We have recently witnessed a new kind of insult which has been bandied about from both sides of the political spectrum. Each side is calling the other “copycat”. In my schooldays I used to cover my copybook with my whole body in order not to allow my school friends to copy a single word of my work. I guarded my essays and assignments with my life. I wanted the first person to read my work to be the person who was empowered to judge me.

On the launch of the pre-budget document, Labour leader Alfred Sant accused the government of stealing his ideas. The latest controversy revolves around who first came up with the idea of the regeneration of the Grand Harbour area. However, ironically Dr Sant seems to agree with statements that Labour should identify now the people who will take over departments, corporations and institutions, if Labour is elected, and that these should be Labour supporters, because it is the Nationalist way of doing things.

The Nationalist way of appointing people to head public entities and corporations was inherited from Labour, who in turn inherited it from the Nationalists, who had initially inherited the system from Labour. The man in the street is sceptical on how people are selected for these posts, be it from the Nationalist or the Labour administrations.

Being a candidate for the Nationalist Party in the coming general election, I hope that I will never be accused of plagiarising any political ideas from our opponents who have done their utmost in the past four years to avoid being pinned down to one single, solitary policy.

In truth, the greater chunk of the electoral programmes of both parties may be similar and have common goals. This is no big deal and the people may rest assured that one side has not hacked into the other side’s computer to spy on their latest bright idea. Many things are the natural progression of how things are moving.

When the national economy was suffering from a huge deficit, the natural thing to do was to work to reduce the deficit to acceptable levels. Now that the deficit has been reduced – beyond expectations – the natural progression is to reduce it still further and maintain it in those levels. Now that we are members of the European Union, the natural progression is to take advantage of all the benefits that membership may offer our small nation.

Coming up with the ideas is the easy part. The challenge is to implement those ideas and to turn them into successful projects for the good of the nation.

Dr Sant has contested a number of elections. He lost all but one and was elected Prime Minister. In 1996, he promised that he would get rid of VAT and he actually lived up to his word. However, he failed to mention that he was going to replace the indirect tax with CET. That must have been a shocker for those who carcaded with cash registers dragged behind their trucks.

Dr Sant claims that he won the 2003 referendum when he proposed that Malta should enter into a partnership agreement with the EU. The election called a few weeks later said otherwise. Today the Malta Labour Party claims to be staunchly pro Europeans.

Even if the PN and MLP print identical electoral programmes, the question that the people should ask is not who has the nicest book cover but who can really deliver the goods to the Maltese people. In the last election, people voted the Nationalist Party predominately to see their country a member of the EU. Not only did the PN sign the accession treaty, but the party in government managed to make our membership a success. Today Malta is considered as an Objective One member state. The Nationalist Party has kept its part of the deal with its voters.

The Malta Labour Party has never succeeded in delivering the quality of life that the Nationalist Party has managed to deliver. Are we perfect as a party in government?

I would be the first to admit that we are not; however, we have the sincere commitment to work for a better Malta!

Eddie Fenech Adami and today Lawrence Gonzi not only ensured that Malta evolved to reflect the changing times, but they managed to revolutionise our standard of living.

And Alfred Sant? You tell me...

Dr Malcolm Mifsud is president of the College of Councillors of the Nationalist Party