in full.

Now, if Lawrence Gonzi wanted to really know what the party is thinking about him, he should have asked for a secret vote.

It is only through such an exercise that the real situation within the Nationalist Party could be known.

The bright sparks of the Nationalist Party have now come up with some “smart” ideas.

They are alleging that in the near future the income tax will be decreased and they promise to be more aware of the people’s pain.

In a nutshell, their Nationalist anthem should be “parole, parole, parole” (words, words, words) sung by Italian singer Mina years ago.

The truth of the matter is that they are in difficulty because of the way they have governed the country.

They know that they have brought this country and its inhabitants to their knees with the huge deficit they have lumbered us with.

They have driven us into a cul de sac. They have made one faux pas after another.

Thank God that the next general election is not too far away.

Valerie Borg

Valletta