The current legislature could go on until summer 2008 but, with 18 months to go, we are already talking about it.

In fact, we have been talking about it since the 2003 election was held. Over the past months, and thanks largely to comments made by Malta Labour Party officials, the election and, more importantly, when it could be held, have taken up a lot of space in the media.

I believe that such a situation is detrimental to Malta. To start talking about an election many months before this is due to be held does not help the country move forward. We all remember what happened in the past—each time an election is announced as imminent, the economy starts to stutter.

This is what led former Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami to always call an election much earlier than the deadline. I am sure that Labour are talking about an election to push Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to follow in the same footsteps.

But the longer he keeps them guessing the more they will run out of breath.

P. Mifsud

Hamrun