From Ms J. Micallef

With the next general election practically around the corner, I find myself at a loss as to whom I should give my vote, if I were to abide by my civic duty that is. The reason is that I cannot find any agenda that could lure me to any of the three political parties competing for the citizen's vote.

The Nationalist Party is well past its viability date, even though the party might once have had a vision for this country. However, I guess that money and power can change people, because the Nationalist Party definitely seems to have lost its way. The Nationalist Party governed this country full circle, from rags to riches only to take us back to rags, which is quite a blow for some of us who grew up in the “money no problem” era. One cannot but mention the hardly democratic behaviour it has been adopting lately, a veritable 1980s psychological thriller revisited.

The MLP on the other hand has been drifting in and out of consciousness for the past 15 years. A very disappointing fact, when one considers that the MLP is one of the two major parties on this island. Where is the passion for the country? Where is the expression of disappointment, which has been caused by the maltreatment of our national economy? Where is the concern for all those families who have seen their standard of living drop from “middle class” to one of “poverty threshold?” I seem to only recall the situation when Dr Sant, the leader of the MLP, urged his supporters to celebrate as though the MLP party had won the referendum… yes, what a dream!

The AD, on the other hand, seems to be rubbing its hands together in angelic glee, or was it devil's? Victor Fiorini has appealed to us voters to shock the two major parties by voting for AD. For me though, this is not an option, as AD's stand on illegal immigration warns me not to trust the party with the national affairs of my country. I cannot envisage the AD cherishing our traditional culture and our traditional way of life adequately enough. AD fails to see that all that made and makes Malta unique is in danger. The AD's liberal stance goes against what people like me are striving to preserve.

I do not know whether I shall vote or not in the coming general election. However, I would like to suggest that the political parties do some much needed spring cleaning in order to let in fresh air to their folds, which should be freed from their many cobwebs. Many “old” faces should make way for “new” faces. I believe that all parties need to jumpstart their political campaign by introducing young, dynamic persons who will hopefully inject some much-needed passionate care for the country.

The MLP could do with a new leader. Many are those who refuse to vote MLP because they find it difficult to get over the many faux pas the incumbent leader has now and then bumbled into.

Joanne Micallef

SLIEMA