If there is one thing that both floating voters and undecided voters agree on, it is the fact that a one-party government, red or blue, is a poor option. It will place the future of this country for another five years under a quasi-dictatorship. It will allow the next single party government to bulldoze its way over the rights of citizens and residents. People would have to wait for another long 1,825 days to have their say again. A coalition is the only way out of this political quagmire.
Many people are still under the impression that a coalition government is not possible. They may be glad to know that a coalition is not only possible if AD wins a seat contesting on its own, but also if it forges an electoral alliance with another party prior to polling day. Alternattiva Demokratika has declared that it is ready to work towards a parliamentary coalition. We exist in order to take our country out of the paralytic one-party government system. Few people know that in 2003 the PN approached AD and a coalition to seal EU membership was discussed – it was the PN who refused a coalition. They took the risk of losing the election (and consequently EU membership) by running on their own. We contested the election and, in a supreme act of political responsibility, we asked voters to cast a second preference for AD. In the process we were thrashed at the polls, but secured EU membership for our country. We have no regrets. It was a price well-worth paying. The silver lining to this is that EU membership has now given the country enough political and economic stability for a coalition to become a reality.
Many people are curious and rightly ask us what AD would expect in a coalition. Contrary to what some people may think it is not our intention to make unreasonable demands on our coalition partner. In order to seal a coalition we expect our coalition partner to commit fully to Malta’s EU membership and ensure that EU regulations are observed and not circumvented as they have been in the last four years. It is our intention to make the next government the most citizen-friendly this country has ever seen. Meritocracy will prevail and not provincial party loyalty. Appointments to government boards will be made on the basis of qualifications and by interview, not by ministerial dictat. There will be no political vendettas or purges.
Our goal is to drive forward a number of key reforms that both PN and Labour continue to dodge for fear of losing votes. The coalition must rid this country from the domination of the building industry that has raped our countryside and made the lives of tens of thousands of residents unbearable. Jobs will not be lost if we divert the energies and resources of the building industry into upgrading and maintaining as many as 53,000 vacant properties. I suspect that there will be even more work.
The coalition needs to split MEPA, in order to separate its environmental protection section from the planning section. The present government has effectively dismantled the environmental protection section and allowed the dominance of planning. It is not surprising considering that they (as well as Labour) are dependant on the building industry for financing.
It is imperative that the coalition commits to serious reforms in transportation. Malta cannot keep operating a Third World public transport system because Jesmond Mugliett (or Joe Debono Grech in his stead) is afraid to confront the bus drivers. Public transport and the taxi service should be liberalised, routes need to be massively expanded. People need a clean, efficient and affordable alternative to driving and being stuck in traffic jams. The coalition must also work to introduce a mass transit system so that we can solve the transport problem not for the next five years, but for the next 50. The decision on whether this should be an underground system, train or tram should be left in the hands of experts. The job of the coalition is to evaluate the alternatives and take a decision – if we don’t our islands will become one whole gridlock, choked by traffic.
The coalition cannot continue to ignore the need to carry out a serious reform in our rent laws, not only to serve justice on suffering landlords but also to encourage the use of over 53,000 vacant properties. If the coalition focuses on placing more properties onto the market there will be no need to expend millions of tax euros on subsidising first-time buyers, since more properties on the market translates into more affordable housing. With the money saved, the coalition can seriously consider expanding maternity leave so that more assistance can be given to families who are raising their young. It is unacceptable to send mothers back to work after a mere 13 weeks; the lowest maternity leave entitlement in the EU. The coalition should aim to raise parental leave to six months.
It is not acceptable to continue ignoring the plight of thousands of people, whose marriages are beyond repair. The coalition must face the problem courageously and legislate to introduce divorce while ensuring that the rights of the children are fully safeguarded. Divorce in Malta should not be easy to obtain, but neither should it be impossible.
AD is pretty optimistic about Malta’s economic prospects. However, we believe that the tax burden can be lowered if a watchful eye is kept on public expenditure and political patronage (that costs the country millions) is eliminated. Only a coalition government can achieve this. With one party in government it will be business as usual. AD believes that the top rate of income tax can be lowered from 35 per cent to 30 per cent, perhaps not in one year, but over a number of years. A one per cent reduction every year over the life of the coalition government will do the job.
A coalition will become a reality if AD can garner 2,500 votes in any electoral district. The people will be free from the stranglehold of one-party domination. Those choosing to abstain are exercising a fundamental right. However, voting to give Malta its first coalition government may be the smarter option.
Seriously, what have you got to lose?
Edward Fenech is spokesperson for Finance, the Economy and Tourism of Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party
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