Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has, I feel, really messed up big time with his latest declaration that should the Nationalist Party be returned to government following the next general election, he will definitely be reshuffling his cabinet.

This declaration is worrying because of a number of aspects. In the first place with this declaration the Prime Minister has clearly indicated that his ministers are not performing up to the standards expected of them. Put differently, he has made it absolutely clear that some, or all, will be removed, replaced or shuffled into another ministry.

This begs the question of who are the ministers who have not performed. Here the Prime Minister truly has a headache for it could be stated without reservations that in effect all his ministers have under-performed in some aspect or other.

We know the details. We all know which ministers have been the subject of corrupt practice allegations. We all know which ministers have been accused of not doing anything at all. We all know which ministers have ridden roughshod over everyone and everything in order to push through their measures at all costs.

Now we also know that the Prime Minister has placed them all under probation. This also is a direct indication to the voting population that the Prime Minister himself has no problem with Nationalist voters switching their votes to different members of his party.

There is then the real issue: the Prime Minister has now declared that his government has not performed as expected and thus he ought to be given the opportunity to run the country better with new ministers or old ministers in new shoes. The Prime Minister has in effect condemned his own way of doing things.

I suggest that when the time comes voters should exercise their option to follow the Prime Minister’s suggestions by swinging all the way over to the Labour Party for an even better reshuffle!

Simon Micallef Stafrace

Valletta