Some say that the world is a theatre; others prefer to keep their feet on the ground and believe otherwise. This apart however, recent events have favoured the former, and have set the latter to question more profoundly their assertion that life, especially political life, happens in an environment founded on reality.

It is clear that the spin-doctors at Pietà are keen to set a new deviating course of events to alienate the Maltese into thinking that everything is fine with the current administration. The political events of the last fortnight prove this clearly, and the vociferous attacks on Labour were a clear sign that the Nationalists have run out of arguments to criticise our policies; policies which we have prepared and consolidated for a future Labour government.

Then last week, in a prime-time evening show, we get by far some of the most “interesting” moments we have had the opportunity to view, for quite some time. The main contributor to the show created the environment, suiting the mood of the programme, by presenting himself as the right person to give us advice on how to settle the affairs of us poor mortals. He then further proceeded to open a Pandora’s Box by stating that the Nationalists are bound together by principles. Indeed, what principles one might here ask? A rather confusing assertion, to say the least, considering that the government is unable to live up to its own promises, both moral and temporal.

To me, the worst results that the Nationalist administration has managed to achieve are those in the social and welfare spheres. It is, indeed, becoming evidently and increasingly more clear, not only from statistics that come from the EU but also those locally presented, that poverty is taking an ever-stronger grip on our society. The welfare structure is seen as increasingly failing a lot more people, especially single-

parent families and recently, more pensioners too. Spin here is not enough to remedy this situation and this will definitely be a major challenge for a new Labour administration, one which we will face with earnest and commitment.

On the side, the Mater Dei circus continues to contribute to a comic-tragic set of events, which are very similar to those of the building of the Gozo General Hospital in the 1960s. Unfortunately however, this time the mess is much bigger and far more costly, something which has prompted even staunch Nationalists to criticise the way things happened in all the stages of this project. In the meantime, we have an extremely maladministered hospital that is very different from what it used to be. Government ministry officials are saying that once Mater Dei opens, all will be well. Believe them if you will, but this does not seem to be the case.

The cherry on the cake is then definitely the economics of this government. They spin very nice assertions on how things could not get better and at the same time their statistics show otherwise. In reality, the working conditions of the wage-earning class are progressively deteriorating, which situation has created the new class of the working poor. Then we get the best quote from the Prime Minister on labour economics for some time, when he states that his administration will not only create jobs, but better jobs; thus accepting the fact that the quality of jobs available in Malta needs to improve.

In the sphere of investment, the inability of this administration over the last 20 years to create other strong avenues than construction for investment is another of their biggest failures. Today we have an economy highly dependent on this sector for investment, with obvious difficulties to come in the near future, especially insofar as our environment is concerned.

And on government dialogue, what dialogue one might ask? Here there is a clear need to read from the same page, something which is not happening. Indeed, it seems that the definitions found in the books that are kept at Castille are different from the dictionaries we keep at home. Ask the tal-monti for enlightenment; they are the more recent victims in this process of wrong meanings.

These are but a few examples of the failures of this administration, in not only failing to deliver what it promises, but also in letting itself fall into bad administration at a high cost to us all. This administration is clearly not benefiting the majority of our people.

All this apart, Labour is set to win the next general election, providing an administration fit to deliver benefits to all. To be, not just an alternative government, but a better one.

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Dr Michael Falzon is the MLP deputy leader for

party affairs