The Malta Labour Party and the General Workers Union have both thought it fit to organise marches in Valletta to protest against measures taken by the government in recent weeks.

The MLP organised what it described as a national manifestation of courage last Sunday, in which the GWU was the only constituted body to participate in its official capacity. The GWU will organise its own activity on Thursday, and the Malta Labour Party has already informed the union, together with other constituted bodies, that it will be taking part.

And, while the topics on which the MLP and the GWU are protesting about are different – the MLP’s protest was against the energy rates while the GWU’s manifestation will be about the budget – it is clear that they have both decided to try to put pressure on the government through the strong support they know they have among the people.

These two entities may not be statutorily linked anymore, but the way they approach matters is still strikingly similar. The fact that they were the only organisations to hold such demonstrations is ample proof that they still believe that a show of force will ultimately get them where they want.

The problem is that although the MLP and the GWU are, rightly so, concerned about the future of the country, and especially the way families will be coping with the new energy tariffs, public manifestations will not make the government change its mind – simply because there are no other options available.

All other constituted bodies have, in their own way, manifested their displeasure with the revision of the energy rates. Most, if not all, have said that the government did not consult with them as much as it should have, a claim that has been refuted by the government.

But they still prefer to go about showing their discomfort in private meetings they have with the government and public statements they issue to the media, rather than take to the streets. Of course, it could be because none of them have the support that the MLP and GWU enjoy.

The MLP and GWU prefer to do things differently, calling upon the people to protest in public to express their disdain at the government. But, although the MLP did its best to proclaim last Sunday’s protest as a national manifestation, it is hard to imagine that there were any Nationalist sympathisers who flocked to Valletta although, to be fair, a very large crowd turned up and this will help to strengthen the MLP’s resolve.

Still, the Labour Party is taking advantage of the current difficulties that the country is facing – not because of its internal problems, but as a result of what is happening internationally – to win as much backing as possible.

It knows that the people are complaining that they will not manage to make ends meet if they have to pay “194 per cent surcharge”, to use the phrase Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat said to describe the revised water and electricity rates. It is a political game that we have got used to.

What is an advantage for the government – and as such a disadvantage for Labour – is that this crisis has come early in the legislature. The government has ample time in which to recover any losses made now. It is a situation which is quite similar to the previous term – when the government registered losses after losses in the first half of its term in office only to recoup the lost ground in the final two years.

The MLP should keep this in mind. Right now, it has the wind in its sails because the government has become quite unpopular because of the measures it has been forced to take. But there is still a long way to go until the people are asked to vote again.