I found the editorial (Make or break, TMID, 17 August) very interesting. I found myself in agreement with almost everything that was written. Since I myself am a floating voter, I would like to share my opinion on the subject.

It is absolutely true that the majority of the population has had enough of this so-called new PN administration. It has failed in unemployment, inflation, illegal immigration, crime control and more and, I ask, what has the Malta Labour Party done so far?

My reply, as a floating voter, is practically nothing, apart from a couple of individuals who I admire for having the courage to speak their mind.

I find that it is completely useless that the opposition limits itself to drawing report after report, but continue to say nothing of what they intend to do when in office. What the MLP has been clear about is that it will adopt the same strategy as the PN administration with regard to the irregular immigration problem.

What makes things worse for us floating voters is the fact that the only other alternative up to now would be to vote for the greens. AD has, for a long time, tried to make us believe that it is a party that wants new politics for Malta. However, it looks as if their leader Harry Vassallo is not in sync with what the majority of the Maltese voters want and I therefore think it will be very difficult for the party to get four seats in Parliament.

Most of the floating voters dream of a new party which can tackle the following:

i) Incentives that help people who really want to work, and not wasting money and energy on the lazy people who only aspire to live on social security. Over the years we have seen that it is useless, and no longer credible, for a party to just propose tax cuts and then when in office, do the opposite. Political parties have to address this issue from a different angle. People who are productive should be given more, while those who are abuse the system are curbed. It is unacceptable that social benefits amount to almost the same as our minimum wage as the lazy person will certainly opt for the free pay-check.

ii) Seriously tackle the irregular immigration problem. Both main parties share the same policies, AD goes a step further (or – more like it – backwards), as they would like to abolish our closed detention centres. Instead they would like to have only open centres run by NGOS.

iii) Court sentences. Basically honest citizens have had enough of the lenient sentences given by our courts with the result that victims feel that an injustice has been committed.

Will the MLP tackle these issues? As for AD, it is known all over Europe that the greens are in favour of amnesties for criminals, the latest testimony being the recent amnesties given by the government of Prodi, of which AD member Arnold Cassola forms part, thanks to which today, thousands of convicted criminals in Italy are walking free.

These are just three points that I believe many floating voters will look out for when voting in the next general election. Personally, I will not vote again for this administration, since I feel that the PN are past their sell-by date, and have little left in them of the true Nationalist Party that many have supported over the years.

Unfortunately, the MLP have not really changed that much to inspire me, and AD are simply not an alternative.

Let’s hope and pray, for the general good of Malta, that at the next election we will be presented with some new faces – people with a fresh outlook on how to run things. Many voters out there are ready to give a much-deserved lesson to our three political parties. Many are ready to vote with an open mind as their future depends on it.

Malcolm Seychell

Birkirkara