Last week was one of those weeks that really made me think deeply on the reason why I am in politics after all. The way things are happening in political life in Malta are indeed very sad, with the Nationalists’ lies, half-truths and manipulations forming the foundations for the coming electoral campaign. The manipulation of the interview I gave to The Times, which was clear enough in itself, was a sure sign that they are running short of political arguments; and all this after what should have been a bonanza of political events that should have led to an autumn election.

The manipulation of the interview I gave to The Times, was purposely done in such a way to change the sense of the arguments I put forward to the paper. This in turn leads to the question as to why should a party in government resort to such cheap ways to conduct its political strategy? The general feeling here is clear: they are running out of positive arguments, they have no real future-looking policies, and therefore they are constrained to resort to every dirty trick possible.

This negative attitude amply uncovers the fact that the Nationalist Party is unable to build and follow a clean electoral campaign built on ideas. This attitude is also a clear sign to the Maltese electorate that behind the confectioner’s icing the budget was covered with the same inabilities that have highlighted the Nationalist administration so far. They have failed to deal with the real problems our country is facing, such as the ever-increasing cost of living and the lack of creation of jobs.

With these deceptive tactics, the Nationalist Party is clearly trying to alienate the Maltese people from the failures of their political misdoings. Something which continues to strengthen the will of the people on the necessity of change in the political administration of our country, which change can only be brought about by a new Labour government, a Labour government that will give Malta a better administration for the benefit of all the Maltese and Gozitan families.

We are now used to the tactic that when the Nationalists are on the losing side, they will resort to any deceit they can fabricate, so that where they cannot arrive with conviction, they arrive to with their fabrications. This was clearly the case where the prime minister was quoted as having said that “there were members of the opposition who congratulated him on the budget”. When our Members of Parliament pulled the carpet from under his feet when they signed a statement to the contrary, Castille tried to put the blame on the journalist of The Sunday Times. Is this the new style of politics that the Nationalists have promised to introduce?

This was very much in keeping with the now famous lie made on the eve of the 2003 general election on our party leader, when it was alleged that he had kept someone from joining the university. The author of this lie, after the referendum and the general elections, was later found guilty by our courts and fined severely for it.

Blatant lies that will find their way into the annals of our political history, as others have over the years.

The Maltese are fed up with this political circus, where anything goes for some politicians. People want a serious administration that knows where our country needs to go. People want a just administration that will not only create wealth, but that will also distribute that wealth according to merit and justice, and not according to who your friends are, and who advocates for you. The Maltese want a better government than the present one; one that understands what the problems are and faces them courageously, and not puts them aside.

The answer to all this is a new Labour government. To this end we must work hard and fast, not letting anything or anyone discourage us. Whenever the elections come, they will find us a united team, and we will deliver and show how Malta should be administered. By a better government – a Labour government.

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Dr Michael Falzon is the MLP Deputy Leader for Party Affairs